Projects of immediate comeback, the examination of errors and their origin, a healthy self-criticism. No one to blame, no serious symptoms: there is time to recover, if in Imola the winning pace of the last three seasons will return. Ferrari’s relaunch plans, after the disappointing start of the World Championship, emerge on Tuesday, April 8, 2003 in Maranello from the summit of the States General. As always, after a race weekend, Luca Montezemolo debriefs with Jean Todt and the leaders of the racing team. He dictates the line. Waiting for the technical feedback on the cars returning from Brazil, the president regrets that he did not get what was realistically possible, that is two victories, with the strategies. The F2002, he reiterates, is still the fastest car: this is demonstrated by the two pole positions (Melbourne and São Paulo) and the fastest laps of Sepang and Interlagos. It is confirmed that the stop of Rubens Barrichello in Brazil was determined by an anomalous consumption (same problem experienced at Spa in 2000), not detected by telemetry, which was out of order. Luca Montezemolo reiterates to his collaborators maximum confidence in the future and in the drivers, relegating the disappointments to fortuitous circumstances and imputing the last mistake of Michael Schumacher to the absurd conditions: no mental relaxation. The president urges everyone to make the maximum effort, to show that Ferrari has not lost the good habit of treasureing the negative moments transforming them into positive energy. And working, as and more than before. The ordinary operational meeting becomes extraordinary for two basic decisions: the choice to debut the new F2003 GA at Easter and the policy to be adopted Wednesday, April 9, 2003 in London, where Ferrari will ask to rewrite the most discussed rules (the one related to tyres), but also more clarity about the mysteries of the parc fermé.
Ross Brawn and Stefano Domenicali will say that they are against the imposition of a single tyre wet, regardless of the weather. The Maranello team and Bridgestone (unlike Michelin) had accepted this novelty that for the rival teams, struggling in the wet last year, proved to be a real advantage and did not reduce costs at all, as the dry tyres remained two. Ferrari considers unacceptable the danger deriving from this choice, as demonstrated by the accidents at São Paulo. Another battle is about the clarity of the rules. Not much (or not only) for the elastic interpretation that allowed Kimi Raikkonen to replace the engine a few hours before the race, as for allowing substantial changes to the set-up: in case of rain the Maranello team can intervene on the brakes, front wing and cooling vents, but not on the rear wing nor on the ground height, as happened in Brazil. Michael Schumacher, who had bet on a wet set-up on Saturday, was penalised by the recovery of rival teams against the spirit of regulation. Ferrari will also ask for better safety standards to avoid risks such as those of the crane just outside the track that could have caused serious damage to Michael Schumacher. The tests credit the new cars a second less per lap: that is absolute competitiveness, even if the immediate reliability remains unknown. Meanwhile, Luca Badoer and Felipe Massa will be at Mugello, while the following day there will be Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. Ferrari starts again from Imola to return the model of efficiency it had magically accustomed us to.
"Sorry, maybe we were wrong".
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, April 9, 2003, the FIA admitted that the timekeepers present at São Paulo may have made a mistake and suggested that the Brazilian Grand Prix was won by Giancarlo Fisichella instead of Kimi Raikkonen. Result: after the accident, after the chaos on the new rules (by the way, all the teams agree: they will ask to have two types of rain tyres again), you do not even know who arrived first. It was Jordan, the team for which Giancarlo Fisichella runs, who brought the evidence. The FIA found them convincing and called on Friday, April 11, 2003, in Paris, the race stewards and all the teams affected by the ranking change. The data on timing, the filmed shooting of the last, rocambolesque stages of the race and the testimony of the protagonists will be taken into consideration. The reconstruction starts from lap 54: Giancarlo Fisichella overtakes the McLaren of Kimi Raikkonen and takes the lead, while Mark Webber, who is in P7, has an accident just before the parabolic curve that leads to the pit straight.
The leading drivers start the 55th lap: Giancarlo Fisichella passes unscathed in the middle of the wreckage of the Jaguar, while Fernando Alonso hits a wheel, loses control and bounces from one guardrail to another. There is chaos on track: after 8 seconds Giancarlo Fisichella crosses the finish line and begins the 56th lap, but 20 seconds later the red flag signal that stops the Grand Prix for safety reasons is displayed. According to the rules, the ranking is that of two laps before: Giancarlo Fisichella started lap 56, so we should consider lap 54 (and not lap 53, as the Brazilian stewards did). The new ranking would see in the lead the Italian driver (who would be fourth in the World Championship standings), ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, David Coulthard, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jacques Villeneuve. The seventh place would go to the other Italian, Jarno Trulli, in place of Mark Webber who did not finish lap 54. For the same reason, Ralf Schumacher would gain a position, too, conquering the point assigned to eighth place. Giancarlo Fisichella says:
"The team sent very important data to the FIA, but I don’t want to be under any illusions before the verdict. I don’t want to be disappointed again".
In São Paulo, back in the pits, Giancarlo Fisichella had exulted, hugged the patron Eddie Jordan, and received the compliments of rivals and friends. Then the disappointment that denied him the joy (that no one will ever give him back) to celebrate on the podium for the first time of his life. Giancarlo Fisichella has never won a Formula 1 race. He is 30 years old and has been in the Circus since 1996, when he made his debut in Australia at the wheel of a Minardi. Since then, he has raced 110 Grands Prix: after a season with Jordan in which he had Ralf Schumacher as teammate, he moved to Benetton, where he remained until 2001 before returning to Jordan. He took pole position in Austria in 1998, five second places and four third places. Last year he received the Driver’s Award, which drivers award to the best of the season.
"After Webber’s accident I managed to pass because the box warned me to slow down. I slalomed through the debris and went straight. If the victory comes back to me I will be more than happy, however I still have the annoyance of not being on the top step of the podium. I passed Raikkonen by force: I made a feint on the right, I induced him to lengthen the braking and I inserted myself on the inside. It seemed like it was for nothing... Let’s hope for the better".
Even Jarno Trulli hopes:
"I would take another step forward in the standings, but it is better to wait for the official decision".
McLaren reacts with fairplay:
"If it is proved that there was an error, any consequent change in the ranking would be understandable".
An embarrassed comment by Tag Heuer, sponsor of the Woking team and official Formula 1 timekeeper. Jean Campiche, the spokesman, says:
"We are surprised".
Giancarlo Fisichella says:
"Let’s talk about it when everything is decided".
The appointment is for Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. in Paris at Place de la Concorde, headquarters of the FIA. Ferrari will not participate in the meeting in Paris as it is not involved, although - as admitted by Michael Schumacher - a victory of Giancarlo Fisichella would take two points from Raikkonen, who is at the top of the standings. Meanwhile, Ferrari continues testing with the F2003GA, which could debut at Imola. The results are positive, close to the track record (1'21"287 for Schumacher, 1'21"210 for Barrichello), but the German engine goes up in smoke after 50 laps. On Thursday, April 10, 2003, the F2003-GA tests continue at Mugello, but the bad weather changes Ferrari’s programmes. Michael Schumacher only covers 14 laps (best time 1'45"684), then the team decides to anticipate the shooting of a television commercial for Vodafone. Testing will resume on Friday: at Mugello with Rubens Barrichello and at Fiorano with Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa. The Imola Grand Prix, the first European event of the season, will be accompanied by social events. Jean Todt will be sworn in on Monday, April 14, 2003 as ambassador of the Republic of San Marino.
"Jean Todt's international reputation will enable him to fill this diplomatic job in the most effective way, particularly in the service of humanitarian causes".
Friday, April 11, 2003, for the first time in Formula 1 many things happen: a driver wins a Grand Prix without anyone being disqualified or penalised; the ranking of a race is reviewed because of a timing error, which in sport is the basis of the regulations; the decision is made without anyone complaining. And, above all, for the first time Giancarlo Fisichella wins a race.
