"We are the champions"

It was more than a race. It was the end of an era for three lesser, yet respected teams in Formula One. Sauber, Minardi and Jordan. They will now join the list, bringing to mind Lotus, Toleman, Cooper, Maseratti, Prost, Jaguar and a dozen other teams that have been silenced for ever from the paddocks ...

Typical of the Swiss, Peter Sauber kept a low profile even while negotiations were going on for the German giant, Bayerische Motoren Werke to take full control of Sauber and enter F1 in its own right. With the race over, Peter must perhaps be thinking of sitting high up in the Swiss alps, smoking his cigars and drinking his whisky, far away from the busy paddocks of Formula One.

For Paul Stoddart, a man whose team name was synonymous in the paddock with "underdog", it was a dream to win a GP. Sadly, that will never happen, not with the team sporting the Minardi banner. "Squadra Toro Rosso" is the name that the little Faenza outfit will now get, with Red Bull deciding to run a second string team, providing a launchpad for its growing list of F1 hopefulls. Minardi might have been the underdogs, but then, coming to think of it, many a race winner including today's winner, Alonso started at Minardi. A look down the pit-lane, and there is a huge question mark of where future talent could make a modest entry, considering today's sponsorship requirements. If not for anything, Paul and his little dream would stay in memory for ever.

As for Eddie and his silverstone outfit, it was game over last year, when Canadian-Russian Alex Shnaider decided that F1 would be his newest venture. Midland F1 would now sport different colors, and drop some baggage on its way, and sadly, that baggage might include Indian racer Narain Karthikeyan. Eddie will always be remembered as a spotter of talents, for after all the indomitable Michael Schumacher raced first in a Jordan on a wet day in Belgian in 1991.

Another lesser known man who would leave the paddocks is one Mr. Pierre Dupasquier, who, after thirty-four years of service to motorsport would retire. Pierre worked with Michelin last.

And away with the odes!

"We are the champions, we are the champions" sang the young Prince over the radio. Back on the pit-wall, Flavio's face resembled one of his caricatures, with the whole gamut of emotions on his face. Alonso took his seventh win of the season, equalling Raikkonen's tally, albiet Renault now get to bag the double, while McLaren would have to go home empty handed, with the phrase "So near, yet so far" on their lips.

It was to be an exiciting day, with the Renault pairs and McLaren duo's being separated by Jensen Button. The rest were there, but this was one day when they wouldn't be mentioned. After all, this is the first time this decade that the Constructor's championship has gone down to the wire. Renault lead McLaren by two points, and everybody including the most innocuous of F1 watchers would remember Ron Dennis's usually calm face resemble a cat that had its cream. Perhaps Ron, one of the most experienced of Paddock campaigners had one up his sleave. Or perhaps the flambuoyant Flavio would deliver, with talks about a set of developments waiting to be unleashed on the unsuspecting Woking folks. All said, it was time for the green lights to flash one last time this season!

Schumacher and Albers crashed out even before the opening lap. As a result, they started off from the pits. Karthikeyan too, pitted on the warm-up lap. Not exactly a dream start for either of the lesser teams, whose last races this would be.
The race started with Fissichella superbly fending off the McLaren duo, hoping that the blue streak in front of him would dissapear into the distance. Sato, whose last race this would be for the BAR-HONDA team jump-started, resulting in a drive through penalty.

A set of blistering laps set Alonso on course for a window stop, with the Spaniard gaining 17 seconds on his team mate, who was still fending off the McLarens. Montoya then ran over a raised drain cover, something that must have made Ron Dennis cry. Perhaps indicative that his hopes of getting the Constructor's trophy were down the same drain! A couple of laps after the safety car pulled out, Montoya pulled over and got out of his McLaren. A sad end for McLaren, it would now have to be fate that would decide the winner. In the meanwhile, Narain Karthikeyan managed to wreck Jordan's 250th and last grand prix, ripping an entire side of the yellow EJ15B.

In the confusion that ensued, Fissichella appeared to have slowed down the peleton that was heading for the paddocks. This would not escape the eyes of the Stewards as they called in Fissichella for a drive through. Meanwhile Raikkonen who had nosed past Fissichella in a well executed pitstop started to get close to Alonso, now sailing well ahead of him. Fissichella emerged fourth, behind Ralf Schumacher.

Inspite of the blistering laps that Raikkonen put in, Alonso would take the flag. This was his seventh win of the season, a season when Renault would take the championships, both of them, back to France!

Ralf came in third, managing to put Toyota on the podium. Fissichella came in fourth, tailed by Klein and Massa. The sole Ferrari that finished was that of Barrichello, with Schumacher not having the usual season-ender that he has. In fact, he was asked to wait for the stewards for the incident that involved Doonboors.

In the end, a fine season, a season that Renault deserved to win, not because they had the fastest car or the best driver, but because they were the most reliable of the teams!

With that, we look forward to the 2006 season, a season when teams will be unable to carry forward any advantage from this season. After all, 2006 will see major changes, including the usage of 2.8 litre V8 engines instead of 3.0 litre V10 engines that are being used.

Adios till 2006!