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Two more Grand Prix, 610 kilometres, and the 2002 season of Scuderia Ferrari will be filed under the label triumphs and records. For a team that has chosen not to be advertised outside the world of racing, the victory of the Drivers’ and the Constructors’ World Championships offers a great return of image, draws new, rich sponsors and makes the price of the inserts go up on the few available spaces of the red car body. But how much is pure and simple victory worth? How much do teams get from the Formula 1 organisers? In a world that flaunts sparkling riches and pays salaries at seven zeros (in euros or dollars) these details are secret. Secret by regulation: the obligation of confidentiality is written in the Concorde Agreement, a name that derives from the place where it was signed (Place de la Concorde in Paris, headquarters of the FIA), more than from the friendship between its members. But, when there are several involved people and even more interests, the wall of confidentiality cracks. Teams get 47% of the TV rights: this is certain because it is the teams themselves who reveal it, claiming to the great boss Bernie Ecclestone a larger slice. And television rights as a whole, according to estimates, amount to 360.000.000 euros. Therefore, the top ten teams divide a sum of about 170.000.000 euros: half in equal parts (8,5 million euros each), half according to the final standings (the first would be 19%, the tenth only 4%).
Ferrari’s gain is, according to these rumours, equal to 16.000.000 plus 8.500.000 euros. These are very high figures for ordinary people, but they represent only a tenth of the budget of a top team like Scuderia Ferrari. And, above all, they don’t foresee big differences between the winner and the tenth, which in the current standings is Toyota: the Japanese debutants would earn 11.000.000 euros, despite cutting the finish in half of the races and always at the back of the grid. The great loser of F1 is eleventh in the ranking. For smaller teams participating in the money division means survival. Minardi won twice at the expense of Prost: in 2000, closing on equal merit without even a point, but with better placements; in 2001 earning the share of the television rights of the tenth classified, after the bankruptcy of the French team. Ninth in the provisional standings, the Italian team should also be guaranteed for this season by the financial crisis of Arrows, which has deserted the last three races. The Concorde Agreement expires at the end of 2007. After that, the constructors could create another championship or get a larger share of the television rights: smaller teams would receive more money, let alone the bigger ones. Michael Schumacher is the one who doesn’t have big economic problems: he had already lent his face for an advertisement of cars and accessories, now he offers it to one of the symbols of money, the credit card. Created by Deutsche Vermögensberatung, in collaboration with Deutsche Bank and Europay-Mastercard, the card marked with the effigy of the champion offers some services and facilities related to the Formula 1 world. And the illusion of having the same bank account as Michael Schumacher.
"Presenting yourself as a World Champion at a major car show for the fourth consecutive year is a priceless joy".
Among the many activities of Luca Montezemolo (including the summit of the Publishers Federation), being the president of Ferrari is still the primary joy. And also the most exhilarating.
"Indy and Suzuka? They are two races which remain to honour and we will do it, the goal is to finish as we started. Greatly. Meanwhile, we are already working on the development of the single-seater for the next championship".
In the Parisian preview, Thursday, September 26, 2002, the president of Ferrari, Luca Montezemolo, enjoys the successes of the cars produced in Maranello, baptises the debut of the supercar Enzo dedicated to the founder of the factory, launches the imminent return of the Maserati brand in racing. And he looks around 360 degrees:
"I support Boschetti and the relaunch of Fiat, with which Ferrari has a fantastic partnership".
Then he goes on:
"Maserati goes back to racing. Let’s start with the Trophy version, built in thirty units and presented right here in Paris: a car of 425 hp for the monobrand Challenge, and even those who have never raced can participate. Seven races in Europe. Then we will expand the activity by talking with the other big teams at the circuit: the regulations are being studied. The new Maserati is white and blue, just like the last Italian car that won the Indy 500 with the Trident brand".
On Friday, September 27, 2002, at the legendary Indianapolis circuit, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello will perform with a car identical to the one exhibited at the Paris Motor Show. Maserati is experiencing a great relaunch, also due to the successes of Coupé and Spyder in the United States. At the end of 2002, 3,500 models will be produced, twice as many as in 2001. But it is the Ferrari stand, in France, to catalyse the attention: thanks to the Enzo, a sports car with Formula 1 technology designed by Pininfarina.
"The success was so great that we decided to produce 50 more, in addition to the 349 already sold. A necessary exception to the rule, otherwise we would have disappointed too many customers. First deliveries in November, the last in June 2004".
