2002 Austrian Grand Prix

The 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, otherwise known as the XXXI Grosser A1 Preis von Österreich, was the sixth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the A1 Ring in Spielberg, Austria, on 12 May 2002.'Austrian GP, 2002', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr686.html, (Accessed 15/11/2019) The race would see make one of the biggest PR blunders in F1 history, after ordering Rubens Barrichello to hand victory to Championship dominating teammate Michael Schumacher.
Indeed, Barrichello had been the stronger of the Ferrari drivers across the weekend, having claimed pole position during qualifying. Ralf Schumacher, meanwhile, would get his ahead of brother Michael in the #1 Ferrari, with Juan Pablo Montoya completing the top four.
The start proved even further that Barrichello had the best pace in the field, with the Brazilian ace sprinting away to claim the lead. He hence left teammate Michael Schumacher to charge past Ralf Schumacher in the #5 Williams, followed by Nick Heidfeld in the Ferrari engined .
Elsewhere, Felipe Massa was put onto the grass while fighting with Kimi Räikkönen and Montoya, while Enrique Bernoldi smacked into the back of his teammate Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Further around the lap Frentzen was on the receiving end of a whack from an out of control Jacques Villeneuve, sending the German racer for a bounce across a gravel trap.
Out front, meanwhile, Barrichello established himself at the head of the field dragging teammate Schumacher with him as they disappeared from Heidfeld. Heidfeld, in his bid to stay with them, would run wide at the Castrol Kurve on lap two and allowed both the Williams cars through, but remained clear of the two behind.
With that the race for victory was effectively over for anyone not driving a Ferrari, for Barrichello and Schumacher were able to increase their lead by almost two seconds a lap. Fortunately, there would be action further down the field, with Villenenuve barging his way up the order, albeit aided by retirements for Räikkönen and Massa.
On lap 24 hopes of a Ferrari defeat were briefly enhanced by an appearance for the safety car, with Ferrari calling in both Barrichello and Schumacher for the their first stops. Williams, on a one-stop, stayed out with Ralf Schumacher splitting the Ferraris as they rejoined, with the race restarting on lap 28 with Barrichello still in the lead.
The Brazilian aced the restart to leave the Schumachers to fight amongst themselves, only for Heidfeld to ruin his race with a rear lock-up, which sent his Sauber skating backwards down towards Remus. The German race duly careened into the side of Takuma Sato, having narrowly missed Montoya, and left both cars with heavy damage. Fortunately, both Heidfeld and Sato, who both needed outside help to get out of their cockpits, would escape with only minor leg injuries.
The race resumed after a twenty minute spell behind the safety car, with Barrichello again acing the restart to begin building his lead again on lap 36. He duly left the Ralf Schumacher to fend off his brother Michael, which the German racer duly managed until making his only stop of the day on lap 47.
Barrichello and Michael Schumacher made their stops on laps 61 and 62 respectively, at which point Ferrari team principal Jean Todt ordered Barrichello to allow his German teammate to pass. Barrichello refused in-spite of an oblique threat to his contract with the team, with the Brazilian managing to prevent Schumacher from closing to within a second of him during the final laps.
Indeed, it was only on the run to the line that Barrichello finally relented, slamming on the brakes just metres from the chequered flag to gift Schumacher the win. That prompted en-masse booing from the crowd as Montoya swept across the line to complete the podium. Behind him came Ralf Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella and David Coulthard.
The podium ceremony saw the Austrian fans make their displeasure known, prompting Schumacher to swap places with Barrichello and hand him the winner's trophy. Ferrari were subsequently slapped with a $1,000,000 fine for that podium violation, with the FIA later banning "team orders" for the season onward.
==Background==
With less than a third of the season completed it already looked as if the title fight was over, for another dominant victory for Michael Schumacher had moved the German ace onto 44 points out of a maximum 50. That left him a daunting 21 clear of second placed Juan Pablo Montoya, the Colombian racer himself having moved ahead of Schumacher's brother Ralf in Spain. Behind, David Coulthard had moved into fourth ahead of Jenson Button, while Heinz-Harald Frentzen had become the thirteenth scorer of the campaign.