"I’m happy, it’s a beautiful day. Fortunately in Formula 1 we can review things. I’m just sorry I missed the party on the podium".
Don’t worry, Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren-Mercedes will organise a tailor-made one for him: Thursday 17 or Friday 18 April 2003, at the Imola circuit they will simulate an award ceremony during which they will give Giancarlo Fisichella the trophy of the first place. The new ranking also makes Ralf Schumacher climb from P9 to P7, while Jarno Trulli remains in P8. The injustice suffered by Jordan and its driver is so obvious that no one is contesting the FIA's verdict. At the meeting in Paris, Giancarlo Fisichella does not even show up. There is no point in listening to his testimony; the objective data of timing and lap counts are enough. The image of Formula 1 had already been tested at the Brazilian Grand Prix due to an hour and a half of accidents and controversies over the new rules. At the Imola weekend, the teams and the FIA will meet to take stock of the situation. The managers of the ten teams have reached a first agreement: return to a double set of rain tyres. If there is unanimity, this rule can be introduced immediately. For Giancarlo Fisichella it is a celebration day. He will have lunch with friends at the Grazia Deledda restaurant in Rome, then he will begin to plan his future.
"The goal is to score as many points as possible and get on the podium again a few more times".
What’s he gonna do?
"Well, I already have my years. I hope to drive for one of the three top teams [Ferrari, McLaren or Williams, ndr]. Now it will be easier to deal with, given the race I just ran in Brazil".
Michael Schumacher applauds:
"Bravo Giancarlo, you ran a great race".
And the compliments come from McLaren, who also lost two points in the matter. Kimi Raikkonen, who is still the leader in the standings, congratulates Giancarlo Fisichella and Jordan:
"There will be other victories for me".
And patron Ron Dennis says he is glad that clarity has been made. It is not that we have yet understood who made mistakes and why. The race stewards will file a detailed report on the circumstances that led to a wrong ranking, writes the FIA in a statement. The procedures adopted in Brazil are under review. The report will be made public in June. On Friday, April 11, 2003, Ferrari is not sure whether to debut the F2003 GA at Imola. This is because problems also arose during testing at Mugello due to the rain, which did not allow Rubens Barrichello to do the scheduled race simulation. And since the F2002 (which Michael Schumacher still drives in Fiorano) has proved competitive so far, a prudent choice for the San Marino Grand Prix is not excluded. The technicians are working to evaluate all the possibilities and the final decision. On Saturday Luca Badoer will try the new car on the Tuscan circuit. Chatting with the fans, president Luca Montezemolo announces that a decision will be taken shortly, reminding that there is still a F2002 that has been competitive and reliable so far. The uncertainty of the Maranello team leaves indifferent Gerhard Berger, who is in Italy to talk about the fourth race of the World Championship. The Austrian, director of Bmw in F1 who is going to retire at the end of the season, says:
"In my opinion Ferrari remains the team to beat. If it has not won so far it is only because of a series of adverse and negative circumstances. The F2002 is still very competitive, Michael Schumacher is still the best. I am convinced that he will come back. It’s true that McLaren has made progress as Michelin tyres have improved, but I don’t think they have surpassed the current champion team".
Gerhard Berger awards the Oscars for the start of the season to the Australian Jaguar driver Mark Webber and considers Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen as confirmations. He is puzzled by the Saturday qualifying system with cars forced to fill their tanks with fuel for the race strategy.
"The era of Senna ended with this system. So, I would wait a few more races before making a judgement. In Australia, Malaysia and Brazil the show came mainly because of the rain".
Very happy for the victory awarded to Giancarlo Fisichella, the Austrian recalls that it was him in 1992 to contend the last Italian success to Riccardo Patrese in Japan:
"The engine of my McLaren lost competitiveness in the final laps. Giancarlo is however a very talented driver who deserved to have better cars. I thought about him last year, but we already had great drivers. Williams-Bmw? The engine is fine, the car is not, we have to solve aerodynamic problems. Maybe at Imola we will be faster. But Ferrari remains at the top of my predictions".
In Ferrari, in the end, logic and prudence prevail. Ferrari will race the San Marino Grand Prix with the F2002: the debut of the F2003 GA is postponed. Jean Todt says:
"It still has some problems".
The decision is made after the last tests held Saturday, April 12, 2003 on the new car, still disturbed by the rain. The single-seater presented at the beginning of February, for various reasons, has only covered 4200 kilometres, while the previous model last year debuted in Brazil (third race) with 5800 kilometres covered.
"Our goal is to race with the F2003 GA in Spain on May 4. The F2002, which has won two World Championships, is still very competitive, as seen in the first races. The new one is, of course, a step forward, but we do not want to take unnecessary risks if we are not sure about its reliability. Even more so knowing that we have a car that has the potential to win. With this spirit we are preparing to race in front of our fans in Imola".
The problems that have slowed down the F2003 GA are clear: a couple of off-tracks by Luca Badoer, some difficulty in tuning the new compact engine, with all the accessories that have been modified, the impossibility to push due to bad weather in Spain and in Italy tests. It happens when developing a completely new car. McLaren behaves similarly with its MP4/18, whose debut has been postponed to a later date. The trust placed in the F2002 is more than understandable: two pole positions in Melbourne and São Paulo, two fastest laps in the race (Sepang and Interlagos). Not to mention that the opponents have made considerable progress, well supported by Michelin. And there are valid explanations for the less-than-brilliant placings of Schumacher and Barrichello. The wrong tyre choice and various vicissitudes of the German, plus the accident of Barrichello in Australia; Michael Schumacher’s collision at the start with the Renault of Jarno Trulli cost him a penalty in Malaysia, too; the off-track of the World Champion and the fuel consumption trouble that stopped Rubens Barrichello, who was leading, in Brazil.
"I’m happy for Giancarlo Fisichella. He deserved it. We also recovered a couple of points from the first. In the current standings there is nothing dramatic: from the beginning I said that it would be a more difficult season than the past one, we were always aware of it. Without looking for useless justifications, it was clear to me that we had to fight. So let’s fight: I have no problems".
And Giancarlo Fisichella adds:
"From Imola onwards Ferrari will return to success".
Just proclaimed winner of the Brazilian Grand Prix, the Jordan driver dedicates Sunday’s result to his second passion: football, that is the Roma team. In the grandstand at the Olimpico stadium he enjoys the success of the Roman team against Parma. For the past few days, he has been doing all right: he now wishes the Giallorossi the success of the Italian Cup and himself to be on the podium again.
"I’ve always been a Giallorossi fan. Roma have great players. I wouldn’t mind if Adriano joins the team, though. I’m sure he will.
Other triumphs in Formula 1, for now, are not expected.
"The new rules have changed everything. For us, who are smaller teams, they are very convenient, but Ferrari is experiencing an unfortunate period and will soon restore distances".
What he remembers most about the Interlagos race was the end:
"Immediately I thought I had won, then came the cold shower. Friday finally the good news of the definitive victory. I’m happy, happy and proud. Interlagos is one of the most beautiful and difficult circuits. We raced in terrible, disastrous conditions, but I brought the race to a successful conclusion. My future? I hope it is in a top team, the dream is Ferrari. I think I have proved to be up to the task".