Talking instead to the topics related to the United States Grand Prix, Friday, September 27, 2002, at the end of the first day of practice, Michael Schumacher is first, Rubens Barrichello last. But the reason is soon explained: the German runs regularly, remaining practically always at the top of the ranking, while the Brazilian is the protagonist of a spectacular off-track at a speed certainly close to 300 km/h, ending with his F2002 against a wall of the Motor Speedway. A few more white hairs, perhaps, for Rubinho, but apart from the fright, immediately forgotten, without even resorting to the usual examination by doctors, the only damage is not having done more than a few kilometres of practice. Michael Schumacher, however, shows the usual continuity, lapping in 1'13"548, quite close, for the first day, to the pole position scored by the German driver in 2001 (1'11"708). Surprising - even if his Jaguar had already shown progress at Monza - is the second place of Eddie Irvine, at 0.575 seconds, ahead of David Coulthard, but detached by 1.371 seconds. Far away Juan Pablo Montoya. Rubens Barrichello’s accident, caused by a problem with the left rear tyre that suddenly collapsed (but it’s hard to tell if it was the tyre or rim) occurred on the first lap. He had crossed the track slowly to push on the starting straight line, when you see the F2002 of the Brazilian driver entering the straight spinning. Then the car crushes with the left side against the wall placed under the stands and bounces in the middle of the track, with two wheels detached and one of them pendant from the bent suspension. Rubinho jumps out of the cockpit with his own means, goes to the inner edge of the circuit, then back to his Ferrari, to take the steering wheel. Then the car is lifted on the tow truck and taken to the pits. Throughout all this time, free practice is suspended for 19 minutes and resumes regularly. However, Michael Schumacher, who in the meantime had obtained the best time in three laps, will only resume practice in the second session as a precaution.
"I didn’t immediately understand what happened, I thought something concerning the tyres. I heard the car spinning and I lost control of it. Afraid? No, I didn’t have time, a few too many thrills. I closed my eyes and waited for the impact. Again, however, these cars proved to be very robust and safe".
Meanwhile, the mechanics of the Maranello team are engaged in the reconstruction of the car, with a spare chassis. The problem doesn’t seem to have upset the Ferrari drivers. Michael Schumacher continues to fine-tune the car during the second session. The German driver appears calm and relaxed.
"It’s true, I was on vacation in California. It was very hot but with Corinna we had a great time, doing long horse rides. The most beautiful thing? The fact that no one there recognizes me and I can be among people, like everyone else, which in Europe doesn’t normally happen".
In this regard, an American newspaper reveals that in June, before the Canadian Grand Prix, the World Champion had been to Texas and had gone to see a race at Fort Worth. He was curious to watch one of those American oval races. Despite being in the stands, he paid a $100 ticket to drive one of the production cars used in the race. He did it for a couple of hours, always without being recognized.
"It was really funny".
Now he feels ready for another victory.
"Of course I will try to win. We want to help Rubens win second place but it seems to me that we are in the ideal position to race without problems. However, this has already been a fantastic championship. It is difficult to find words to explain certain sensations. There were really special moments like in Magny-Cours and Spa. Do you want to know if I ever wonder if it’s true, when I wake up in the morning? Yes, sometimes I think there is a need for a pinch, maybe like that Monday morning in France when I won the title: but then in the night I had drunk too much".
Small, wearing a McLaren’s silvery suit, a physique not exactly like that of a supermodel but nice and smiling, Sarah Fisher makes her Formula 1 debut. The American drives for a few laps the MP4/17 car that is normally used as a reserve car for David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen. For the 21-year-old American from Columbus, Ohio, the first woman to win a pole position in the IRL series, the youngest and fastest to compete in the Indy 500, it’s a beautiful emotion, faced with the confidence of a veteran; she is 19 seconds slower than Michael Schumacher.
"I’ve been running in my car since I was five, so I’m used to everything. Also to the pressure of the media that have always had a great attention to me because I am a woman who often beats men. Of course it was very nice to have this experience in front of my audience. It wasn’t a real test, but a performance. Interesting. From this it is difficult to expect a seat in Formula 1. But I am a girl who has always tried to exploit the possibilities offered to her. So, who knows, maybe one day you’ll see me in a Grand Prix".
Looking for more records, the Ferrari team is aiming for the fourteenth win of the season, Michael Schumacher for the eleventh. And to do so, the Maranello team monopolises the front row for the fifth time since the beginning of the year. In the United States Grand Prix the German driver takes the third consecutive pole position at the American Motor Speedway, one of the temples of motorsport, the sixth in the current championship, the number 49 in his career. Behind the two drivers of the Maranello team there are David Coulthard, who at the last moment surpasses by a thousandth of a second Juan Pablo Montoya (9 cm difference on the finish line, according to the calculations of the Tag Heuer technicians), relegating him to fourth place in the field. The qualifying session of the Italians was positive, for their current possibilities, with Jarno Trulli eighth and Giancarlo Fisichella ninth.
The strange fact, at two races from the end of the World Championship, is that Ferrari continues to make progress, while opponents fail to improve. Michael Schumacher breaks the circuit record by dropping to 1'10"790, an average time of 213.182 km/h, while David Coulthard, with McLaren-Mercedes, remains detached by more than 0.6 seconds, an abyss considering that the track is 4192 metres long.
