Ralf Schumacher fights back and wins the European Grand Prix ahead of
team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya and Rubens Barrichello. Fernando Alonso somehow
manages to finish 4th ahead of Michael Schumacher and Mark Webber. Jenson
Button and Nick Heidfeld round the top 8.
Kimi Raikkonen was in a commanding lead and around 4 seconds ahead of Ralf
Schumacher when his engine blew and had to retire giving the lead to Ralf
Schumacher. Michael Schumacher was running second after his second pit stop
but was being caught by Juan Pablo Montoya. When Montoya attempts a pass, the
2 touch and Michael spins into the gravel and rejoins in 6th following a push
by the stewards.
David Coulthard was caught behind the struggling Alonso and couldn't find a
way past. With just 3 laps to go he tried to pass Alonso but misread which way
Alonso was going forcing Coulthard to go off and retire. On the final lap
Michael Schumacher caught up with Alonso and nearly hit him as he tried to
pass him without success.
Yet again the Michelin tyres proved superior to the Bridgestones and the
car advatange Ferrari seem to have was more than compensated by the Michelin
rubber. Kimi Raikkonen in the 'old' car was in a class of his own before his
engine blew but Ralf Schumacher - another Michelin runner - was behind him and
finished the job with a commanding lead over his own team-mate and the rest of
the field.
Before the start, Nick Heidfeld who didn't set a time in qualifying decides
to start from the pitlane.
At the start, Kimi Raikkonen gets a good start and so does Ralf Schumacher
who gets ahead of his brother Michael Schumacher. Rubens Barrichello gets
ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya.
Order after the first lap: Kimi Raikkonen, Ralf Schumacher, Michael
Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jarno Trulli, Fernando
Alonso and Olivier Panis.
Kimi Raikkonen builds up a 3.9 seconds gap over Ralf Schumacher by lap 4.
Order on lap 7: Kimi Raikkonen - 5.9 seconds ahead of Ralf
Schumacher. Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jarno
Trulli, Fernando Alonso and Olivier Panis
Olivier Panis locks up and spins losing 8th to David Coulthard. Ralph
Firman pits on lap 11 and Fisichella pits on lap 12. Clearly on a 3 stop
strategy.
Order on lap 13: Kimi Raikkonen - 8 seconds ahead of Ralf Schumacher.
Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jarno Trulli,
Fernando Alonso and David Coulthard
Jacques Villeneuve whilst fighting at the back amongst the Minardis damages
his front wing and pits.
Kimi Raikkonen makes his pit stop on lap 16 and so does Michael
Schumacher.
Ralf Schumacher takes the lead.
Rubens Barrichello pits on the following lap.
Juan Pablo Montoya, Fernando Alonso and David Coulthard all pit on lap 18.
Ralf Schumacher pits on lap 21 indicating that he had a much heavier fuel
load than the rest of the top runners and still managed an impressive
qualifying lap.
Order following the first round of pit stops, Kimi Raikkonen - 4 seconds
ahead of Ralf Schumacher, Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Juan Pablo
Montoya, Fernando Alonso, Jarno Trulli and David Coulthard.
As a result of the longer first stint, Ralf Schumacher managed to cut the
lead to Kimi Raikkonen to just over 4 seconds.
Kimi Raikkonen retires on lap 26 with an engine failure. Ralf Schumacher
takes the lead.
Order after lap 29: Ralf Schumacher, Michael Schumacher, Rubens
Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya, Fernando Alonso, Jarno Trulli, David
Coulthard and Jenson Button
Michael Schumacher makes his second pit stop on lap 36. Rubens Barrichello
pits on lap 37
Trulli retires and so does Panis.
Juan Pablo Montoya pits on lap 40 and manages to get ahead of Barrichello.
Ralf Schumacher pits on the following lap and rejoins in the lead.
Coulthard pits and does not manage to clear Alonso.
Juan Pablo Montoya manages to catch Michael Schumacher in second and gets
alongside him, they touch and Michael Schumacher spins and gets stuck in the
gravel trap but doesn't stall and the stewards push him back onto the track.
He drops back to 6th.
Order after lap 49: Ralf Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Rubens
Barrichello, Fernando Alonso, David Coulthard, Michael Schumacher, Mark Webber
and Jenson Button
Coulthard continues to chase Alonso without success.
Order after lap 52: Ralf Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Rubens
Barrichello, Fernando Alonso, David Coulthard, Michael Schumacher, Mark Webber
and Jenson Button.
Villeneuve suffers yet another retirement.
da Matta retires with a blown engine.
Coulthard attempts to pass Alonso but appears to misread where Alonso was
going and goes off.
On the final lap, Michael Schumacher manages to catch Alonso who was
struggling but couldn't get past him on the last corner and so the race ended
with Ralf Schumacher winning ahead of team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya and Rubens
Barrichello. Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher, Mark Webber, Jenson Button
and Nick Heidfeld make the top 8.
In the Drivers' Championship, Michael Schumacher increases his lead to 7
points over Kimi Raikkonen (58 - 51) while Ralf Schumacher takes 3rd with 43
points. Juan Pablo Montoya and Fernando Alonso on equal points at 39 with
Rubens Barrichello in 6th with 37 points.
In the Constructors Championship, Ferrari retain their lead with 95 points
ahead of Williams with 82 while McLaren drop to 3rd with 76 and Renault in 4th
with 52. BAR take 5th from Jordan (13 - 11) with Sauber and Jaguar tied with 9
points each and not far behind.