A few seats could be available at the end of the season. Not so much in Maranello, where the pair Schumacher-Barrichello is confirmed until the end of next season and Felipe Massa is on the bench, but in McLaren and Williams. From Woking, Ron Dennis was sporting in congratulating Fisichella, even though the FIA ruling robbed him of his third win of the season in three races. Kimi Raikkonen has earned the trust of the team, while David Coulthard, whose contract is expiring, must win his renewal on track. In Williams there is a crisis: it seemed like a good year, but it will be another transitional championship. Juan Pablo Montoya has lost his talent and speed, Ralf Schumacher - taking advantage of other people’s troubles - has collected eight points like his teammate (and his brother Michael). But there will be time to talk about the driver’s market. Never as in this period the main concerns of Ferrari are short-term. As said, in Imola they will race with the F2002. The F2003 debut is postponed to the fifth race of the season. The San Marino Grand Prix is already a decisive race, because the new regulation makes it more difficult to fill the gaps in the standings. Kimi Raikkonen is at the top of the standings with 24 points, the two Ferrari drivers are chasing at 8 points. President Luca Montezemolo was at Mugello during a testing session to motivate the team. Such a difficult start was not expected, although Jean Todt always warns:
"In this sport everything changes quickly, we must never give up".
Ferrari goes to Imola with some certain points. First of all, the car. The drivers are another decisive factor: Michael Schumacher may have made more mistakes in 2003 than in the previous three seasons. A bad start can happen to a champion, but he’s unlikely to make similar mistakes again. And Rubens Barrichello, who has grown and matured in his three years at Maranello, has become more consistent and fast. There are still some unknowns. Their rivals, first of all. McLaren has managed to put on track an excellent evolution of the old car, waiting for the debut of the new one in Spain. On the contrary, Ferrari entrusts the relaunch to the F2003-GA, which has so far suffered some development problems. The team itself seemed less lucid in difficult moments than in 2002, perhaps because defeats take away serenity. The public of Imola, in these cases, is the best medicine. Monday, April 14, 2003, for the first time in a long time, when he is not on track, Jean Todt leaves his office at the Ferrari Ges mid-afternoon. A sprint on the A14 highway to be at 7:00 p.m. at the Public Palace of the Republic of San Marino where, in front of the two Captains Regent, he swears allegiance before being appointed ambassador of the small Titan state. Not only a symbolic honour: the French manager will put his knowledge and his reputation at the disposal of important works in the field of care and scientific research. An activity that, when he decides to leave the world of racing, will engage him full-time.
"To try to give back at least a part of all the good things I had in my life".
But, first, Jean Todt talks about the F1 World Championship - that did not start in the best way for Ferrari -, the new regulations and the future. Mr Todt, did you expect such a difficult start?
"Yes. We haven’t won three races and it could happen. It’s part of the game. In the environment there was the terror of seeing on television two more red cars in the front row in the opening test in Australia and to witness our domination. We really put the two cars in front of all of them, but then we could not repeat the system that had led us to achieve many successes in the previous years".
Is it due to the new regulations?
"No, it's our fault. Due to a combination of circumstances we did not collect the results that were within our reach. Of course, we have never been in favour of using only one type of wet tyres, we do not like to see the mechanics who only have to polish the cars from Saturday afternoon until half an hour from the start of the Grand Prix, as well as we are not happy to compete in qualifying with enough fuel in the tank to face the first part of the race. But we recognize that we lacked the ability to interpret or exploit the situation in general".
What were the causes? Is there a crisis in Ferrari?
"What crisis? Neither motivation nor commitment have disappeared. On paper the F2002 is still the most competitive car and we have prepared another one that is better. The competition has made considerable progress, but we have not fallen behind. Let’s say that we’ve paid some uncertainties. Because we are a team used to working in detail and always looking for excellence. The new rules have only complicated our work. We have to get used to it".
On Thursday there will be a meeting in Imola between the team leaders. Is there any chance that any of the regulations imposed by the Federation will be changed?
"I don’t know. It’s difficult. It takes unanimity. It could only be done for safety reasons, but the FIA itself must do it. In any case, I repeat: we have never approved the adoption of the single rain tyre".
By the way, some of the rules are unclear, they lend themselves to different interpretations.
"Sure. In Brazil engines were replaced before the race without penalising those who needed them, as would have been expected. But that didn’t bother us much. It wasn’t right, instead, to change the set-up of the cars before the race because of the rain. It was not allowed. This penalised Schumacher who had chosen in qualifying to prepare the car for the wet track and had finished seventh on the grid. After the changes, everyone got even and Michael paid the handicap".
However, returning to the results and what happened, we talk about a Schumacher who would suffer the pressure...
"People judge fast: Michael should retire and after the Adelaide race someone also claimed that Barrichello would be the last of the morons. I don’t think it is the case: we will respond to these people. We are not phenomena, we do not want to be, but we will respond with facts. Even in the short term".
So in the next San Marino Grand Prix...
"Why not? We have to recover. And we also want to give satisfaction to our fans. In their country and everywhere".
The standings are not brilliant, but not dramatic.
"Attention. We lost very important points. With the current system, reliability is rewarded over victory. Unfortunately, all things considered, 3 second places with 24 points are more productive than two successes that bring only twenty points".
Meanwhile we talk about new champions, about future phenomena...
"Phenomena don’t exist. There are talented drivers. Some have great potential, like Alonso. However, I think that many drivers stood out because they have good cars. Raikkonen, Trulli, Webber, they could not emerge before".
What about Fisichella?
"He did well and we sent him a message of congratulations. He doesn’t have the winning car yet, but he was able to seize the opportunity in abnormal conditions. We’re very happy for him. Among other things, he won with the Bridgestones, the tyres that we also use. Many did not notice it".
So Ferrari is willing to redeem itself at Imola, but without the new F2003 GA.
"There are those who have thought that this is a sign of weakness. Instead it is our strength, we do not let ourselves be overwhelmed, we act with confidence and with our heads. The new car was not ready yet, it is not enough to be fast, you have to cross the finish line. We had problems, we couldn’t do the traditional testing cycle. Now almost everything is solved. I promise: you will see it on track on May 4 in Spain. And it will be very fast".
Meanwhile, cigarettes and engines prepare for divorce. The link between the tobacco industry and Formula 1 is still strong and rich, but laws and restrictions are pressing. While the FIA and the European Union argue over the dates of the total ban on advertising, Williams anticipates the time by displaying an anti-smoking logo. This is the Niquitin, the group Glaxo-Smithkline, manufacturer of drugs that help overcome nicotine addiction. The symbol and writings of Niquitin will appear on the cars of Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher already starting from the San Marino Grand Prix, in Imola. Since the Rothmans agreement expired, Frank Williams had no longer wanted to sign sponsorship agreements or simply collaborate with tobacco corporations. Now he takes the concept to extremes, agreeing to advertise a product that fights the habit of smoking. John Wright, Williams' marketing director, explains:
"And we are sure we have made a very significant step for the world of Formula 1, the first of a long series. Bad habits must be eliminated".
According to Frank Williams:
"This is proof that Formula 1 has a future even without the sponsorship of tobacco multinationals".
According to the FIA, the anticipation of the total ban on advertising to July 2005 undermines the future of the Circus, because all teams have contracts that expire at the end of 2006 (deadline set initially). The FIA has already deleted the Belgian Grand Prix from the World Championship calendar and will do the same next year with the Austrian Grand Prix, which will be replaced with the Chinese Grand Prix (provided that the pneumonia epidemic does not suggest a postponement), where there is a very high number of smokers and there are no restrictions. In addition to the new advertising, the San Marino Grand Prix presents important racing themes. Ferrari tries to redeem itself in front of its audience. Michael Schumacher says:
"Imola is the best place to start winning".
And even Barrichello is convinced:
"In the past I almost won here, it would be the right time to achieve it".
At the same time, as professor, Flavio Briatore promotes Fernando Alonso with flying colours.
"It will be the new Schumacher".
