Renault R25

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).

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.

The R25 was fitted with a mass dampener in its nosecone allowing the car to remain more stable in corners, this was later banned by the FIA as an aerodynamic rather than a mechanical device.

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

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.

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, 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)

References

References

1. (17 November 2005). "Knutson: Noise maker".
2. (11 December 2020). "Here's Proof That Fernando Alonso Can Still Thrash His First Title-Winning Renault F1 Car".
3. [http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/2236/Renault-R25.html 2005 Renault R25]. Ultimate Car Page. Accessed March 23, 2012.
4. [http://www.f1technical.net/f1db/cars/887/renault-r25?sid=5501d9cfbe43afa56da39d84dba59549 Renault R25]. F1 Technical. Accessed March 23, 2012.
5. (2026-01-18). "Banned F1 tech: Renault's confidence-inducing damper solution".
6. [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1150889/plotsummary "Top Gear" Episode 10.8 (2007)]. IMDB.com. Accessed March 23, 2012.
7. [https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/f1/12158056/alonso-onboard-in-a-v10-engine Fernando Alonso returns to his 2005 V10 Renault at Abu Dhabi].