This may have been the last GP at Austria's A1-Ring but it will not be easily forgotten.

The supercool Michael Schumacher overcame every obstacle, manmade and natural. Nothing on the track could challenge him and fire and rain could not disrupt his serenity.

The Toyota of da Matta stalled twice on the grid, causing two aborted starts and a twenty minute delay. Thereafter, the unruffled Schumacher led off the start followed by Montoya, Raikkonen and Barrichello, whose attempt to slip past Kimi for 3rd place was unsuccessful.

The Safety Car's appearance on lap 2 bunched the field and as they restarted Montoya summoned all his Champ Car experience to try to outmanoeuvre Michael but had to slot in behind him. Raikkonen and Barrichello were following with but a whisker between them.

Just after Schumacher set his first fastest lap, a rain shower then began to make its way across the circuit, finally drenching the treacherous Turn 1. Schumacher's Bridgestones simply could not cope and Montoya made up 4secs before his slick pitstop.

Barrichello then set the fastest lap before his disastrous 19.8 sec stop. The fuel hose refused to disengage and one was tempted to think, poor old Rubens, who was also suffering from a cold, has all the bad luck. Little did we know what was to come.

With a 9.4 second lead and the spare fuel rig waiting for him, Michael came in for his first stop. As the refueller struggled once again with the hose, the faulty nozzle dropped fuel onto the hot bodywork and it ignited.The 20 second stop must have felt like a lifetime for him, watching in his mirror as two extinguishers were deployed with Ross Brawn telling him to sit tight. The champion calmly wiped his visor and left the pits with a very short measure of fuel.

Setting fastest lap after fastest lap, we then saw an awe-inspiring performance. If Montoya's BMW engine had survived beyond lap 31 , he would still have had no answers. Schumacher took the lead as he and Raikkonen passed the stricken Williams.

Four laps later Barrichello passed Button to claim 3rd position. On lap 40 the Ferrari pitcrew made ready for Schumacher's second stop as he set his final fastest lap of 1.08.337. He had built up a massive 23 second lead during this stunning middle stint. A cautious 12.6 seconds stop fuelled the car to the end and he rejoined in 3rd place.

This was not to be end of the trials and tribulations. Alonso, who had reached 5th after a pitlane start, spun off as his engine let go at Turn 1, leaving a dangerous oil slick to be negotiated, with Michael almost sliding off. Both Ferraris were now lapping in the 1.09's and as the pitstops panned out, there was no question that this was Michael's race.

Who would be 2nd, could Raikkonen keep the charging Barrichello behind him? Unfortunately for Ferrari fans, he could. Jensen Button came home a commendable 4th - maybe a podium place for him soon.

Michael Schumacher was supreme, the 2003-GA was poetry in motion and I am sure that this peerless partnership can win a 6th World Championship.

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This is what the locals thought of Bernie's plans to dump the Austrian GP

Important visitor to Ferrari: Fiat Chairman Umberto Agnelli

Montoya performed well, after some talking to

Schuey keep the lead from pole

The horrifying moment: fire during the pit stop

After the pit incident MS just flew like never before

Passing Raikkonen into a haze of BMW oil

Pablo lost his lead when his engine gave up

Another disappointing weekend for Villeneuve

Alonso again drove well, but the Renault engine went pop

This win was special, especially after what happened last year

pics by Ferrari, Sutton, Schlegelmilch & DPPI