Video: Kimi’s stunning last lap pass for victory

Kimi Raikkonen in the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix

Kimi Raikkonen in the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix, thanks to the Cahier Archive

Enjoy Kimi Raikkonen at his pure, understated best talking about his last lap pass to win the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix from 17th on the grid.

“I started to hit the rev limiter again but I just went as quickly as good outside on the first corner and luckily I made it through. So it was very good.”

The Formula 1 paddock found itself at Suzuka for the penultimate round of the 2005 Formula 1 World Championship – the Japanese Grand Prix. The Renaults had been fast and consistent all season, allowing Fernando Alonso to wrap up the drivers’ title early with a third place finish in the previous round in Brazil. McLaren had come on strong in the second half of the season, however, and are considered to have had the faster car in the field at that the end of the season.

Heavy rain rolled in to shuffle things up in qualifying, however, and set up an interesting race. Ralf Schumacher put in a great lap to claim a cheeky pole for Toyota. Jenson Button followed in his BAR-Honda, a team that had struggled after a strong season in 2004, and Giancarlo Fisichella led the second row in third.

The two McLarens, Kimi and teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, were way down the order in 17th and 18th. This made for a very exciting race as Kimi picked his way through the field and chased down Giancarlo Fisichell in the closing stages of the race.

Enjoy the video, which shows the last two laps as Kimi prepares to make his move, as well as the podium and Ron Dennis interview afterwards. Great stuff.