The Italian manager, leading the adventure of Renault in Formula 1, guarantees. On Wednesday, April 16, 2003, he delivers a speech at the school of business management of Bocconi, master in Business Administration. In a crowded classroom, Briatore tells about himself, of his entry into the working world ("I was a surveyor and ski instructor"), of his work for Benetton ("I went to open shops in New York, without knowing an English word"), and of engines:
"Benetton decided to enter Formula 1 by applying the same rule: high risk margin, courage to bet on the novelty. In three years we have won the World Championship".
The criteria for managing a team are simple: believing in your men, knowing how to choose them, and demanding efficiency.
"When I called Schumacher, I had everyone against me. At the time, the Benetton drivers were Piquet and Moreno, Zanardi test drivers. Right here in Monza I decided to bet on Schumi instead of Moreno. They also sent a magistrate to seize the garage. I held out, in the end the results came. Yet, they kept telling me that the Germans are slow".
The new bet is called Fernando Alonso. Everyone tells him that the Spanish are slow but he is convinced of the talent of his new protégé, who has already given him two podiums.
"This is a driver who will cheer up my team. With Trulli they are a perfect couple".
Briatore says he is sincere with himself, instinctive in his choices, capable of recognizing mistakes and immediately changing path.
"And then, anyway, it always takes a little bit of luck".
Thursday, April 17, 2003, the old F2002 is in great shape, the audience of Imola is excited, the mood is great and the spirit is serene. According to Ferrari, optimism shines at the San Marino Grand Prix. The only clouds are on the horizon: after the sun of Thursday, meteorologists guarantee a wet weekend, of those in which everything can happen (as in Brazil). Let’s hope we can at least figure out who wins. Rubens Barrichello sparkles tranquillity, because his Grand Prix is another, that of São Paulo, finished outside the Interlagos track with an empty tank.
"I don’t feel any pressure at Imola. Now I have more points than a year ago, without so many bad episodes in Malaysia and Brazil I could have won, our car is still competitive. Let’s not talk about a Ferrari crisis".
Let’s talk about Michael Schumacher’s crisis, then. His start of the season is a small disaster, considering that the German comes from three consecutive world titles: eight points and zero podiums in the first three races. And several mistakes, always decisive. However, the German driver says:
"I am confident and relaxed. This is the same team that has passed through difficult seasons like 1996 and 1997".
Is it the same Schumacher?
"Yes".
Do you have any regrets after the first three Grands Prix?
"I’m missing a few points. That’s all. I don’t think about the races, but about the beautiful memories I have of this circuit. Here with Ferrari I won in 1999, 2000 and 2002, I hope to achieve the fourth success on Sunday".
Is the old F2002 the right car to do this?
"Let’s not forget that we dominated with it last year. I am optimistic, I think the right decision has been made: using the 2002 car gives us more guarantees of reliability and we know that the new scoring mechanism rewards the placings. The F2003-GA has better potential, but it’s not ready yet. We can’t risk it. However, we will be on track with an extremely competitive car, as demonstrated in Brazil. We have a good chance of winning".
How did the new rules affect your results?
"Zero in Australia. The first row was all red, then the weather changed the race. The same in Brazil: it was the rain that affected the race, not the rules. In Malaysia I made a mistake".
He will admit that something has changed in qualifying.
"I was talking about Grands Prix".
In Brazil you had to start from the fourth row for having chosen a loaded set-up. In the race you would have had an advantage, if the opponents had not been allowed at the last minute to change their set-up: don’t you think that with the old rules things would have been different?
"Certainly starting with the seventh time on a flooded track is not an advantage, because the visibility is bad".
Are you worried?
"No. The important thing is to understand what happened, so that we can find the right solutions and react in the best way. We understand. In sport sometimes circumstances are favourable, other times they are not".
FIA President Max Mosley says that your off-track at Interlagos was due to excessive speed. Do you agree?
"Of course, aquaplaning is also related to speed, but with another type of tyre it might not have happened. How do you determine a priori which speed is excessive?"
Among your colleagues, the disappointing start of Montoya is striking.
"Last year he was better, like me. But I am disappointed by my result, not his".
How long could the chase with Raikkonen last?
"It depends on McLaren’s reliability. If Kimi gets to the finish line, he always scores points and it gets harder to reach him".
What do you promise the fans?
"I can only guarantee that I will give my best. I invite them to come and support us, for the emotions that this circuit offers and for our past".
Juan Pablo Montoya is not just hot-blooded on the track. On the eve of the San Marino Grand Prix, the Colombian driver, on his arrival at the Imola circuit, is the protagonist of a hint of brawl that could end badly. Hand in hand with his wife Connie, the Williams driver is surrounded by photographers and television operators. In the fray an Austrian ORF cameraman hits the Colombian driver in the face with the camera in a completely innocent way, because he is pushed by others. Juan Pablo, with his fist stretched, immediately tries to punch him, jumping towards the rival who is also almost twice as tall.
Fortunately, some men of the Anglo-German team immediately block Juan Pablo Montoya with free-fight moves. He still tries to escape their grip, then when he realises that he would not have made it he renounces, not without having addressed threatening gestures against the unfortunate. Meanwhile, FIA President Max Mosley defends his creature by saying that the new rules don’t change. They’re perfect:
"People who meet me on the street congratulate me for the show, for a Formula 1 that has resumed vivacity and interest".
We’d like to see old Max wander around the pubs to meet the fans, given that he only moves with private jets, helicopters and chauffeured limousines. It is clear that after imposing rules that upset the sports code, the president of the FIA does not want to back down. In some respects, for now, the facts prove him right: the first three races were exciting, especially due to the rain that created unpredictable situations. Actually, Mosley exploits the differences in ideas and intentions between the teams. In the absence of unanimity, the status quo is maintained. After all, asking for a step back from Jordan, which has won again after four years, McLaren, that dominated the first part of the season, or Renault, that with less horsepower manages (also thanks to a good car) to fight for good positions, would be difficult. In a World Championship that began under the sign of misunderstandings, the President of the Federation grants only a few small and irrelevant adjustments. In qualifying the cars will no longer enter the track 30 seconds after the previous one has finished its flying lap. For two reasons. First: to make the show last longer, which was now reduced to just over half an hour; second: to prevent a driver from finding another one in the middle of the track because he is slow in returning to the pits. Small concession also for the use of the third car. It can be used in free practice, but if used for the race the driver will start from the pits. No news about the type of wet tyres. There will be only one. Ferrari has always opposed this decision, also for safety reasons, but must accept it, and even a team that uses Michelin tyres also agrees with them. Mosley takes the opportunity, in this regard, to reply to Michael Schumacher, after Luca Montezemolo complained to the FIA that the German risked to hit an inopportunely placed tractor in the area where many of the cars affected by the water planing crashed against the protections.
"Charlie Whiting will report him today in the driver briefing, because he was going too fast under yellow flags".
Fernando Alonso is accused of the same thing. They could both risk a penalty. But Whiting should explain why he made a mistake when filling out the order of arrival in São Paulo, assigning the victory to Raikkonen. Tag Heuer timekeepers were called in. But they knew exactly how things stand. They were forced to change the ranking, adjusted for Giancarlo Fisichella (who will receive the trophy from the Finn and Ron Dennis on Friday). The truth is that Ferrari won too much. And the only way to make it difficult was to change the rules. It worked, but if it comes back to dominate, will Mosley want the application of more spectacular rules? We’ll see. Meanwhile, Ferrari is that of 2002, and the results too. Friday, April 18, 2003, in Imola Michael Schumacher is in great shape, 0.5 seconds faster than the circuit record he set a year ago, unapproachable for everyone and grumpy with those who provoke him.
"An answer to criticism? Why? I don’t think I drove differently just because someone accused me of making mistakes. I always try to give my best and this time I succeeded".
