2002 French Grand Prix

The 2002 French Grand Prix, otherwise known officially as the LXXXVIII Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France, was the eleventh round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in Magny-Cours, France, on 21 July 2002.'French GP, 2002', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr691.html, (Accessed 19/11/2019) The race would see Michael Schumacher claim victory and his fifth World Championship title, matching the record set by Juan Manuel Fangio for most F1 crowns.
Schumacher would have to fight for his record achievement, however, having been beaten to pole position in qualifying by Juan Pablo Montoya. Behind, Rubens Barrichello shared the second row with Kimi Räikkönen, while Ralf Schumacher and David Coulthard completed the third row.
The start saw Montoya ease into an early lead ahead of the German ace, while Räikkönen claimed third as Barrichello was unable to start due to an electrical failure. The rest of the field would also largely get away in grid order, with Jenson Button moving into sixth as a result of Barrichello's demise.
Montoya and Michael Schumacher quickly pulled with Räikkönen stalking them in the early stages, with the #1 all over the back of the #6 . However, Magny-Cours had gained an ominous reputation for being a circuit that made overtaking difficult at best, and hence there was no way through for Schumacher in the clearly faster car.
The race therefore became a battle of strategy, with Montoya the first top stop on lap 23. Schumacher had two laps in clear air, albeit with Räikkönen still a threat, before making his stop, only to cross the white line while exiting the pits, handing himself a drive-through penalty despite emerging ahead of Montoya.
Räikkönen led for a lap before making his stop, with Coulthard duly inheriting the lead until he made his stop. Schumacher hence assumed the lead before serving his penalty, returning the lead to Montoya, although the Colombian racer's pace had collapsed on his second set of Michelin tyres.
Indeed, Montoya was steadily caught by Räikkönen, who duly flashed past the Williams prior to making his second stop. Coulthard then had brief stint in the lead before making his second stop, with the order eventually resolving itself into Räikkönen leading from Schumacher and Coulthard, with Montoya still struggling after his second stop.
With just five laps to go it seemed as if Räikkönen was on for his maiden F1 victory, only for Allan McNish to inadvertently decide both the race and the Championship. Indeed, the Scot would suffer an engine failure in the back of his and dump oil through the second corner, with Räikkönen the first on the scene.
The Finn suffered a half-spin and slid wide, allowing Schumacher to eliminate the rest of the gap between them. The German ace duly eased ahead as Räikkönen rallied back onto the circuit, with the Ferrari full ahead as they braked for Adelaide.
With that the race was run, with Schumacher keeping Räikkönen at bay to claim victory and the Championship, becoming the first driver to win the F1 Championship in July. Behind, Coulthard had a lonely run to complete the podium ahead of Montoya and Ralf Schumacher, while Button claimed the final point amid news he was to be replaced at by Fernando Alonso at the end of the season.
==Background==
Michael Schumacher moved ever closer to his fifth World Championship title with victory at Silverstone, leaving the British circuit with 86 points to his name. That meant that he held a 54 point advantage at the head of the field, and could feasibly win the title in France, before the end of July. Indeed, Rubens Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher, his closest challengers, were set to be the only ones who could deny the German ace, if they could finish ahead of him in France.
In the Constructors Championship had also moved into an almost unassailable lead, leaving Silverstone with 118 points and a 57 point lead. hence could still entertain a title threat, but now faced an almost four race deficit in terms of points just to get back onto terms with the Scuderia. They did, however, manage to increase their healthy margin over third placed , while were off the foot of the table after claiming their first points of the campaign.
===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 	 	R3B 	 	CR-4 3.0 V10 	
17 	Pedro de la Rosa 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R3B 	 	CR-4 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:'France 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)
==Practice Overview==
===Free Practice 1===
===Free Practice 2===
===Warm-Up===
===Practice Results===
The full practice results for the are outline below:
No.	Driver 	Constructor	FP1 	 	FP2 	 	Warm-Up 	
No.	Driver 	Constructor	Time 	Pos.	Time 	Pos.	Time 	Pos.
