2004 Chinese Grand Prix

The 2004 Chinese Grand Prix, otherwise known as the 2004 Formula 1 Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix, was the sixteenth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China, on 26 September 2004.'Chinese GP 2004: Rubens' takeaway.', crash.net, (Crash Media Group, 26/09/2004), https://www.crash.net/f1/race-report/50186/1/chinese-gp-2004-rubens-takeaway, (Accessed 27/12/2019) The race, which was the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix, would see Rubens Barrichello claim victory from pole position, fending off Jenson Button and Kimi Räikkönen.
Indeed, the Brazilian was the man to beat throughout the weekend, beating Räikkönen in qualifying by 0.116s to claim top spot on the grid. His main rival for second in the Championship, Button, would claim third ahead of Felipe Massa, while freshly declared Champion Michael Schumacher would start from the pitlane after an engine change.
It was a fairly even start for both Barrichello and Räikkönen off the grid, meaning the Brazilian was able to sweep inside to prevent the Finn from diving past. Behind, Button made a poor getaway and so was instantly jumped by Massa and Fernando Alonso, with the Spaniard also taking the #12 on his way past.
Barrichello soon set about trying to build a lead, although Räikkönen remained glued to his tail as the first few laps ticked away. Behind Button stormed past Massa to secure fourth prior to sending his scything past Alonso for third, while Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralf Schumacher moved in to attack Massa.
At the back, meanwhile, Michael Schumacher was making little ground, with having opted to fill the #1 car completely to try and go as far as possible on his first stint. That ultimately resulted in him getting caught behind Christian Klien for numerous laps, only to smash the out of the race, before a spin dumped him back down the field.
Massa sparked the first stops on lap ten, with race leaders Barrichello and Räikkönen, both on three-stop strategies coming in two laps later. Button assumed the lead for two laps before making his stop, rejoining in third behind the former duo, with no changes to the gaps between the trio.
Back with Schumacher and the #1 Ferrari was now fully up to speed, with a series of fastest laps carrying the German ace through the midfield to run shy of the points, prior to making his first stop of the afternoon. Button, meanwhile, was dropping away from the leaders as the fight for victory continued, signalling that BAR had adopted a two-stop strategy.
That curve-ball ultimately allowed the Brit to pass Räikkönen when the final round of stops began, while also ensuring that Barrichello had to push hard towards the end of his third stint. Ultimately the #2 Ferrari would emerge ahead of the BAR but right into traffic, allowing both Button and Räikkönen to latch onto his tail with time running out.
Yet, there would be no late changes for victory, with Barrichello able to keep both at arm's length to claim victory, and the runner-up spot in the Championship. Button and Räikkönen were half a second apart to complete the podium, with the rest of the points heading to Alonso, Juan Pablo Montoya, Takuma Sato, Fisichella and Massa.
==Background==
Michael Schumacher had seen his lead in the Championship cut for the first time since he crashed out in Monte Carlo, although he had already claimed the crown. Indeed, race winner Rubens Barrichello had closed the gap to 38 points, but with three races to go was unable to challenge his teammate. He had, however, all but sealed the runner-up spot, needing to outscore Jenson Button by four points across the remaining races.
In the Constructors Championship continued their record points haul chase, leaving their home race on 234 points. , meanwhile, had overhauled to claim second place as the European season drew to a close, moving three ahead of the French squad. , meanwhile, were set to fall out of the fight for second, and had only just kept at bay for fourth.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Michael Schumacher 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F2004 	 	053 3.0 V10 	
2 	Rubens Barrichello 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F2004 	 	053 3.0 V10 	
3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW26 	 	P84 3.0 V10 	
4 	Ralf Schumacher 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW26 	 	P84 3.0 V10 	
5 	David Coulthard 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-19B 	 	FO 110Q 3.0 V10 	
6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-19B 	 	FO 110Q 3.0 V10 	
7 	Jacques Villeneuve 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R24 	 	RS24 3.0 V10 	
8 	Fernando Alonso 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R24 	 	RS24 3.0 V10 	
9 	Jenson Button 	Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	 	006 	 	RA004E 3.0 V10 	
10 	Takuma Sato 	Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	 	006 	 	RA004E 3.0 V10 	
11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Sauber Petronas 	 	C23 	 	04A 3.0 V10 	
12 	Felipe Massa 	Sauber Petronas 	 	C23 	 	04A 3.0 V10 	
14 	Mark Webber 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R5 	 	CR-6 3.0 V10 	
15 	Christian Klien 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R5 	 	CR-6 3.0 V10 	
16 	Ricardo Zonta 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF104B 	 	RVX-04 3.0 V10 	
17 	Olivier Panis 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF104B 	 	RVX-04 3.0 V10 	
18 	Nick Heidfeld 	Jordan Ford 	 	EJ14 	 	RS2 3.0 V10 	
19 	Timo Glock 	Jordan Ford 	 	EJ14 	 	RS2 3.0 V10 	
20 	Gianmaria Bruni 	Minardi Cosworth 	 	PS04B 	 	CR-3L 3.0 V10 	
21 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	Minardi Cosworth 	 	PS04B 	 	CR-3L 3.0 V10 	
Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only 	Test Drivers for Practice Sessions Only
35 	Anthony Davidson 	Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	 	006 	 	RA004E 3.0 V10 	
37 	Björn Wirdheim 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R5 	 	CR-6 3.0 V10 	
38 	Ryan Briscoe 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF104 	 	RVX-04 3.0 V10 	
39 	Robert Doornbos 	Jordan Ford 	 	EJ14 	 	RS2 3.0 V10 	
40 	Bas Leinders 	Minardi Cosworth 	 	PS04B 	 	CR-3L 3.0 V10 	
Source:'China 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/engages.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Q1 Report===
