13-Oct: At the
post Race press conference for the Japanese GP, Michael
Schumacher was delighted to have finished on the podium for every
race this season and said "I don't think it is necessary to say more than
that the result speak for themselves and it is fantastic -- and what has been
most fantastic is that we have not been for one race. We have finished all the
races and not only that, but all on the podium and that shows the quality of
job the mechanics have done. It is unbelievable what they have achieved. Today
has been exceptional in two ways because we have what we have done and the
Japanese fans have two winners -- with me winning the Grand Prix and Sato
taking his first points in his home Grand Prix so I guess the fans had a good
grand prix and they were very excited."
As for his race, Michael said "I you get a good start, and you get a gap,
and you can plan your race, you can put everything in order to have the
pit-stops at the right time. That was the only plan, honestly, because once
you are out in front it is difficult to be overtaken. I have been all weekend
very fast and I was not surprised that we could pull out the gap to the
others, in all honesty, and the only thing you can say is 'be happy and look
forward to a nice winter time and be relaxed and strong and ready for next
year'."
As for his plans for the winter break, Michael said "From our point of
view, it is a little bit easier because we have done our job and we can relax
until the engineers come back with a new car. We are normally back testing in
January and maybe we will have some reasons to go and use the three-week
opportunity to go testing in November-December and we will find out if it is
necessary.
Another word I would like to say to Ross who hasn't been able to be with us
this weekend. It is the first race he has missed in all his time (with us) and
I think he is disappointed not to share this moment with us, but we know that
you think about us and we think about you and we hope you get well soon and we
look forward to seeing you in good health."
Michael indicated that finishing on the podium for every race this season was
not by luck and said "No. I don't believe it's anything to do with luck.
It's hard work. Our guys do get the car as reliable as they can, and what I do
in the car on the other side, so I don't think really it's because of luck. In
a way, it is unbelievable that it can happen. None of us would ever have
expected that we would be so successful. But that's the way it is, we
celebrate it, we know it will basically be impossible to repeat because I'm
more than confident that unfortunately our opponents will get stronger so the
situation will get tighter naturally."
Speaking of the challenges next year, Michael admitted that it will a lot
tighter next season and said "It is a challenge, in all honesty, because
I still feel that with what we have and what we are going to have we will
still be able to fight for wins and still be a runner in the championship.
Whether we win it or not is another matter, obviously, but as long as that's
the case, I don't think it's really necessary to be as dominant as we are. As
long as we can win races, then that's fine too."
Michael indicated that unlike this year, Ferrari are planning to start the
2003 season with the new car and said "No, the plan is to have a new car
for the first race next year. Honestly, if we don't achieve this, if we feel
that we're not reliable and we're not ready, then we have a good machine that
we could start the season with, but that's not the plan."
When asked whom he thought would take his place in the future, Michael said
"You know I don't know when the next young generation is coming, who it
will be, because it will be quite a while that I will be around."
Rubens Barrichello was pleased with second
place but admitted that he couldn't catch Michael and said "I am very
happy about that for myself and for Ferrari and being part of such a
family, with such a car, it is incredible. I had a good jump but I lost
out a little bit to Michael but then when I went into the first few
corners my car was really bottoming a little bit too much, and I didn't
want to spin on the first few laps, so I saw him going away and then I was
taking care of the tyres as well. I was putting the fight off to a little
bit later, but it wasn't the case as much as it was in the US. He had a
little quicker pace over the laps, and he pulled out the gap slowly more
and more so when the pit stops started it was difficult to be in that one
or two second lead area. It was five to six seconds, and then after the
first pit stop, the tyres were doing alright but I had to come in a little
bit earlier because the balance wasn't so great, so the fight was really
like that. There was no way I could have gone in first place today but as
we have had such a great season, and I have two wins from the last three
races, it is just a great achievement for me."
Kimi Raikkonen was stuck behind Ralf and said
"I didn't get the best start and Ralf got in front of me and then
before the first pit stop I was a bit quicker than him but then he ran
longer before his pit stop and pulled away a little bit more. Then I had a
moment at the exit of a corner and ran a little bit wide but that was
all."
He was happy to be lucky for once and finish in 3rd place after both David
Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher dropped out and said "We had some
problem and I don't know what it was and I had to slow down on the back
straight and then when I came into the chicane and slowed down everything
was normal again. Ralf then had some kind of problem with the engine or
something and I was a bit lucky. But if I am lucky once a year then it is
not a bad thing."
13-Oct: What the teams and
drivers said following the Race at Suzuka ... Report
13-Oct: Japanese GP -
Race: Michael Schumacher wins his 11th race of the season ahead of
team-mate Rubens Barrichello and Kimi Raikkonen. Juan
Pablo Montoya. Takuma Sato and Jenson Button make the top 6 ... Timed Results
... Report ...
Notes
13-Oct: Japanese GP -
Warm-up Session: Michael Schumacher sets the fastest time ahead of
team-mate Rubens Barrichello and Kimi Raikkonen. David Coulthard, Ralf
Schumacher and Jarno Trulli make the top 6 ... Timed Results
... Report ... Notes
Friday
Practice Session 1
Friday Practice Session 2
Saturday Practice Session 1
Saturday Practice Session 2 Qualifying Session
Warm-up Session Race
11
AM Suzuka Time / 2 AM GMT
1 PM Suzuka Time / 4 AM GMT
9:00 AM Suzuka Time / 1 2:00 AM GMT
10:15 AM Suzuka Time /
1:15 AM GMT 1:00 PM Suzuka Time /
4:00 AM GMT 10:00 AM Suzuka Time /
1:00 AM GMT 2:30 PM Suzuka Time /
5:30 AM GMT