In the Constructors Championship, meanwhile, had managed to inch away from , leaving Spain with an enhanced lead of seven points. Those two were in a class of their own at the head of the field, with Williams holding a 30 point advantage over third placed . The Anglo-German alliance itself had managed to ease away from after the latter's late demise, although remained just five clear of the returning French effort.
===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 	 	F2002 	 	051 3.0 V10 	
2 	Rubens Barrichello 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F2002 	 	051 3.0 V10 	
3 	David Coulthard 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-17 	 	FO 110M 3.0 V10 	
4 	Kimi Räikkönen 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-17 	 	FO 110M 3.0 V10 	
5 	Ralf Schumacher 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW24 	 	P82 3.0 V10 	
6 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW24 	 	P82 3.0 V10 	
7 	Nick Heidfeld 	Sauber Petronas 	 	C21 	 	02A 3.0 V10 	
8 	Felipe Massa 	Sauber Petronas 	 	C21 	 	02A 3.0 V10 	
9 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	DHL Jordan Honda 	 	EJ12 	 	RA002E 3.0 V10 	
10 	Takuma Sato 	DHL Jordan Honda 	 	EJ12 	 	RA002E 3.0 V10 	
11 	Jacques Villeneuve 	Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	 	004 	 	RA002E 3.0 V10 	
12 	Olivier Panis 	Lucky Strike BAR Honda 	 	004 	 	RA002E 3.0 V10 	
14 	Jarno Trulli 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R202 	 	RS22 3.0 V10 	
15 	Jenson Button 	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team 	 	R202 	 	RS22 3.0 V10 	
16 	Eddie Irvine 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R3 	 	CR-3 3.0 V10 	
17 	Pedro de la Rosa 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R3 	 	CR-3 3.0 V10 	
20 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	Orange Arrows 	 	A23 	 	CR-3 3.0 V10 	
21 	Enrique Bernoldi 	Orange Arrows 	 	A23 	 	CR-3 3.0 V10 	
22 	Alex Yoong 	KL Minardi Asiatech 	 	PS02 	 	AT02 3.0 V10 	
23 	Mark Webber 	KL Minardi Asiatech 	 	PS02 	 	AT02 3.0 V10 	
24 	Mika Salo 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF102 	 	RVX-02 3.0 V10 	
25 	Allan McNish 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF102 	 	RVX-02 3.0 V10 	
Source:'Austria 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/engages.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Qualifying Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Gap 	Ave. Speed
1 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:08.082 	— 	228.748 km/h
2 	5 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:08.364 	+0.282s 	227.804 km/h
3 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:08.704 	+0.622s 	226.677 km/h
4 	6 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	1:09.118 	+1.036s 	225.319 km/h
5 	7 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	1:09.129 	+1.047s 	225.283 km/h
6 	4 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	1:09.154 	+1.072s 	225.202 km/h
7 	8 	Felipe Massa 	 	1:09.228 	+1.146s 	224.961 km/h
8 	3 	David Coulthard 	 	1:09.335 	+1.253s 	224.614 km/h
9 	12 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:09.561 	+1.479s 	223.884 km/h
10 	24 	Mika Salo 	 	1:09.661 	+1.579s 	223.563 km/h
11 	20 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:09.671 	+1.589s 	223.531 km/h
12 	21 	Enrique Bernoldi 	 	1:09.723 	+1.641s 	223.364 km/h
13 	15 	Jenson Button 	 	1:09.780 	+1.698s 	223.181 km/h
14 	25 	Allan McNish 	 	1:09.818 	+1.736s 	223.060 km/h
15 	9 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:09.901 	+1.819s 	222.795 km/h
16 	14 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:09.980 	+1.898s 	222.544 km/h
17 	11 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:10.051 	+1.969s 	222.318 km/h
18 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	1:10.058 	+1.976s 	222.296 km/h
19 	17 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	1:10.553 	+2.471s 	220.736 km/h
20 	16 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:10.741 	+2.659s 	220.150 km/h
21 	23 	Mark Webber 	 	1:11.388 	+3.306s 	218.154 km/h
22 	22 	Alex Yoong 	 	1:12.336 	+4.254s 	215.295 km/h
107% Time: 1:12.848 	107% Time: 1:12.848 	107% Time: 1:12.848 	107% Time: 1:12.848 	107% Time: 1:12.848 	107% Time: 1:12.848 	107% Time: 1:12.848
Source:'Austria 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)'Grosser A1 Preis von Österreich 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/725/austria/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)'Grosser A1 Preis von Österreich 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/725/austria/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)'Grosser A1 Preis von Österreich 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/725/austria/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)'Grosser A1 Preis von Österreich 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/725/austria/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)'Grosser A1 Preis von Österreich 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/725/austria/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)'Grosser A1 Preis von Österreich 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/725/austria/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)'Grosser A1 Preis von Österreich 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/725/austria/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 15/11/2019)
*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.
