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| August 19, 2002 | Monday | Jamadi-us-Saani 9, 1423 |
Barrichello leads Ferrari to fourth straight crown
BUDAPEST, Aug 18: Rubens Barrichello led Michael Schumacher to a one-two win in Hungary on Sunday and triggered Ferrari celebrations with the team’s fourth successive Formula One constructors’ crown.
The Brazilian started on pole position alongside Schumacher and, with the German’s fifth title already secured in record time in France last month, stayed ahead for the third win of his career and second of 2002.
The two cars crossed the line close together, Schumacher 0.4 of a second behind.
The result lifted Barrichello to second in the championship and put on hold Schumacher’s dream of becoming the first driver to win 10 grands prix in a season, having triumphed in nine of the previous 12.
It was still Ferrari’s day as the team repeated last year’s one-two at the Hungaroring and celebrated an unprecedented 12th constructors’ title to match McLaren’s 1988-1991 record run of four in a row.
With four races to go, and a maximum of 64 constructors’ points up for grabs, Ferrari have an unbeatable 157 points while nearest rivals Williams have 80.
The two drivers, joined by sporting director Jean Todt on the podium and dousing him in champagne, hugged each other as the mechanics and team workers began the party.
In a race in brilliant sunshine but almost devoid of excitement, Ferrari were on a planet of their own as the two red cars roared to their fifth one-two of the season and sixth successive win.
Germany’s Ralf Schumacher, Michael’s younger brother, was third for Williams 13.3 seconds behind Barrichello, with Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen fourth for McLaren.
British driver Anthony Davidson, making his debut for Minardi, was running 17th when he skidded out into a gravel trap with 15 laps remaining on a circuit where normal overtaking is almost impossible.
After a brief flurry at the start, with Briton Jenson Button making up three places from ninth and Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya dropping from fourth to seventh, the race settled down.
Barrichello pulled away from Ralf, who had tried and failed to squeeze past his brother at the start, at the rate of a second a lap for the first 20 laps and kept Schumacher comfortably at bay.
Result (race distance: 77 laps, 306.069 kms): 1. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 1 hour 41 minutes 49.001 seconds (average speed 180.364 kph); 2. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:41.49.435; 3. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 1:42.02.357; 4. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:42.18.480; 5. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1:42.26.801; 6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1:42.57.805; 7. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Sauber 1:43.02.613; 8. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1 lap behind; 9. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1 lap; 10. Takuma Sato (Japan) Jordan 1 lap; 11. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1 lap; 12. Olivier Panis (France) BAR 1 lap; 13. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) Jaguar 2 laps; 14. Allan McNish (Britain) Toyota 2 laps; 15. Mika Salo (Finland) Toyota 2 laps; 16. Mark Webber (Australia) Minardi 2 laps.
Fastest lap: Michael Schumacher, 1:16.207, lap 72.—Reuters
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