Barrichello follows at 0.4 seconds, reiterating the good performance of the Maranello cars, the others are far behind, as well as and more than in the past. Friday doesn’t matter much for the race, but it is also the only time when everyone runs in the same conditions, with fuel tanks in reserve to save weight, as in the past. If we compare yesterday's ranking with the 2002 pole position, nothing changes in the first four places, except that the gap between the drivers has almost doubled.
In third and fourth place are the Williams-Bmw of Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, favoured by a track where engine power is more important than elsewhere (the 10-cylinder produced in Bavaria would be the only one in the Circus to exceed 900 horsepower). From the fifth place down, there is the novelty: Mark Webber (Jaguar) confirms the good form he showed in Brazil, the two Bar-Hondas of Jenson Button and Jacques Villeneuve are improving (even the Japanese engine is credited with excellent power), the McLaren-Mercedes are worsening, Giancarlo Fisichella (P11) pays a driving error beyond the limits of the Jordan, the Renault of Fernando Alonso (P13) and Jarno Trulli (P16) are in difficulty on this track. Saturday will change a lot, because the performance will affect the race strategies. Someone will start with little fuel to gain positions on the grid (from this season, refuelling is only allowed during the race), others will try the opposite tactic and, as usual since the new rules are in force, until the moment of the race you will not understand who is really the strongest. Michael Schumacher, that in the morning free practice has gone off the track breaking a suspension, explains:
"Being the last to make his lap in qualifying is an advantage. This track improves quite quickly".
Getting pole position is just as important. Unlike in Brazil, where overtaking is easy and the German driver sacrificed Saturday’s finish to have a race set-up, in the San Marino Grand Prix those in front can easily resist the attacks of even faster opponents. After three mediocre races, Michael Schumacher is optimistic:
"I had already said that in Malaysia and Brazil that it would have been hard for us and that things would have changed in Europe. We want to win the first race of the season. Opponents? Williams has improved. I’m glad not so much for my brother Ralf, but because they could help us take points away from McLaren".
To the fans, only 82,000 paying in the grandstands, the World Champion sends reassuring messages:
"We showed that the F2002 is still a great car. When I finished my lap, I kept thinking that I could have done even better".
The tyres have always been decisive for safety and results and have often aroused controversy. The decision of the FIA to allow only one rain tyre this year triggered protests. Many teams are against it, the majority of drivers ask to change the regulation. Bridgestone declares that, by doing so, it spends even more than before: no cost reduction. Tyre manufacturers are in fact forced to create tyres that are incorrectly called intermediate, with treads that can be fitted in case of heavy rain and humid track. But they do not work properly, as we have seen in Brazil. Michelin has two types of tyres, one with different tread between front and rear: on Thursday they decide which one to use. This is absurd. Among other things, since Imola is in danger of rain and a consequent Interlagos-style accident, as estimated by Max Mosley, the Schumacher brothers and Fernando Alonso are called to report by the president of the FIA. The three explain their behaviour during the race in Brazil: all three are accused of not having slowed down under yellow flags - that is a warning sign - but they get off with a reprimand. In particular Alonso, the youngest and most afraid one of the trio, is scolded for the accident that determined the end of the Grand Prix. Next time, Mosley says, penalties and fines will be issued. Meanwhile, Jacques Villeneuve does not lose the habit of always saying what he thinks. The Canadian, forgetting to have been overtaken by teammate Jenson Button by 0.035 seconds (but both are fast in qualifying: P6 and P7), lashes out against colleagues - the Schumacher brothers and the new star Alonso, as usual - for the events of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
"We always use double standards here. I am still bothered by the penalty I received in Suzuka in 1997, when I overtook under yellow flags. These are signs that nobody respects. If there were accidents in Interlagos and the race was interrupted, the fault is of those who did not respect the rules. In any case, during that race no kind of tyres would have saved us from the off-tracks. It would be good to have two types available to choose from. We are the ones who drive and take risks".
For the San Marino Grand Prix many teams have prepared interesting news. The BAR of Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button has a modified Honda engine. Williams, however, uses mechanical and aerodynamic modifications that in Brazil, due to the bad weather, could not be tested thoroughly. Although Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya denounced some problems linked to oversteering, they said they were very satisfied and optimistic, both for today’s decisive qualifying and for the race. Optimism also reigns in McLaren, at least apparently. Kimi Raikkonen says:
"We lost time in the morning to choose the tyres for the race, so we didn’t prepare well for the timed lap. Meanwhile, Saturday counts. We can improve, we expect to be much closer to our rivals".
Among these, Rubens Barrichello is in great shape and convinced that he can conquer a great result.
"Some people are convinced that Ferrari is in crisis. This is not true at all. We are competitive. The F2002 is fantastic and the F2003 GA will be even better. Besides, in the first three races I accumulated more points than I had taken in the same period last year. Michael was a little more unlucky and is further behind than he was in the past season. However, I am convinced that we are still facing a wonderful season. Obviously it would be great to start the comeback winning in front of our fans. A result that is not excluded, but we are indeed on the right track. The important thing is to make the most of our potential".
On the other hand, the result of the first qualifying round raises three important considerations. First it confirms that the old Ferrari F2002 is not as decrepit as some people think. Overall, the Maranello car that has won the most in F1 history is still the fastest. So the regrets of Jean Todt are justified when he says that the budget after three races could have been very different. Then, there’s the Michael Schumacher topic. The German is not truly exhausted, if he manages to inflict certain gaps ripping up records difficult to beat. The third point concerns the desired formula of the Federation and pushed by some teams who hoped to shuffle the cards. The one-shot lap, the double qualifying Friday-Saturday, the variable fuel in the tanks when it comes to conquering grid positions is a non-spectacle. A lie, we can say. People in the grandstands get bored and follow the sessions between yawns, attempting to find something interesting to see. And you can believe that even in front of the video, after the attempts on the track of the top ten of the standings, many fans have changed the channel in front of the show offered by this aseptic scientific laboratory motoring. Max Mosley, president of the FIA, can only do the rain dance, hoping that the water makes the best go behind and the worst in front so as to make the San Marino Grand Prix uncertain. Although the rules in this World Championship are the same for everyone, it is not right to create artificial handicaps in a sport that should be the exaltation of the performance of the car and the driver. While the controversy about the imposition of a single type of rain tyre continues (even Giancarlo Fisichella, who won in Brazil, criticised it and said that he is against it), it is clear that people should not get too excited when a driver gets important results. As always, the car, the type of track and the tyres count. Fernando Alonso has talent but it is still early to say that he is a phenomenon and Michael Schumacher’s heir. Kimi Raikkonen is good, but if McLaren doesn’t support him, he has problems.
And so on. However, it must be acknowledged that there are elements to look at carefully. One of these is definitely the Australian Mark Webber, fifth with Jaguar, the real revelation of this beginning of the championship. Not surprisingly, Saturday, April 19, 2003, Michael Schumacher and his brother Ralf, dispute the most beautiful qualifying of the season. The two German drivers finish the fastest lap in an almost identical time, although the chronometer assigns the pole position to the Ferrari driver for 0.014 seconds. The two brothers detach their respective teammates, who often had placed themselves ahead of them this year. Focus, fast, aggressive on the Imola kerbs, punctual in the braking. Then they return to Germany on their private plane: their mother Elizabeth is dying in a hospital in Cologne. They knew it before putting on their helmets and went into the narrow cockpits of Formula 1. They have known it for a long time, because cancer has been consuming her for months, but the situation has precipitated in the last few days, until the coma. The two brothers accepted the rules of the show: they faced all the institutional appointments, on the track and outside, then they took advantage of the twenty hours of break between qualifying and race to return home. No one knows how you can drive at 300 km/h without making mistakes with a soul full of sadness. The two protagonists don't want to explain it right now. Someone asks for news and Michael answers with cold courtesy:
"Please don’t expect me to answer that question".
