Category Formula One Predecessor PS04B | Constructor Minardi | |
 | ||
Designer(s) Gabriele Tredozi (Technical Director)
Sandro Parini (Chief Designer)
Andrea Rocchetto (Chief Aerodynamicist) Chassis Carbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque Suspension (front) Upper/lower composite-reinforced wishbones, pushrod-activated torsion springs, mechanical anti-roll bars | ||
The Minardi PS05 was a Formula One race car used by Minardi Cosworth in the 2005 Formula One season. It was the last Minardi Formula One car. It debuted at the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix, and in the three races beforehand the team used the Minardi PS04B. The team earned their second double-points finish in the team's 20-year history at the controversial 2005 United States Grand Prix, an achievement only brought to fruition by the withdrawal of all teams using the Michelin tyres; only 6 cars participated in the race.
Contents
Patrick Friesacher was dropped from the Minardi team after the 2005 British Grand Prix due to his sponsors failing to pay Minardi the amounts agreed at the start of the season. He was replaced by Robert Doornbos, Albers's countrymate from the 2005 German Grand Prix to the end of the season. The PS05 was the last Formula One car developed by Minardi before the sale of the team, which from 2006 became known as the Red Bull Racing sister team, Scuderia Toro Rosso.
Performance and development
In comparison to its predecessors, the PS05 featured heavily sculpted sidepods, updated aerodynamics and a newer Cosworth unit, though it was older than what Red Bull was being supplied with at the time. In terms of performance, the car was regularly towards the back of the field, with occasional midfield finishes. Of the fifteen races the PS05 was used, it retired at eight races, failed to classify at one race and finished twelve races. In comparison to its immediate predecessor, the PS04B, which retired from fifteen races and finished eighteen races, the PS05 was more reliable and yet finished lower on average. Development was slow, but stood to testament of the team's ability to design cars on a small budget. When introduced at San Marino, the PS05 featured a double plane wing on its sidepods, a first in Formula One, while in Hungary, the rear wing featured a large vertical slit, a first as well and finishing off the year was a multi-profiled front wing. The front wing was, along with Renault and Jordan, a first and would be adopted by most teams by the end of the decade.
Results
(key)