Renault R25

Not to be confused with the Renault 25 road car.

Renault R25

Fernando Alonso driving a Renault R25 at Indianapolis in 2005
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Renault
Designers	Pat Symonds (Executive Engineer) Bob Bell (Technical Director) James Allison (Deputy Technical Director) Tim Densham (Chief Designer) Martin Tolliday (Deputy Chief Designer) Tad Czapski (Technology Director) Robin Tuluie (Head of R&D) Dino Toso (Head of Aerodynamics) Bernard Dudot (Engine Technical Director)
Predecessor	R24
Successor	R26
Technical specifications
Chassis	Carbon-fibre monocoque
Length	4,600  mm (181  in)
Width	1,800  mm (71  in)
Height	950  mm (37  in)
Axle track	1,450  mm (57  in) (front) 1,400  mm (55  in) (rear)
Wheelbase	3,100  mm (122  in)
Engine	Renault RS25 3.0  L (183  cu in) V10 72° naturally aspirated, mid engined, longitudinally-mounted
Transmission	Renault 6-speed sequential semi-automatic gearbox
Power	800–900  hp (597–671  kW) @ 19,000 RPM [1] [2]
Weight	605 kg (1,334 lb) with driver, camera and ballast
Fuel	Elf
Lubricants	Elf
Tyres	Michelin
Competition history
Notable entrants	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team
Notable drivers	5. Fernando Alonso 6. Giancarlo Fisichella
Debut	2005 Australian Grand Prix
First win	2005 Australian Grand Prix
Last win	2005 Chinese Grand Prix
Last event	2005 Chinese Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles F/Laps 19 8 7 3
Constructors' Championships	1 (2005)
Drivers' Championships	1 (2005, Fernando Alonso)

The Renault R25 was the Formula One car entered by Renault in the 2005 season. The chassis was designed by Bob Bell, James Allison, Tim Densham and Dino Toso with Pat Symonds overseeing the design and production of the car as executive director of Engineering and Bernard Dudot leading the engine design.

The car won both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships in 2005, the first titles for any car racing with a French licence since the Matra MS80's triumph in the 1969 season. ^[3] It also became the first Renault-powered Formula One car to win both championship titles since the Williams FW19 in 1997 and also the first Enstone-based Formula One car to win the world constructors' championship since the Benetton B195 in 1995.

History

During the season, the car turned out to be slower than the McLaren MP4-20 at numerous points, with the win tally being 8–10. Reliability and consistency prevailed in the end, with Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella taking the car to the last win and titles for a V10 powered Formula One car, marking the end of an era.

This car also claimed Michelin's first of only two titles since its return in Formula One, winning the title again with Renault (the R26 2006-spec car) in the 2006 season, the last for the French tyre maker. The R25 was the first Constructors' Championship winning car since 1991 not to have been designed by either Adrian Newey or Rory Byrne.

Over 19 races, it scored 191 points, 8 wins, 15 podiums and was fully out of the points just twice in 18 starts (not counting the United States Grand Prix where both Renault drivers, in common with all their fellow Michelin tyre runners, withdrew prior to starting). ^[4]

The R25 was also the last Renault Formula One car to use a 6-speed gearbox before the switch to a mandatory 7-speed gearbox in the following season.

Sponsorship and livery

Renault used the 'Mild Seven' logos, except at the Canadian, French, British, Turkish, Italian and Belgian Grands Prix. At these races, the team replaced the logos with Phoenix, flowers, tribals and flame graphics as well with the random text "Team Spirit".

Gallery

Fernando Alonso at the 2005 Canadian Grand Prix with the Mild Seven logo replaced with Team Spirit instead

Front view of Fernando Alonso's Renault R25 at Museo Fernando Alonso

Later uses

In Episode 8 of Series 10 of the BBC show Top Gear , in 2007, presenter Richard Hammond drove the R25 around the Stowe Circuit at Silverstone, completing two laps. ^[5]

On 11 December 2020 Alonso drove the car for the first time in 15 years, hours before the start of the first practice session shown on Sky Sports, ^[6] and after the qualifying session for the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The car used Pirelli demo slick tyres, rather than the original Michelin grooved tyres.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest laps)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Points	WCC
2005	Renault	Renault V10	M		AUS	MAL	BHR	SMR	ESP	MON	EUR	CAN	USA	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	TUR	ITA	BEL	BRA	JPN	CHN	191	1st
				Fernando Alonso	3	1	1	1	2	4	1	Ret	DNS	1	2	1	11	2	2	2	3	3	1
				Giancarlo Fisichella	1	Ret	Ret	Ret	5	12	6	Ret	DNS	6	4	4	9	4	3	Ret	5	2	4

References

1. "Knutson: Noise maker". 17 November 2005.
2. "Here's Proof That Fernando Alonso Can Still Thrash His First Title-Winning Renault F1 Car". 11 December 2020.
3. 2005 Renault R25. Ultimate Car Page. Accessed March 23, 2012.
4. Renault R25. F1 Technical. Accessed March 23, 2012.
5. "Top Gear" Episode 10.8 (2007). IMDB.com. Accessed March 23, 2012.
6. Fernando Alonso returns to his 2005 V10 Renault at Abu Dhabi.