Michael Schumacher on Sunday achieved his dream of winning the German Grand Prix for Ferrari. In claiming his ninth win of the year, the German equalled Nigel Mansell’s record for victories in a single season.
Michael Schumacher on Sunday achieved his dream of winning the German Grand Prix for Ferrari. In claiming his ninth win of the year, the German equalled Nigel Mansell’s record for victories in a single season.
It was also only the second time the five-time world champion had won the German Grand Prix. But the Ferrari star, who won the title in record time in France a week ago, had to hold off a determined challenge from his brother Ralf Schumacher.
However, Ralf did not finish second – he lost the place to team-mate Juan-Pablo Montoya due to a late pit-stop to fix a loss of hydraulic pressure on his Williams BMW.
Ralf managed to get out of the pits in third place ahead of Ferrari number two Rubens Barrichello.
But Williams’ predictions that they would provide a tougher challenge to Ferrari than in recent races proved correct thanks to a strong performance from their Michelin tyres.
Schumacher was able to build up an early lead in his Bridgestone-shod Ferrari, but the Michelins improved as the race progressed and Ralf was able to close in at the end of the first stint.
The Ferrari was stronger in the second stint, and through decisive driving in lapped traffic and relentless consistency, the world champion was able to make his second stop with comfort.
Schumacher said: “It was a very tight battle between Ralf and myself. All of us struggled a little with temperatures today. The tyres were blistering and I had to fight quite hard to keep my lead at the end of the first stint.
“We were a little concerned about what would happen with the second and third stints, but thankfully they were OK,” he added.
Schumacher added that it had been a privilege to win his home grand prix for Ferrari – a team that has helped him win three world championship titles in the last seven years.
”It’s hard to put it into words, because we have achieved so much in this year that it’s amazing. I only thank God that he was giving me this opportunity. The team, again, did a fantastic job. It was a very tight battle today but I think the German fans really loved that.
“It’s obviously a shame what happened to Ralf. It would have been nice to have two Schumachers in first and second position but I’m sure we will get more opportunities in the future maybe. Anyway, I’m more than thankful to have been able to achieve this result.
Indeed, had Ralf not been held up as he lapped Jarno Trulli’s Renault before the first pit stop and by Jacques Villeneuve as he entered the pits, the battle would have been even closer.
Ralf said: “It was a very disappointing day for me, everything that could go wrong did go wrong.”
Either way, Ralf provided the toughest challenge Ferrari had faced since Michael Schumacher was saved by a blown engine for Montoya at the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this year.
Montoya had shown similar pace to Schumacher, but his hopes of a win were wrecked when he lost a place to McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen at the start.
It took Montoya 12 laps to pass Raikkonen, which he did in scintillating style after a thrilling battle in which they were side by side for six corners.
Eventually, the Colombian went down the inside of the quick right-hander into the Stadium section, but Raikkonen, despite being off the track, would not give way.
The two raced side by side to the next corner, the Sachs Curve, where Montoya outbraked the Finn on the outside to claim fourth place.
By the time Montoya was into fourth place, though, he was more than 15 seconds behind Michael Schumacher and too far behind to join the lead battle.
He looked set to finish fourth, but passed Barrichello when the Brazilian suffered a refuelling problem at his second pit stop, before benefiting from Ralf Schumacher’s problem.
The McLaren team could not repeat its strong performance of Magny Cours. David Coulthard was fifth, but he was a long way off the pace of the Ferraris and Williams and was lapped by the winner.
And the team made the mistake of not changing Raikkonen’s tyres at his first pit stop – he suffered a rear tyre blow-out during his second stint which wrecked his hopes.
Nick Heidfeld was sixth for Sauber.