===Q2 Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Time 	Gap
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Q1 	Q2 	Gap
1 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:33.787 	1:34.012 	—
2 	6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	1:33.499 	1:34.178 	+0.166s
3 	9 	Jenson Button 	 	1:34.273 	1:34.295 	+0.283s
4 	12 	Felipe Massa 	 	1:33.816 	1:34.759 	+0.747s
5 	4 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:33.849 	1:34.891 	+0.879s
6 	8 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:34.599 	1:34.917 	+0.905s
7 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:33.738 	1:34.951 	+0.939s
8 	17 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:34.153 	1:34.975 	+0.963s
9* 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	1:34.051 	1:34.993 	+0.981s
10 	5 	David Coulthard 	 	1:34.355 	1:35.029 	+1.017s
11 	3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	1:34.016 	1:35.245 	+1.233s
12 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	1:34.334 	1:35.286 	+1.274s
13 	7 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:34.425 	1:35.384 	+1.372s
14 	16 	Ricardo Zonta 	 	1:34.958 	1:35.410 	+1.398s
15 	18 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	1:34.808 	1:36.507 	+2.495s
16 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	1:35.447 	1:36.535 	+2.523s
17 	19 	Timo Glock 	 	1:37.143 	1:37.140 	+3.128s
18* 	21 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	 	1:37.510 	1:40.240 	+6.228s
NC 	20 	Gianmaria Bruni 	 	1:36.623 	— 	—
NC* 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:33.185 	— 	—
Source:'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'China 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'China 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'China 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'China 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'China 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'China 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'2004 FORMULA 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/768/china/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 28/12/2019)'China 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
** Sato, Baumgartner and Schumacher all received ten place grid penalties for engine changes.
===Grid===
** Schumacher would start the race from the pitlane.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	56 	1:29:12.420 	1 	10
2 	9 	Jenson Button 	 	56 	+1.035s 	3 	8
3 	6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	56 	+1.469s 	2 	6
4 	8 	Fernando Alonso 	 	56 	+32.510s 	6 	5
5 	3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	56 	+45.193s 	10 	4
6 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	56 	+54.971s 	18 	3
7 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	56 	+1:05.454 	7 	2
8 	12 	Felipe Massa 	 	56 	+1:20.080 	4 	1
9 	5 	David Coulthard 	 	56 	+1:20.619 	9 	
10 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	55 	+1 Lap 	11 	
11 	7 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	55 	+1 Lap 	12 	
12 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	55 	+1 Lap 	20 	
13 	18 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	55 	+1 Lap 	14 	
14 	17 	Olivier Panis 	 	55 	+1 Lap 	8 	
15 	19 	Timo Glock 	 	55 	+1 Lap 	19 	
16 	21 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	 	53 	+3 Laps 	19 	
Ret 	20 	Gianmaria Bruni 	 	38 	Wheel 	17 	
Ret 	4 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	37 	Damage 	5 	
Ret 	16 	Ricardo Zonta 	 	35 	Transmission 	13 	
Ret 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	11 	Collision 	15 	
Source:'China 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)	Source:'China 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine/classement.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
==Milestones==
* First Chinese Grand Prix to be staged.'16. China 2004', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/chine.aspx, (Accessed 28/12/2019)
* The race was the first where radio conversations between teams and drivers were broadcast to television viewers.
* Ninth career victory for Rubens Barrichello.
* secured their 181st win as a constructor and engine supplier.
** Ferrari set a new record for most point scores in a single season - 29.'2004 Chinese GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=2004&gp=Chinese%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 28/12/2019)
* Michael Schumacher registered the 180th fastest lap for a Ferrari chassis and engine.
** Schumacher set a new record for most fastest laps in a single season - 10.
** Ferrari set a new record for most fastest laps by a constructor in a single season - 10.
==Standings==
Michael Schumacher had failed to score for only the second time in , although as he had already secured the crown that was of little concern. Behind, teammate Rubens Barrichello used his second victory in a row to secure second in the Championship, moving 29 points clear of Jenson Button with just twenty left to fight for. The Brit himself, meanwhile, was guaranteed third in the Championship, while Fernando Alonso held fifth place by four points.
In the Constructors Championship had moved onto 244 points for the season after securing their fourteenth win of the season, leaving them just one shy of the record for most wins in a single campaign. The fight for second, meanwhile, was moving more in 's favour with just two races to go, with the Anglo-Japanese squad moving nine ahead of . They would therefore take the runner-up spot if they outscored the French manufacturer by nine in Japan, with third the worst that either squad could finish the season.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Michael Schumacher 	136 	
2 	Rubens Barrichello 	108 	
3 	Jenson Button 	79 	
4 	Fernando Alonso 	50 	1
5 	Jarno Trulli 	46 	1
6 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	46 	
7 	Kimi Räikkönen 	34 	
8 	Takuma Sato 	26 	1
9 	David Coulthard 	24 	1
10 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	21 	
11 	Ralf Schumacher 	12 	
12 	Felipe Massa 	11 	
13 	Mark Webber 	7 	
14 	Olivier Panis 	6 	
15 	Antônio Pizzonia 	6 	
16 	Christian Klien 	3 	
17 	Cristiano da Matta 	3 	
18 	Nick Heidfeld 	3 	
19 	Timo Glock 	2 	
20 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	244 	
2 	 	105 	
3 	 	96 	
4 	 	64 	
5 	 	58 	
6 	 	32 	
7 	 	10 	
8 	 	9 	
9 	 	5 	
10 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2004 Grands Prix
Category:Chinese Grand Prix