It seems that the pain has motivated them, emptying them of all the other negative thoughts, from the criticism for the bad start of the season to the controversy about the mistakes made so far. They hit the throttle as if they were in a hurry to cross the finish line and leave the circuit. In the motorhomes of Ferrari and Williams, the wives Corinna and Cora remain in contact with the hospital and their relatives. With the engines off, the two brothers face the ritual press conference, skipping all other contacts with microphones and notebooks and solve in a minute the drivers’ briefing. Then they get with their wives in a black Maserati driven by the team manager of Ferrari, Stefano Domenicali, who accompanies them to a hotel in Imola equipped with a heliport. From there, they fly by helicopter to Forlì airport, before taking a private flight to Cologne, promising:
"We’ll be back for the race".
They will probably be in Imola just in time to participate in the drivers’ parade to greet the fans, scheduled at 11:15 a.m. The two teams protect the privacy of the world’s fastest brothers:
"It is a family matter, every decision depends on them".
In recent days, the outburst of Ralf Schumacher was reported by Bild:
"The doctors tell us that our mother’s condition is stable, but we are so afraid for her. We can only hope for the best. In this situation, Michael and I have wondered whether or not to run in Imola".
The doubt has been resolved because Mother Elizabeth would like it so, they say in these cases. Fifty-five years old, married to Rolf, now separated, she rarely attended racetracks. In recent times her health conditions had worsened, until she was hospitalised on Thursday, April 10, 2003. Ralf Schumacher immediately stopped testing at Le Castellet to visit her, Michael joined him the next day, suspending the practice session in Fiorano.
Then they were back on track, faster than before. Meanwhile, the fact remains that the time set by Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari on Friday was not an illusion, one of many in this troubled start to the season. The Ferrari is there and Michael Schumacher is too. Despite the bad news about his mother’s health, the German driver faced qualifying with a fierce look. Starting last (a deserved advantage with the best time of the day before), in the second intermediate he was 0.3 seconds ahead of his brother and pushed again, making a small mistake that made him pass the finish line with a margin - as mentioned - of 0.014 seconds. Rubens Barrichello does his part: less brilliant on Friday, the Brazilian driver closes in third place with a delay of 0.230 seconds. He will start behind his teammate, with the task of mortifying the ambitions of Juan Pablo Montoya (fourth) and taking advantage of any mistakes of the brothers in the front row. The eve of the San Marino Grand Prix, the fourth race of the Formula 1 World Championship, offers few surprises. The support of the 20,000 spectators at Imola has dragged Schumacher in the conquest of pole position number 52, the second of the year (Ayrton Senna’s 65 poles record can now be reached), the number 161 of Ferrari. The German brothers find themselves together in the front row for the seventh time. No one bluffs by speculating on the fuel load (or if they do, they fail). It was known that McLaren would not be competitive on the circuit named after Enzo and Dino Ferrari: the two leaders of the standings, Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard, have always been behind, since free practice. The young Finn has a chance to climb from sixth place, his teammate will have to hope for other people’s troubles to emerge from twelfth place, because overtaking in Imola is difficult. Behind Ferrari and Williams there is Mark Webber.
So far little considered because he never scored points, the Australian driver, in his second season in Formula 1, is 0.7 seconds from Schumacher, but also 0.7 seconds ahead of David Coulthard. Just to give another data, his teammate, the newcomer Antonio Pizzonia, is detached by more than a second. If a comparison must be done with the same car, every comment is superfluous. Bad, indeed very bad, the two Italian drivers. It's a pity, after the joys (posthumous) of Brazil: not even the heavy rain could allow Giancarlo Fisichella to return on the podium. His Jordan is fourth: behind him only the two Minardi (a crash, that of Jos Verstappen, who caused the first red flag in qualifying) and the other Jordan with Ralph Firman. Jarno Trulli, forced to use the reserve car that was prepared for Fernando Alonso (the Spaniard is eighth), will start in front of the Roman driver. The only thrill for the leading quartet is caused by the weather: black clouds and a few raindrops in the middle of the session could have upset the starting order. It did not happen, but the problem is postponed until Sunday. During the race there is a 60% chance of rain. And with wet track, goodbye strategies, gaps, consolidated values. The rules on tyres have not changed, so Bridgestone and Michelin will provide only one type of wet tyre, unsuitable in case of a downpour. McLaren and minor teams hope for a miracle, while Ferrari and Williams avoid the mistakes made in Brazil so far. At Interlagos, Michael Schumacher in particular made a mistake in the rain: on Saturday he chose an aerodynamic set-up, which was more loaded and favoured him in the race. He qualified seventh, but all were allowed to change the set up. But on Saturday, the German Ferrari driver does only one calculation: go as fast as he can, the specialty that he does best. Rivals rely on superstition and historical appeal. David Coulthard says:
"I’m disappointed, of course. I made a mistake at Rivazza. Looking at telemetry data, I found out that I lost seven tenths. But I’m not too worried. Everything happened in the first three races of the season. I have already achieved excellent results starting from the back of the group. It will not be easy, but I also trust in the reliability of our McLaren".
David Coulthard and his teammate Kimi Raikkonen don’t tell us what they think of Williams, with Ralf Schumacher qualifying just 0.014 seconds behind his brother and Juan Pablo Montoya fourth behind Rubens Barrichello. Yet the cars driven by Bmw engines here have shown clear progress.
Michael Schumacher, who evidently knows something given the fact that the situation he had wished for has become true, had anticipated it, with the same Williams able to extract precious points to McLaren. Ralf Schumacher explains, before running away with his brother to Germany:
"I made a mistake when I went off-track in the morning, and I also damaged my car. The team did a great job. We were competitive, I hope this will continue in the race".
Juan Pablo Montoya is also optimistic:
"If I consider that in the flying lap I made a couple of mistakes and that I had too much understeer, the second row on the grid is fine for me. I will have to attack during the race".
Rubens Barrichello does not make any proclamations, he sits in the shadow of Schumacher, but he probably has great ambitions: he is always convinced that this will be his best year.
"I have faith. I went off the track in the warm-up fifteen minutes before qualifying, the mechanics had to check the whole car and I could not prepare as I would have liked. But I’m happy with the result, which also allows me to start from the cleanest part of the track, behind Michael. I’m in shape".
Apart from psychological implications, of which he rightly does not want to talk, Michael Schumacher also has positive feelings:
"The so-called old car has shown what it can still do. We knew that. In the winter tests with the F2002 at Imola we had always had positive results. There are many questions to answer for the race, but we are sure to be fast. Besides, my qualifying lap wasn’t perfect. I was cautious and slowed down in the last sector so as not to take excessive risks. It is nice to be back at the top in front of our fans. I know it may rain during the race, but we don’t have to fear any changes in the weather. Here for sure we will not see water streams as unfortunately happened in Brazil".
After what has happened so far, however, many are hoping for something that will mess up the values on the track. Among these there is also Giancarlo Fisichella, who as mentioned is third last at the start with a lot of fuel in the tank of his Jordan:
"It would take a good storm, otherwise goodbye dreams of glory. I’ll give it all, as always".
It will be a lottery, as always. With the unknown factor of rain: before or during the race. But the factors that will affect the result are many. Strategies, fuel load, tyres and variables (reliability or other issues). To analyse the starting line-up, or rather the times recorded in the second qualifying, it would seem that some teams have opted for three pit stops or a very early pit-stop. Michael Schumacher set a time of 1'22"327, exactly 1.699 seconds more than he had done on Friday, beating the circuit record. Hypothetically, on the German's Ferrari between 60 and 70 kg of fuel - based on the approximate calculation of 0.3 seconds of slowdown for every 10 kg - were loaded.
