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What do we have before a wheel has been turned? We have Michael Schumacher already in place as the 2002 F1 Champion, all the other competing drivers having needed snookers for the past five weeks. The Constructors Championship is still mathematically up for grabs, with the Ferrari team at this juncture needing to just score more points than Williams to clinch that particularly prestigious title. We need Rubens Barrichello to be supported by Michael Schumacher for a team 1 - 2, so that Rubens can get maximum points in order to eventually achieve the deserved second spot to Michael in the Driver's Championship This would complete the weekend's perfect clean sweep. We must remind ourselves that despite the fact that, in this writer's opinion, it is and always has been very much a Team event, we would certainly need to appease the mouth breathing no-necks by apparently not issuing any team orders and being seen to create any sort of contrived result. This way, we could not be accused of bringing motor racing into disrepute, could we?. Qualifying: Track conditions looked to be absolutely perfect.There was a great belief that the Michelin shod cars (when, oh when, will all those informed commentators decide just how many "T"'s there really are in Michelin?) were about one and a half seconds SLOWER than last year, with a reported comment from the chief tyre technician from that company complaining even before the off that they were not sure why they had even turned up! Terrific. It was nice to see that newcomer Anthony Davidson has been selected to join Minardi, taking over from Alex Yoong who has gone off to re-group, having failed to qualify the past three times out. It is always good to observe the thinking Team Manager's approach where bring in new quickie blood will also gee up the other established team driver, and so improve the whole performance package. The Arrows were very conspicuous by their absence, their well publicised shortage of cash being given as the reason for their non-appearance. Apparently Mr Walkinshaw was not keen to jeopardise the future injection of cash but aware that penalties could be inflicted by the FIA for the no show. To the qualifying: Barrichello once again marginally out performed Michael Schumacher, with the Williams on three and four, in the hands of the younger Schumacher and Montoya. Neither Coulthard nor Raikkonen could get to grips with the present Mclaren and were down as far as the sixth row. Best qualifying day remark? ITV's Beverley preparing for a sponsored charity ride in one of those exquisite two seater F1 cars to be driven by Damon Hill, no less. Beverley was heard to ask as part of the preamble to her ordeal "I know you have not driven an F 1 car for three years Damon, but how do you think it will feel having me in the back?" Damon never even smiled. The Race: Race day weather looked absolutely perfect and it was with great excitement that the cars came together, no mechanical or electronic failures on the assembly lap, so the full grid of twenty cars were ready to go. As expected, both the Ferraris made perfect starts, Barrichello just holding off Michael into turn one. Ralf had a good start, had the slightest of pecks at his elder brother from the inside line, thought better of it, the cars stringing out thereafter, with the Ferraris in the lead. They raced as if tied together in perfect harmony and after lap five, the pair had opened up a gap of 10 secs. on the chasing pack, and then proceeded to increase this further to hold a good distance as the pattern of the race unfolded. It really was a very fine demonstration of the season long Ferrari supremacy. Both cars were on a two stop strategy, with Michael in first on both occasions. It was with almost uncanny accuracy that each time Barrichello exited the pit lane, there was Michael, approaching at serious racing speeds to tuck in nicely behind him, and so re-assume the Ferrari one - two role in the correct order. It really did become a high speed demonstration of the Ferrari superiority, the relentless red tide just overwhelming the opposition. The race wore on, it was enlivened by two bits of pit lane drama which surely must beg questions in the house around the subject of pit-lane safety in general. The two incidents involved de la Rosa and Salo in the one, with Panis and Montoya in the other, each of them trying hard to prove that two into one just does not go. Not never. In both cases, serious comings together