2004 San Marino Grand Prix

The 2004 San Marino Grand Prix, otherwise known as the XXIV Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino, was the fourth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged on 25 April 2004 at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy.'San Marino GP, 2004', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr717.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019) The race would see Michael Schumacher collect his fourth straight win to continue his perfect start to the season, having tactically jumped Jenson Button mid-race.
Indeed, it was the Brit who had emerged from qualifying as the fastest driver in the field, ending and Schumacher's pole position streak. Schumacher would, however, secure second in the #1 Ferrari, with Juan Pablo Montoya and Rubens Barrichello securing the second row.
The start of the race saw Button's beat the Ferrari off the line, causing some concern for the tifosi who had expected Schumacher to streak past. Instead, the defending Champion would have to settle for second, with the rest of the field charging through the first corner behind them without issue.
Indeed, it was only when the field hit the brakes for the Tamburello chicane that some major dramas occurred, with David Coulthard slamming the back of Fernando Alonso. The Scot duly went bouncing across the gravel trap with a front wing missing, while Alonso lost a few places controlling his suddenly sliding .
Schumacher would also survive an attack from Montoya at Tosa, with a dubious claim that the "could not see" the Colombian's #3 as he elbowed Montoya wide onto the grass. Montoya duly slipped back to fight with his teammate Ralf Schumacher, resulting in the younger Schumacher going for a slide across the grass, a move which allowed Takuma Sato to pass the #4 Williams.
That fighting allowed Button to build a small lead on the opening lap, although Michael Schumacher would quickly demolish that to glue himself to the Brit's tail. Indeed, it seemed only a matter of time before the BAR succumbed to the Ferrari, and when Button dived into the pits for his first stop on lap nine, the race was effectively over.
Two lap records and a stop later and Schumacher was scrambling out of the pitlane ahead of the BAR, much to Button's dismay. With that the Ferrari was away, with Schumacher establishing a demoralising lead, while Button ran in an increasingly lonely second, well clear of Montoya.
Indeed, the entire fight for the podium, let alone victory, was over from that moment, with the second round of stops seeing Montoya, Button and Schumacher come in and stop without losing their positions. Behind, there was more interest as Barrichello closed in on Ralf Schumacehr, but could not find a way past, while Felipe Massa and Mark Webber squabbled outside of the top ten.
The third round of stops would see Jarno Trulli jump Barrichello, while Alonso jumped both of them, but on-track action was limited. Elsewhere, a promising run in the points for Sato would be ended by another dramatic engine failure, while Alonso inadvertently tipped Ralf Schumacher into a spin at Tosa, before charging off after Montoya.
With that the race was over, with Michael Schumacher cruising through the final laps to claim another ominous victory ahead of Button. Montoya completed the podium before Alonso could catch him, while Trulli likewise fended off a charge from Barrichello to secure fifth. Ralf Schumacher would recover to seventh after his Alonso tap, while Kimi Räikkönen scored his first points of the campaign, albeit in a disappointing eighth.
==Background==
Michael Schumacher continued his charge towards the title with his third win in three races in , ending the weekend on a maximum score of 30 points. Rubens Barrichello was now the only driver within a win's worth of points of the German ace, making the German the favourite for the title already. Jenson Button, meanwhile, had moved into third after a second successive podium, with Juan Pablo Montoya and Fernando Alonso completing the scorers.
In the Constructors Championship looked to be in a class of their own, having dropped just three points across the opening three rounds. They therefore had a crushing 29 point lead over second placed , while slipped to third, three of the French manufacturer. , meanwhile, had drawn level with the Anglo-German alliance, with completing the top five.
