2004 Malaysian Grand Prix

The 2004 Malaysian Grand Prix, otherwise officially known as the VI Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix, was the second round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang, Malaysia, on 21 March 2004.'Malaysian GP, 2004', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr715.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019) The race would see Michael Schumacher collect his second victory of the campaign, as Jenson Button secured his maiden podium finish.
Qualifying had seen Schumacher claim a much predicted pole position, although there was a surprise in second as Mark Webber completed the front row for . Rubens Barrichello put the second into third ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya, while Kimi Räikkönen and Button shared the third row.
There would be action before the race even got underway, with Räikkönen spinning on the formation lap, although he would recover to take his fifth place grid slot. This was due to a light drizzle falling over some parts of the circuit, although there was no choice but to start on dry tyres.
The start itself saw Schumacher expertly pull away to claim the lead, while Webber tumbled down the field. The rest of the field would hence swamp the #14 Jaguar, with a fast starting Fernando Alonso storming through from nineteenth to tenth behind the Australian.
The rest of the opening lap saw the field sort itself out, before the rain intensified on the second lap. The increasing rain allowed Jarno Trulli to pass Button, only for the Brit to get revenge at the following corner, while Alonso picked his way into the points with a move on Webber, leaving him stuck behind David Coulthard.
The rain soon stopped, although it had allowed Montoya to prevent Schumacher charging away in the opening laps, meaning the remained a significant threat for victory. Behind, Webber's bad day was made even worse when contact with Ralf Schumacher shredded his right rear tyre, while Takuma Sato went for a bounce through the gravel.
Michael Schumacher then gave the rest of the field hope with an early stop on lap nine, although Montoya was unable to respond when the Ferrari rejoined. The other stops saw Trulli jump Coulthard, while Alonso remained behind the Scot, as Nick Heidfeld lost out on a chance to challenge for points due to a fuel rig failure.
Unfortunately the rest of the race proved fairly undramatic, until Button jumped into third ahead of Räikkönen and Barrichello in the final round of stops. He was subsequently aided by a transmission failure for Räikkönen in the closing stages, although that would only release Barrichello's Ferrari to hunt down the .
Indeed, having been denied a maiden podium several times in the past by a charging Ferrari, Button and BAR were in for a nervous end to the race, with Button unable to respond to Barichello's pace. They were also given a scare when the sister car of Sato retired late on, although as they started the final lap it seemed as if Button had enough in hand.
Out front, meanwhile, Schumacher was able to keep Montoya at arm's length to claim victory, five seconds clear of the Colombian charger. Behind, a jubilant Button secured third, and hence the biggest cheer from the crowd, with Barrichello, Trulli, Coulthard and Felipe Massa securing the remaining points.
==Background==
Michael Schumacher opened his sixth title defence with a convincing victory at the opening round, leaving Australia with ten points. Rubens Barrichello was second as he opened his account for the season, with Fernando Alonso completing the early top three. Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya were next ahead of Jenson Button, with Jarno Trulli and David Coulthard also picking up points at the opening round.
In the Constructors Championship a one-two for at the opening round left them in an already daunting position, holding eighteen points. had half the number of points in second, and were a point ahead of in third, who were the only other double scorers. and were the only other scorers in Australia.
===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:'Malaysia 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/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 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:33.865 	1:33.074 	—
2 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	1:34.016 	1:33.715 	+0.641s
3 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:34.132 	1:33.756 	+0.682s
4 	3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	1:34.941 	1:34.054 	+0.980s
5 	6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	1:33.452 	1:34.164 	+1.090s
6 	9 	Jenson Button 	 	1:34.528 	1:34.221 	+1.147s
7 	4 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:34.777 	1:34.235 	+1.161s
8 	7 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:33.264 	1:34.413 	+1.339s
9 	5 	David Coulthard 	 	1:34.321 	1:34.602 	+1.528s
10 	16 	Cristiano da Matta 	 	1:35.864 	1:34.917 	+1.843s
11 	12 	Felipe Massa 	 	1:35.132 	1:35.039 	+1.965s
12 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:34.877 	1:35.061 	+1.987s
13 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	1:35.618 	1:35.158 	+2.084s
14 	17 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:35.247 	1:35.617 	+2.543s
15 	18 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	1:36.769 	1:36.569 	+3.495s
16 	20 	Gianmaria Bruni 	 	1:38.729 	1:38.577 	+5.503s
17 	21 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	 	1:39.805 	1:39.272 	+6.198s
18* 	19 	Giorgio Pantano 	 	— 	1:39.902 	+6.828s
NC* 	8 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:33.193 	— 	—
NC* 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	1:34.971 	— 	—
Source:'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Malaysia 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Malaysia 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Malaysia 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Malaysia 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Malaysia 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Malaysia 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'2004 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2004/races/754/malaysia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 17/12/2019)'Malaysia 2004: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/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.