1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:14.240	3 	1:12.974	1 	1:14.174	1
2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:14.750	4 	1:13.503	4 	1:14.888	2
3 	David Coulthard 	 	1:14.025	1 	1:13.249	3 	1:15.817	9
4 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	1:14.097	2 	1:12.995	2 	1:15.714	7
5 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:14.970	5 	1:13.728	7 	1:16.184	12
6 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	1:15.271	10 	1:13.633	6 	1:16.755	14
7 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	1:16.209	16 	1:14.108	9 	1:15.534	5
8 	Felipe Massa 	 	1:16.030	13 	1:14.211	12 	1:15.519	4
9 	Giancarlo Fisichella	 	1:15.422	12 	1:14.949	15 	 	
10 	Takuma Sato 	 	1:16.167	15 	1:14.503	13 	1:16.068	11
11 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:16.457	17 	1:15.036	16 	1:16.821	15
12 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:16.163	14 	1:14.557	14 	1:16.068	11
14 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:16.763	19 	1:14.161	10 	1:15.455	3
15 	Jenson Button 	 	1:15.218	9 	1:13.553	5 	1:15.673	6
16 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:14.983	6 	1:14.018	8 	1:15.804	8
17 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	1:15.179	8 	1:14.211	11 	1:16.612	13
22 	Alex Yoong 	 	1:19.015	20 	1:17.207	20 	1:19.045	19
23 	Mark Webber 	 	1:16.496	18 	1:15.797	19 	1:17.873	18
24 	Mika Salo 	 	1:15.161	7 	1:15.516	17 	1:16.889	16
25 	Allan McNish 	 	1:15.411	11 	1:15.650	18 	1:17.056	17
==Qualifying==
===Qualifying Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Gap 	Ave. Speed
1 	6 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	1:11.985 	— 	212.594 km/h
2 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:12.008 	+0.023s 	212.526 km/h
3* 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:12.197 	+0.212s 	211.970 km/h
4 	4 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	1:12.244 	+0.259s 	211.832 km/h
5 	5 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:12.424 	+0.439s 	211.306 km/h
6 	3 	David Coulthard 	 	1:12.498 	+0.513s 	211.090 km/h
7 	15 	Jenson Button 	 	1:12.761 	+0.776s 	210.327 km/h
8 	14 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:13.030 	+1.045s 	209.552 km/h
9 	16 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:13.188 	+1.203s 	209.100 km/h
10 	7 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	1:13.370 	+1.385s 	208.581 km/h
11 	12 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:13.457 	+1.472s 	208.334 km/h
12 	8 	Felipe Massa 	 	1:13.501 	+1.516s 	208.209 km/h
13 	11 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:13.506 	+1.521s 	208.195 km/h
14 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	1:13.542 	+1.557s 	208.093 km/h
15 	17 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	1:13.656 	+1.671s 	207.771 km/h
16 	24 	Mika Salo 	 	1:13.837 	+1.852s 	207.262 km/h
17 	25 	Allan McNish 	 	1:13.949 	+1.964s 	206.948 km/h
18 	23 	Mark Webber 	 	1:14.800 	+2.815s 	204.594 km/h
19 	22 	Alex Yoong 	 	1:16.798 	+4.813s 	199.271 km/h
107% Time: 1:17.023 	107% Time: 1:17.023 	107% Time: 1:17.023 	107% Time: 1:17.023 	107% Time: 1:17.023 	107% Time: 1:17.023 	107% Time: 1:17.023
DNQ 	20 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:18.497 	+6.512s 	194.958 km/h
DNQ 	21 	Enrique Bernoldi 	 	1:19.843 	+7.858s 	191.671 km/h
WD† 	9 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	 	 	
Source:'France 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/730/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/730/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/730/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/730/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/730/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/730/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 2002 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2002/races/730/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 19/11/2019)
*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.
** Barrichello was unable to start the race due to an electrical failure.
*† Fisichella was withdrawn from the race weekend after an accident during practice.