===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 	 	MP4-19 	 	FO 110Q 3.0 V10 	
6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-19 	 	FO 110Q 3.0 V10 	
7 	Jarno Trulli 	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 	Cristiano da Matta 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF104 	 	RVX-04 3.0 V10 	
17 	Olivier Panis 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF104 	 	RVX-04 3.0 V10 	
18 	Nick Heidfeld 	Jordan Ford 	 	EJ14 	 	RS2 3.0 V10 	
19 	Giorgio Pantano 	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 	Ricardo Zonta 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF104 	 	RVX-04 3.0 V10 	
39 	Timo Glock 	Jordan Ford 	 	EJ14 	 	RS2 3.0 V10 	
40 	Bas Leinders 	Minardi Cosworth 	 	PS04B 	 	CR-3L 3.0 V10 	
Source:'San Marino 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)
==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 	9 	Jenson Button 	 	1:20.632 	1:19.753 	—
2 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:20.440 	1:20.011 	+0.258s
3 	3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	1:19.805 	1:20.212 	+0.459s
4 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:20.927 	1:20.451 	+0.698s
5 	4 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:20.423 	1:20.538 	+0.785s
6 	8 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:21.799 	1:20.895 	+1.142s
7 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	1:20.984 	1:20.913 	+1.160s
8 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	1:21.458 	1:20.921 	+1.168s
9 	7 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:21.669 	1:21.034 	+1.281s
10 	16 	Cristiano da Matta 	 	1:21.737 	1:21.087 	+1.334s
11 	5 	David Coulthard 	 	1:20.566 	1:21.091 	+1.338s
12 	12 	Felipe Massa 	 	1:22.154 	1:21.532 	+1.779s
13 	17 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:21.231 	1:21.558 	+1.805s
14 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	1:22.246 	1:21.949 	+2.196s
15 	19 	Giorgio Pantano 	 	1:24.643 	1:23.352 	+3.599s
16 	18 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	1:23.055 	1:23.488 	+3.735s
17 	20 	Gianmaria Bruni 	 	1:26.463 	1:26.899 	+7.146s
18* 	21 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	 	1:27.319 	1:46.299 	+26.546s
NC 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:20.716 	— 	—
NC* 	6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	1:21.181 	— 	—
Source:'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'San Marino 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'San Marino 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'San Marino 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'San Marino 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'San Marino 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'San Marino 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Gran Premio Foster's di San Marino 2004 - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/756/san-marino/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'San Marino 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)
*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.
** Baumgartner and Räikkönen awarded ten place grid penalties for changing their engines.
===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 	 	62 	1:26:19.670 	2 	10
2 	9 	Jenson Button 	 	62 	+9.702s 	1 	8
3 	3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	62 	+21.617s 	3 	6
4 	8 	Fernando Alonso 	 	62 	+23.654s 	6 	5
5 	7 	Jarno Trulli 	 	62 	+36.216s 	9 	4
6 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	62 	+36.683s 	4 	3
7 	4 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	62 	+55.730s 	5 	2
8 	6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	61 	+1 Lap 	20 	1
9 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	61 	+1 Lap 	18 	
10 	12 	Felipe Massa 	 	61 	+1 Lap 	12 	
11 	17 	Olivier Panis 	 	61 	+1 Lap 	13 	
12 	5 	David Coulthard 	 	61 	+1 Lap 	11 	
13 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	61 	+1 Lap 	8 	
14 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	60 	+2 Laps 	8 	
15 	21 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	 	58 	+4 Laps 	19 	
16* 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	56 	Engine 	7 	
Ret 	18 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	48 	Driveshaft 	16 	
Ret 	16 	Cristiano da Matta 	 	32 	Accident 	10 	
Ret 	20 	Gianmaria Bruni 	 	22 	Brakes 	17 	
Ret 	19 	Giorgio Pantano 	 	6 	Accident 	Hydraulics 	
Source:'San Marino 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'San Marino 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Sato was still classified despite retiring as he had completed 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
* Twentieth Grand Prix start for Cristiano da Matta and Felipe Massa.'2004 San Marino GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=2004&gp=San%20Marino%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 17/12/2019)
* Maiden pole position for Jenson Button.'4. San Marino 2004', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/saint-marin.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)
* secured their first pole position as a constructor.
** registered their 75th pole as an engine supplier.
* 74th career victory for Michael Schumacher.
* 171st win for as a constructor and engine supplier.
* Button claimed the 160th podium finish for a Honda engine.
* Schumacher recorded the 170th fastest lap for a Ferrari chassis and engine.
** This was also the 75th fastest lap set using Bridgestone tyres.
==Standings==
Michael Schumacher moved onto a maximum score of 40 points in front of the loyal tifosi, and hence established a sixteen point lead at the head of the Championship hunt. His teammate Rubens Barrichello had retained second, although Jenson Button was a strong third, just a point behind the Brazilian after three straight podium finishes. Behind the table was fairly static, with Kimi Räikkönen moving off the foot of the table after his first point score (and race finish) of the campaign.
 had likewise only dropped another five points from their almost flawless start to the campaign, leaving San Marino on 64 for the season. , meanwhile, had slipped further behind, 33 behind having scored 31 points of their own, while and were level on 27 in third. then completed the top five, yet to break into double figures, with and the only other scorers.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Michael Schumacher 	40 	
2 	Rubens Barrichello 	24 	
3 	Jenson Button 	23 	
4 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	18 	
5 	Fernando Alonso 	16 	
6 	Jarno Trulli 	15 	
7 	Ralf Schumacher 	9 	
8 	Takuma Sato 	4 	
9 	David Coulthard 	4 	
10 	Felipe Massa 	1 	
11 	Mark Webber 	1 	
12 	Kimi Räikkönen 	1 	8
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	64 	
2 	 	31 	
3 	 	27 	1
4 	 	27 	1
5 	 	5 	
6 	 	1 	
7 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:San Marino Grand Prix
Category:2004 Grands Prix
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Formula One races in Italy