If the evaluation is correct, the World Champion can play a regular race with two stops, but he must beware of the attacks of his brother Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya that could contain themselves at the start. As for the tyres, the F2002 should be fitted with those with a harder compound, therefore with a higher resistance to wear. Mark Webber’s placement in P5 is no longer surprising. The Australian confirms his skills and also Jaguar's progress and will be the wildcard of the race. Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button with the BARS could also do well. The situation at McLaren is difficult to interpret. Kimi Raikkonen did his part, but the car doesn’t seem to have a lot of fuel; David Coulthard got his lap wrong and is only in P12. For the Scotsman it will be a difficult day, even if this track is congenial to him. The eighth place of Fernando Alonso’s Renault gives an idea of a desperate move, with about thirty kilos of fuel: there were no other opportunities. The Imola circuit enhances the power and quality of the engines. The V10 engine of the French car is still lacking too much horsepower. In fact, Jarno Trulli, who in extremis due to electronic problems had to drive the reserve car prepared for the Spaniard, did not have fun and will not do it on Sunday either. The start will be an unknown: apart from the difficult psychological situation of the Schumacher brothers, there can be some impetuous driver who will try to recover positions at the first metres, since overtaking here is a problem. If it rains, those at the front will have undoubted advantages, provided that the wet tyres work. Sunday, April 20, 2003, at the start of the San Marino Grand Prix, which starts in dry conditions, Ralf Schumacher starts better than his brother, taking the lead at the first corner. Behind them, Mark Webber loses several positions due to a problem with the automatic starting system and Kimi Räikkönen and Fernando Alonso take the opportunity to move into fifth and sixth position. From the first laps Michael Schumacher is clearly faster than his brother, but he can’t get past him until the Williams driver returns to the pits to refuel during lap 16. Ralf Schumacher has a hesitation that costs him a lot of time. Rubens Barrichello and Juan Pablo Montoya make their pit stop one lap later and return to the track in this order.
Michael Schumacher also stops at the pits in the next lap. The two McLarens of Kimi Räikkönen and David Coulthard take the lead; they are on a two-stop strategy against the three-stoppers of their main opponents. When these two also stop to refuel, on lap 21 and lap 22, Michael Schumacher takes the lead of the race ahead of Ralf Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Kimi Räikkönen, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Coulthard and Fernando Alonso. Nothing happens until the second pit stop series, opened by Juan Pablo Montoya on lap 30. The Colombian, however, has a problem with the fuel system, which forces him to make another pit stop two laps later. Rubens Barrichello, despite being faster, fails to overtake Ralf Schumacher at the second stop. Between them and Michael Schumacher, in the lead with a good margin, there is Kimi Räikkönen, who makes the second refuelling during lap 44, returning to the track ahead of his teammate and behind the Schumacher brothers and Rubens Barrichello. The third pit stop series is inaugurated on lap 48 by Ralf Schumacher, who returns to the track behind Kimi Räikkönen. Three laps later Rubens Barrichello also refuells for the third time, but he loses time for a problem with a wheel nut and returns to the track in fourth place, behind Michael Schumacher, Kimi Räikkönen and Ralf Schumacher and ahead of David Coulthard, Fernando Alonso and Juan Pablo Montoya. Rubens Barrichello, however, is clearly faster than Ralf Schumacher and overtakes him at Tosa during lap 52. Michael Schumacher crosses the finish line in first position; behind the German driver those who cross the finish line are, in order, Kimi Räikkönen, who strengthens his first position in the championship, Rubens Barrichello, Ralf Schumacher, David Coulthard, Fernando Alonso, Juan Montoya and Jenson Button, who wins a point thanks to a two-stop strategy. Michael Schumacher ran with a mourning sign on his arm, Ralf Schumacher with a black mark on his helmet. The firstborn won, his brother finished fourth, it was the best Grand Prix of the year for both. This way, the Schumacher brothers honoured the race in San Marino. A few hours before the start they lost their mother Elizabeth, 55, who died of cancer after a long agony. They had time to see her one last time: after qualifying on Saturday (with the two best times), they flew to Cologne on a private plane for a last hug and in the evening they were back in Imola.
No one would force them to get behind the wheel of a single-seater and put their lives at risk. Neither Ferrari nor Williams (Jean Todt says: "We would never force a driver to race if he did not feel like it"), nor the organisers, who had exempted them from the various ceremonies and would not have taken the responsibility of forcing them to go on track in such difficult psychological conditions.
"My mother would have liked to see us race. She loved to be on the track".
A few words confided privately to the Ferrari men.
"She liked it when we were driving old karts on the home track. She was happy to see us racing. Mum and Dad always supported us, they made it possible for us to become what we are now".
Great race of Michael Schumacher, epilogue of a weekend where he was always leading. Surprised at the start by Ralf Schumacher, he chased his brother’s Williams until the first pit-stop and overtook him, staying on track for two more laps.
Since then, no one bothered him anymore: gaining almost a second per lap on McLaren, the Ferrari driver accumulated a sufficient advantage to make an extra pit stop (three, against the two of Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard). The two Williams drivers adopted the same strategy as Ferrari, only they were slower. Ralf Schumacher hoped to get on the podium with his brother, but the ruthless overtaking of Rubens Barrichello (on lap 53, a masterpiece: double feint at Variante Bassa and the overtake at the beginning of the finish straight) relegated him to fourth place. His teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya, came back late from the pits because the fuel door wouldn’t open. And speaking of trouble at the refuelling: Rubens Barrichello also had his own, as the left front wheel bolt did not screw in. The 14 seconds lost were decisive at the end, allowing Kimi Raikkonen to save second place from the Brazilian driver’s assault. Two Ferraris on the podium were a usual epilogue in 2002, but this year it's the first time. Yet there is no party in front of the home crowd (82,200 paying for the weekend, all-time low for the San Marino Grand Prix). Back in the pits after the lap of honour, Schumacher lingers a few seconds in the cockpit of the F2002. The cameras try to cross his eyes through the narrow visor, to catch the tears that were probably coming down, now that the competitive tension has faded and the thoughts of the man replace those of the driver. Rubens Barrichello hugs him hard and Michael rests his head on the shoulder of his teammate as he had never done at the end of so many victories. On the podium he listens to the national anthems impassively. The award ceremony ends without champagne and at the post-race press conference there is Jean Todt.
"What Michael did in Formula 1 is well known. Now he added something, he did a fantastic job for the team. He is a great driver and also a man who has suffered great pain. Many have not fully understood his level of humanity. I’m proud of him and Rubens".
Before returning to Germany for the funeral, the German champion thanks the guys of the team:
"Everyone, I say really everyone, from the president to the engineers to the technicians to the mechanics to the chefs, everyone has offered me great support, they have given me a sense of how close they are to me".
The Schumacher brothers are asking for confidentiality on the date of the funeral. In Kerpen, the village about twenty kilometres from Cologne where the two brothers grew up, their will is respected and the sign of mourning is in the three red flags at half mast in front of the kart track run by their father Rolf. Barrichello sends a moving message to his partner:
"Michael is a professional and an exceptional man. I don’t know if I could have done such a race in such a situation. He chose to run and I support his choice".
While Luca Montezemolo calls just after the victory:
"I want to pay tribute to Michael Schumacher as a driver and as a man, and applaud an excellent Rubens Barrichello and the most successful car in our history".