===Grid===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	71 	1:33:51.562 	3 	10
2 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	71 	+0.182s 	1 	6
3 	6 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	71 	+17.730s 	4 	4
4 	5 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	71 	+18.448s 	2 	3
5 	9 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	71 	+49.965s 	15 	2
6 	3 	David Coulthard 	 	71 	+50.672s 	8 	1
7 	15 	Jenson Button 	 	71 	+51.229s 	13 	
8 	24 	Mika Salo 	 	71 	+1:09.425 	10 	
9 	25 	Allan McNish 	 	71 	+1:09.718 	14 	
10* 	11 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	70 	Engine 	17 	
11 	20 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	69 	+2 Laps 	11 	
12 	23 	Mark Webber 	 	69 	+2 Laps 	21 	
Ret 	14 	Jarno Trulli 	 	44 	Fuel pressure 	16 	
Ret 	22 	Alex Yoong 	 	42 	Engine 	22 	
Ret 	16 	Eddie Irvine 	 	38 	Hydraulics 	20 	
Ret 	7 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	27 	Collision 	5 	
Ret 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	26 	Collision 	18 	
Ret 	12 	Olivier Panis 	 	22 	Engine 	9 	
Ret 	8 	Felipe Massa 	 	7 	Suspension 	7 	
Ret 	4 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	5 	Engine 	6 	
Ret 	21 	Enrique Bernoldi 	 	2 	Collision 	12 	
Ret 	17 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	0 	Throttle 	19 	
Source:'Austria 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)	Source:'Austria 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche/classement.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Villeneuve was still classified despite retiring as he had completed 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
* 100th Grand Prix entry for Mika Salo.'2002 Austrian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=2002&gp=Austrian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 15/11/2019)
* Michael Schumacher claimed his 58th career victory.'6. Austria 2002', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/autriche.aspx, (Accessed 15/11/2019)
* claimed their 149th win as a constructor and engine supplier.
* Schumacher recorded the 150th fastest lap for both a Ferrari chassis and engine.
==Standings==
Regardless of whether the late had been completely necessary in the wider-scope of the Championship, it did have an immediate effect on the table as the F1 field left Austria. Indeed, controversial victor Michael Schumacher would leave Spielberg with double the points of second place Juan Pablo Montoya, moving onto 54 points with his fifth win of the campaign. Behind, Ralf Schumacher had enhanced his grip on third ahead of Rubens Barrichello, with David Coulthard completing the top five.
In the Constructors Championship Ferrari's one-two ensured that they scored maximum points in Austria, and hence opened out a healthy sixteen point lead. Indeed, it meant that second placed were more than a race's worth of points behind them, with the Anglo-German alliance set to be the Scuderia's only threat. Behind, had continued to inch away from the midfield in third, while had been left as the only non-scorers as collected their first points.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Michael Schumacher 	54 	
2 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	27 	
3 	Ralf Schumacher 	23 	
4 	Rubens Barrichello 	12 	2
5 	David Coulthard 	10 	1
6 	Jenson Button 	8 	1
7 	Nick Heidfeld 	5 	
8 	Kimi Räikkönen 	4 	
9 	Eddie Irvine 	3 	
10 	Felipe Massa 	3 	
11 	Mark Webber 	2 	
12 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	2 	8
13 	Mika Salo 	2 	1
14 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	1 	1
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	66 	
2 	 	50 	
3 	 	14 	
4 	 	8 	
5 	 	8 	
6 	 	3 	
7 	 	2 	
8 	 	2 	3
9 	 	2 	1
10 	 	1 	1
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
*
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2002 Grands Prix
Category:Austrian Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Austria