** Pantano has no time in Q1 due to a gearbox problem.
** Alonso has no time in Q2 after spinning off the track with a quick lap.
** Sato has no time in Q2 after spinning off the track with a quick lap.
** Pantano, Alonso and Sato all received ten place grid penalties for changing their engines.
** Pantano became the first driver to experience the new penalty for using the spare car and as such a different engine during a Grand Prix weekend.https://web.archive.org/web/20041026200424/http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=148192
===Grid===
** Pantano started 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 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	56 	1:31:07.490 	1 	10
2 	3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	56 	+5.022s 	4 	8
3 	9 	Jenson Button 	 	56 	+11.568s 	6 	6
4 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	56 	+13.615s 	3 	5
5 	7 	Jarno Trulli 	 	56 	+37.360s 	8 	4
6 	5 	David Coulthard 	 	56 	+53.098s 	9 	3
7 	8 	Fernando Alonso 	 	56 	+1:07.877 	19 	2
8 	12 	Felipe Massa 	 	55 	+1 Lap 	11 	1
9 	16 	Cristiano da Matta 	 	55 	+1 Lap 	10 	
10 	15 	Christian Klien 	 	55 	+1 Lap 	13 	
11 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	55 	+1 Lap 	12 	
12 	17 	Olivier Panis 	 	55 	+1 Lap 	14 	
13 	19 	Giorgio Pantano 	 	54 	+2 Laps 	18 	
14 	20 	Gianmaria Bruni 	 	53 	+3 Laps 	16 	
15* 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	52 	Engine 	20 	
16 	21 	Zsolt Baumgartner 	 	52 	+4 Laps 	17 	
Ret 	6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	40 	Transmission 	5 	
Ret 	18 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	34 	Transmission 	15 	
Ret 	4 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	27 	Engine 	7 	
Ret 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	23 	Spin 	2 	
Source:'Malaysia 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)	Source:'Malaysia 2004: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie/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==
* Takuma Sato started his twentieth Grand Prix.'2004 Malaysian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=2004&gp=Malaysian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 17/12/2019)
* 72nd career victory for Michael Schumacher.'2. Malaysia 2004', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2004/malaisie.aspx, (Accessed 17/12/2019)
* 169th win for as a constructor and engine supplier.
* Maiden podium finish for Jenson Button.
* Juan Pablo Montoya recorded his tenth fastest lap.
** This was also the 30th fastest lap to be set by a engine.
==Standings==
Michael Schumacher continued his perfect start to the season with victory in Malaysia, leaving the second round with a full points tally of twenty points. Teammate Rubens Barrichello was second, seven behind already, while Juan Pablo Montoya had moved up into third after his second place finish. Jenson Button had also moved up courtesy of his podium finish, with Felipe Massa having been the only driver to add their name to the score sheet.
In the Constructors Championship had almost secure a whole race weekend's advantage in terms of points, leaving the second round with 33 points to their name. That translated into a sixteen point lead over in second, while were in third, a further three behind. were next ahead of , while completed the scorers list.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Michael Schumacher 	20 	
2 	Rubens Barrichello 	13 	
3 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	12 	2
4 	Jenson Button 	9 	2
5 	Fernando Alonso 	8 	2
6 	Jarno Trulli 	6 	1
7 	Ralf Schumacher 	5 	3
8 	David Coulthard 	4 	
9 	Felipe Massa 	1 	7
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	33 	
2 	 	17 	
3 	 	14 	
4 	 	9 	
5 	 	4 	
6 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Malaysian Grand Prix
Category:2004 Grands Prix