were only just avoided, mainly down to the lightening reflexes of the rear car driver, as each of the front cars had jumped from their respective refuelling spots to re-join the race. Too close for comfort was the consensus view. Montoya was seen to having difficulty in the handling department of his Williams BMW, this being emphasized by his eleventh place finish, having been lapped by his team mate Ralf Schumacher who finshed third. I am sure that questions will have been asked in the Williams BMW camp, and that things must surely come right in the near future. Five laps from the end, Michael started to drop back from Barrichello, which caused the excitable commentators to think that perhaps there was something mechanically amiss. Sure there was. Michael then proceeded to trot out a 1:16.2, the fastest lap of the day, to close up on Barrachello again, no problem, Michael just having a little play to make some sort of a point. Great stuff, and surely a reminder of just what the Ferrari Team can do if they really put their minds to it. Thankfully, there were no team orders. Huge celebrations all round at the end, Jean Todt was well and truly soaked in champagne, the Driver's and the Manufacturer's Championships now well and truly on the mantelpiece. Only one more trophy to secure. Surely just a question of time? Jean Todt: " Today, the chassis-engine-tyre package was dominant from start to finish.. We have achieved our main aim of winning the Constructors' Championship and now we will do our best to allow Rubens to maintain second place in the Drivers' classification. Eleven wins, including five one-two finishes, out of thirteen races contested is a record for Ferrari. However, this will not affect our focus and our desire to press forward for the final part of the season and for the future." Rubens Barrichello: “ I couldn't believe how good my start was. I just tried to stay cool and not brake too late. In the early stages, I tried to save the rear tyres in case we might have a problem later, but they were perfect throughout the race. After both my pit stops, which were good and safe, Michael was very close and there is always pressure with a champion behind you, especially as it is easy to make a mistake and go off at this track. When Michael put in his quick lap, I was very surprised to see him there behind me again. I guess he was having some fun because we had eased off by that point and were just bringing the cars home safely. " Michael Schumacher: I did not have a pleasant start, it felt like driving on ice being on the dirty side. So of course, Ralf tried to squeeze me from the outside. It was a fair move and I went late on the brakes and was able to maintain my position and tuck in behind Rubens. In the later stages we were cruising safely to bring the cars home as it is easy to make a mistake here. The reason I did that very quick lap dates back to Silverstone, when Rubens was behind me in a similar situation when we were also supposed to be going slowly and he suddenly did a quick lap. So today, I asked Ross what was the quickest race lap time and did that lap to pay Rubens back for Silverstone! Our priority is still to get him into second place in the championship. Hopefully, that will come soon and then the two of us can have some fun together".“ RACE RESULTS Hungarian GP 77 laps. Weather: dry, warm Classified: Pos Driver Team Time 1. Barrichello Ferrari (B) 1h41:49.001 2. M. Schumacher Ferrari (B) + 0:00.434 3. R.Schumacher Williams (M) + 0:13.355 4. Raikkonen McLaren (M) + 0:29.479 5. Coulthard McLaren (M) + 0:37.800 6. Fisichella Jordan Honda (B) + 1:08.804 7. Massa Sauber (B) + 1:13.612 8. Trulli Renault (M) + 1 Lap 9. Heidfeld Sauber (B) + 1 Lap 10. Sato Jordan Honda (B) + 1 Lap 11. Montoya Williams (M) + 1 Lap 12. Panis BAR Honda (B) + 1 Lap 13. de la Rosa Jaguar (M) + 2 Laps 14. McNish Toyota (M) + 2 Laps 15. Salo Toyota (M) + 2 Laps 16. Webber Minardi (M) + 2 Laps World Championship Standing, Round 13: Drivers: Constructors: 1. M.Schumacher 112 1. Ferrari 157 2. Barrichello 45 2. Williams 80 3. R.Schumacher 40 3. McLaren 54 = 3. Montoya 40 4. Renault 15 5. Coulthard 34 5. Sauber 11 6. Raikkonen 20 6. Jordan Honda 7 7. Button 11 7. BAR Honda 5 8. Heidfeld 7 8. Jaguar 3 = 8. Fisichella 7 =9. Minardi 2 10. Trulli 4 =9. Toyota 2 =10. Massa 4 =9. Arrows 2 12. Irvine 3 =12. Villeneuve 3 =14. Frentzen 2 =14. Panis 2 =14. Salo 2 =14. Webber 2 Click here to return to the Ferrari Happenings page.
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