===Grid===
** Barrichello was unable to start the race due to an electrical failure.
==Race==
thumb|center|335 px
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	72 	1:32:09.837 	2 	10
2 	4 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	72 	+1.105s 	4 	6
3 	3 	David Coulthard 	 	72 	+31.976s 	6 	4
4 	6 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	 	72 	+40.676s 	1 	3
5 	5 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	72 	+41.773s 	5 	2
6 	15 	Jenson Button 	 	71 	+1 Lap 	7 	1
7 	7 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	71 	+1 lap 	10 	
8 	23 	Mark Webber 	 	71 	+1 lap 	18 	
9 	17 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	70 	+2 laps 	15 	
10 	22 	Alex Yoong 	 	68 	+4 laps 	19 	
11* 	25 	Allan McNish 	 	65 	Engine 	17 	
Ret 	16 	Eddie Irvine 	 	52 	Wing 	9 	
Ret 	14 	Jarno Trulli 	 	49 	Engine 	8 	
Ret 	8 	Felipe Massa 	 	48 	Transmission 	12 	
Ret 	24 	Mika Salo 	 	48 	Engine 	16 	
Ret 	11 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	35 	Engine 	13 	
Ret 	12 	Olivier Panis 	 	35 	Accident 	11 	
Ret 	10 	Takuma Sato 	 	35 	Spin 	14 	
DNS† 	2 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	20 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	21 	Enrique Bernoldi 	 	 	 	 	
WD 	9 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'France 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)	Source:'France 2002: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** McNish was still classified despite retiring as he had completed 90% of the race distance.
*† Barrichello was unable to start the race due to an electrical failure.
==Milestones==
* Michael Schumacher declared as the FIA Formula One World Championship for Drivers Champion.
** Schumacher set a new record for the earliest date that the Championship was won - 21 July.
** Also Schumacher's fifth World Championship, moving him level with Juan Manuel Fangio.'11. France 2002', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2002/france.aspx, (Accessed 19/11/2019)
* Juan Pablo Montoya claimed the 25th pole position for a engine.
* 61st career victory for Schumacher.
** Schumacher also set a new record for most consecutive point scores - 16.'2002 French GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=2002&gp=French%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 19/11/2019)
* claimed their 153rd win as a constructor and engine supplier.
==Standings==
Michael Schumacher claimed the FIA Formula One World Championship in record time after his victory in France, leaving Magny-Cours with 96 points to his credit. That granted him an unassailable 62 point lead over Juan Pablo Montoya in second, the Colombian racer having moved ahead of Rubens Barrichello to claim second. Regardless, Montoya, Barrichello, Ralf Schumacher and David Coulthard were all now set to battle for second, with just four points separating the quartet.
In the Constructors Championship left France on the verge of claiming the crown, although they still had a small distance to go. Indeed, the Scuderia left France with 128 points to their name and a 62 point lead, meaning they would claim the crown as early as the Hungarian Grand Prix. were now left as the only team mathematically capable of making a challenge, although in truth the Anglo-German effort were too far back to seriously challenge.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Michael Schumacher 	96 	
2 	Juan Pablo Montoya 	34 	1
3 	Rubens Barrichello 	32 	1
4 	Ralf Schumacher 	32 	
5 	David Coulthard 	30 	
6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	17 	
7 	Jenson Button 	11 	
8 	Nick Heidfeld 	6 	
9 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	6 	
10 	Jarno Trulli 	4 	
11 	Felipe Massa 	4 	
12 	Jacques Villeneuve 	3 	
13 	Eddie Irvine 	3 	
14 	Mark Webber 	2 	
15 	Mika Salo 	2 	
16 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	2 	
17 	Olivier Panis 	2 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	128 	
2 	 	66 	
3 	 	47 	
4 	 	15 	
5 	 	10 	
6 	 	6 	
7 	 	5 	
8 	 	3 	
9 	 	2 	
10 	 	2 	
11 	 	2 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2002 Grands Prix
Category:French Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in France