The F2002 won the farewell race, gave a moment of joy to Michael Schumacher, redeeming a difficult start to the season. An occult direction seems to have led the retirement of the best single-seater ever produced in Maranello: technical problems, accidents and bad weather have suggested to postpone the debut of the new F2003-GA by two weeks and they allowed the old car to do its last race beautifully in front of the Imola fans. The performance of this car is extraordinary (only the 1988 McLaren, that won with Ayrton Senna, did the same): 14 successes out of 15 Grands Prix held in 2002 led to the conquest of the Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships. In Monte Carlo the first place was not achieved despite a clear superiority for the impossibility of overtaking in the narrow streets of the Principality. The engineers of the Maranello team have always repeated that the secret is an exceptional package consisting of a powerful and reliable engine, tailor-made tyres by Bridgestone and an excellent chassis. Aerodynamics, in particular, thanks to the reduction in the rear area, was the revolution that everyone tried to copy. In 2003, their rivals narrowed the gap. It took a few driving and strategic mistakes, as well as particular situations, to keep Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello off the podium in Australia and even far from the finish line in Brazil after almost four years of uninterrupted placements. Now Ferrari turns the page, although the debut of the GA in Spain is only defined as ‘likely’ on the official website. On the single-seater dedicated to Giovanni Agnelli, the dimension reduction has been taken to the extreme. The aerodynamics is even more refined and the engine guarantees almost 900 horsepower in eighty pounds of weight. In terms of performance, the gain is 0.7 seconds per lap at Fiorano, but so far reliability has not been what Ferrari expects from its products. A couple of accidents probably caused by the failure of a suspension forced testing to stop for the first time. When the problem was solved, it was the engine that reported overheating problems, which forced them to modify the chassis to fit slightly larger radiators. Tuesday, April 22, 2003 testing resume. Michael Schumacher is absent; he is in Germany for the funeral of his mother Elizabeth, so it will be up to Rubens Barrichello and the two test drivers to cover the kilometres missing at the debut scheduled on May 4, 2003, on the Catalan track of Montmelò. The first day of work is for Luca Badoer (at Mugello) and Felipe Massa (at Fiorano). Work will continue at Mugello on Wednesday and Thursday, with testing resuming at both circuits on Friday.
"The F2003 is superb. I can’t wait to race with it".
Rubens Barrichello comments the overtaking on Ralf Schumacher by saying:
"It was a beautiful moment, liberating I would say. That’s why I raised my fist in a sign of joy. Before Ralf slowed me down, I could only push at most in three laps, and this prevented me from doing my strategy. A fact that led us to opt for three stops instead of two".
Todt hopes that the new F2003-GA will help close the gap in the standings from the McLaren-Mercedes of David Coulthard (one point more than Michael Schumacher) and Kimi Raikkonen (who is 14 points ahead).
"We knew things would change from last year, but we felt reliability was more important than performance. This is the main reason why we decided to go to Imola with the F2002. We are not far from the goals that we have set ourselves and we will evaluate exactly our position at the end of the week, but we are quite confident that the car will be ready for the Spanish Grand Prix".
After four races, three of which were affected by the difficult weather situation, the San Marino Grand Prix had the merit of clarifying the situation in the Formula 1 World Championship. Two important confirmations: the continued competitiveness of the F2002 and the unchanged desire to race and win of Michael Schumacher, beyond any consideration on the particular and difficult moment experienced by the German champion these days. At the same time, the San Marino Grand Prix reiterated that this year the fight for the titles will be tight, a bit because of the unpredictability of the results linked to the new rules, a bit also for the improvement of Ferrari’s rivals. McLaren-Mercedes has definitely taken on the role of first challenger. For the strategies and reliability found after years of troubles and failures, the team of Ron Dennis is back to being the battleship that had caused so many annoyances to the Maranello team, especially from 1998 to 2000. A fast car that knows how to exploit the tyres, which has a powerful and elastic engine. The ideal vehicle for the emerging Kimi Raikkonen, a driver who has proved to be fast, combative, concrete and intelligent. Leader in the standings, the Finn now is 14 points ahead of Michael Schumacher. If from now on the German always wins and Raikkonen finishes second every time, with the new scores it would take seven races for the reigning World Champion to reach the opponent in the standings. Unlike the cold Kimi, however, Michael Schumacher can count on several allies, even involuntary. You can of course rely on Rubens Barrichello, in shape and always ready to get on the podium, and also on David Coulthard, who must absolutely beat his teammate to maintain a valid position within McLaren. Then there will be the Williams drivers, Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, and any insertions such as those of Fernando Alonso, Jarno Trulli and Mark Webber. While Williams-Bmw did not live up to the expectations created after qualifying (Ralf Schumacher was just 0.014 seconds behind Michael Schumacher), it must be said that the British team has also made progress.
There will surely be Grands Prix in which it will be difficult to beat it, although its two excellent drivers are very discontinuous, unlike Kimi Raikkonen who is very consistent. Ralf Schumacher seems to be more and more psychologically vulnerable, while Juan Pablo Montoya never manages to do the same timed lap: he is brave, he has a sense of the show, but in the long run he becomes a loser. Perhaps Patrick Head, technical director of Williams, is right when he urges him to train with greater attention and intensity even on the physical level. One of Michael Schumacher’s secrets lies in his meticulous physical and mental preparation. An important reflection after Imola also concerns the tyres. The fact that in Brazil Bridgestone won with the tyres fitted to Giancarlo Fisichella’s Jordan was quite a coincidence. In the last weekend at Imola, Michael Schumacher has literally dominated thanks to the Japanese suppliers: best time in Friday’s pre-qualifying, pole position on Saturday, best lap in the race and first place. It’s called a hat trick. It is the thirteenth of the German, which detaches Jim Clark, who had collected eleven, in this special standings. Bridgestone has only one problem: among the top teams it only supplies Ferrari, the others (BAR, Jordan, Sauber and Minardi) do not have a big weight in high-level results, while Michelin can count on McLaren, Williams, Renault, Jaguar and Toyota. Among these, Renault is the one that improves continuously. If Jarno Trulli was forced to drive the reserve car, Fernando Alonso reached the maximum result within reach with sixth place. In a circuit where the engine counts, the French team could not hope for more. But the Spanish driver, very mature for his age (21 years) and the Italian driver, starting from the Austrian Grand Prix (18 May 2003) will have an engine-evolution on the car and will become more dangerous, especially in the next appointment in Monte Carlo. Young people make themselves notice. Kimi Raikkonen (with Fernando Alonso and Ralf Schumacher) is one of the three drivers who have always scored points since the beginning of the season.
But, unlike the Frenchman and the German, the Finn is firmly at the top of the standings thanks to a victory (Malaysia), two second places (Brazil and Imola) and a third place (Australia). Twenty-three years old (he will turn 24 on Wednesday, September 17, 2003), the McLaren driver, whose girlfriend is Jenny Dahlmann, former miss Scandinavia, has competed so far 38 races in F1, after winning a lot in karts and in Formula Renault. He was noticed and launched by Peter Sauber after a test at Mugello. After a year of learning, Kimi Raikkonen signed with McLaren. In the operation it seems that Peter Sauber has collected something like 25,000,000 euros. But Kimi says that he does not to think about money too much:
"They are nice, but they do not make life easier, I would be fine even with less money than I have now".
The Finnish driver is so cold and disenchanted that he never gets upset when things go wrong, he trusts his determination and talent. Before the races he sleeps a lot, so much so that his only fear is not to wake up in time. Relationships with other drivers? He doesn’t have any outside of racing. He sometimes hears on the phone fellow countryman Mika Hakkinen and says he has nothing against teammate David Coulthard:
"From which I initially copied the car’s set-ups".
With Michael Schumacher he only talks about motorsport. The World Championship?
"I have to improve in qualifying".