With the cancellation of the 2023 Imola GP, fans are taking a stroll down memory lane. When one talks about the iconic circuit in the Emilia-Romagna region, Michael Schumacher’s legendary duel at the 2005 San Marino GP with Fernando Alonso cannot be overlooked.
Alonso, who was driving for Renault back then was involved in what was his first championship fight. However, he was going up against none other than seven-time world champion Schumacher. Racing against the Ferrari legend in his home race in Imola, all the odds were against Alonso, who was in a considerably slower Renault. Still, he kept his head focused to produce one of the best drives ever and keep Schumacher at bay.
In the closing stages of the race, Schumacher was very close, and almost hunted Alonso down. The duel between these two greats went down to the wire, but in the end, it was Alonso who prevailed, much to the dismay of the fans in attendance. After the race, however, Alonso admitted to feeling uneasy seeing Schumacher in the mirrors.
Watching Michael Schumacher and Ferrari behind wasn’t a good feeling
In a video posted by F1 on YouTube, Alonso talks the fans through his epic battle with Schumacher in Imola. The Spaniard was in a Renault that afternoon, which was much slower than the Ferrari. On top of that, Schumacher was a seasoned veteran, whereas Alonso was just finding his feet at the top of F1.
Alonso admitted that he didn’t feel comfortable watching Schumacher hunt him down every time he saw the red car in his mirrors. He said, “It’s never the same when you fight with legends. And Michael, he was a great champion. I was just winning my first couple of races in Formula 1. To look in the mirror and see the Ferrari was never a good feeling.”
Despite the formidable sight of Schumacher chasing him, Alonso managed to earn what was one of his best F1 wins ever.
Fernando Alonso never wanted to give up P1
A lot of times, when drivers are not in the faster car, they tend to give their positions up. This is to avoid any accident and spoil chances of scoring good points. Alonso was leading the championship in Imola back in 2005 when Schumacher was on his toes. However, his mentality never allowed him to give up the fight, just because he was on a slower car that day.
A duel of the giants took place at Imola #OTD in 2005 ⚔️
Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso went toe-to-toe for victory at the San Marino Grand Prix, with the Spaniard coming out on top! 🏆 #Alonso #Schumacher #Renault #Ferrari #F1 #Formula1 pic.twitter.com/iN5kVOEF6H
— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) April 24, 2023
In the post-race press conference, a reporter asked Alonso if he felt like giving the lead up at any point during his duel. To this, the now two-time world champion said, “Obviously, when you are able to win, it’s double the benefit as well in terms of feeling. (It was) quite an emotional win.”
Fans were looking forward to the 2023 Imola GP taking place and F1 returning to the iconic circuit. However, unfortunate weather conditions in the region led to the race’s cancellation. The next round of the 2023 F1 season takes place in Monaco next weekend.