"It’s an extraordinary result for three reasons. First of all, we show that we haven’t let our guard down. Ferrari and us drivers are still very hungry, we want to win. Secondly, for Ferrari and Maserati, the American market is the most important market of all, and an exhibition of forces of this kind is the best propaganda one can dream of. Thirdly, the environment is fascinating, there are also tens of thousands of fans here for Scuderia Ferrari. We hope to have given a show worthy of them until now and some enthusiasm that always animates them towards us".
With regard to the US Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher preaches calmness, more to avoid seeming presumptuous than out of true conviction.
"You know how the races are. The start, the tactics, the unexpected. Rubens and I are free to do our own race, also because if I came first and he was second, he would definitely win the second place in the standings. By the way, I think that Barrichello is difficult to beat not only for his rivals, but also for me. I think we’ll have fun. Being ahead here is an advantage, because overtaking is quite difficult. I could also have been a bit faster in qualifying, but in my best lap I found yellow flags marking the off-track of Yoong's Minardi and I had to slow down. But it’s okay, I’m happy, we’ll have fun".
A joke, that of Michael Schumacher, which also makes Rubens Barrichello smile.
"I’m happy too. After the accident on Friday, our mechanics were very good at rebuilding a completely new car, starting from a spare chassis. I hadn’t been able to test on the first day and on this circuit, if it’s quite easy to get a good tuning of the car, it’s very difficult to find the setup in the final details that allow you to take advantage of every opportunity in different configurations of the track. That’s why I can’t complain. We’ll see in the race, the important thing for me is to stay ahead of Montoya and Ralf Schumacher. The rest will be seen".
Michael Schumacher, in the end, also wants to be fatalist.
"I have so far achieved some incredible positive series, with results that have gone beyond our expectations. So, according to statistics, sooner or later I will have to stop once. I hope it isn’t this one, but I am psychologically prepared".
No one sees Michael Schumacher making superstitious gestures, but it isn’t excluded that he had his beautiful red horn-shaped lucky charm in the pocket of the suit. Or that he has not touched iron. The opponents, however, are almost resigned:
"We are fighting for third place".
On Sunday, September 29, 2002, at the start of the US Grand Prix there are no accidents and at the end of the first lap Michael Schumacher leads the race ahead of Rubens Barrichello, David Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jarno Trulli and Kimi Räikkönen. At the start of the second lap Juan Pablo Montoya attacks his teammate on the outside of the first corner: Ralf Schumacher tries to resist on the inside, but loses control of the car on the kerb and ends up colliding with the Colombian. Montoya slips to seventh, while Ralf Schumacher is forced to return to the pits with the rear wing torn. In the meantime, the two Ferrari drivers quickly pull away from the pack, while behind them David Coulthard and Jarno Trulli maintain third and fourth positions. Kimi Räikkönen, slowed down by an engine problem, running with only nine cylinders due to a spark plug failure, is overtaken by Jacques Villeneuve during lap 12, then also loses sixth position in favour of Juan Pablo Montoya four laps later. The Finn continues his race until lap 50, when the engine finally gives up. The race is enlivened only by the different strategies chosen by the drivers: the Ferrari drivers, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, and Jacques Villeneuve make two pit stops, while David Coulthard, Jarno Trulli and Juan Pablo Montoya stop in the pits only once. Schumacher and Barrichello refuel on lap 27 and lap 28 respectively, maintaining the top positions even after the pit stop. David Coulthard continues his first stint until lap 42, keeping the third position. Behind him Juan Pablo Montoya takes advantage of the pit stops to overtake Jarno Trulli and Jacques Villeneuve. The Canadian driver overtakes the Abruzzese on track during lap 34, but loses again the position to the rival’s advantage when he stops for the second time in the pits. In the last laps Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello slow down considerably, preparing for crossing the finish line together: on the finish line, however, Barrichello overtakes his teammate, winning by just 0.011 seconds. The two Ferrari drivers precede David Coulthard, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen. Even the Motor Speedway, crowded by 160.000 spectators - a record, considering that the titles have been awarded for some time - registers the dominance of the Maranello cars.
With an unexpected and unpredictable finish: Rubens Barrichello overtook Michael Schumacher who, until the previous lap, was largely in the lead. The time gap between the two F2002s, as mentioned, is 0.011 seconds. In 1971 in Monza, Peter Gethin with B.R.M. had beaten Ronnie Peterson (March) by 0.010 seconds, François Cevert (Tyrrell) by 0.090 seconds and Mike Hailwood (Surtees) by 0.180 seconds. A mockery for the World Champion, you might think, but since the German celebrates amiably with the teammate on the podium, it’s evident that the result satisfies him anyway. A red parade that marks the fourteenth 1-2 of the Ferrari drivers’ pair. This result equals what Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost had established with McLaren in 1988-1989. The string of records continues with 205 points won this season by the team of Maranello; no one had ever exceeded this limit, and there is still a race before the end of the World Championship, with the 60th 1-2, the victory number 158, the fourteenth of the season. You know, the usual triumph. A tactical race and more difficult than expected that of the Ferrari team, that chose a prudent strategy concerning the tyre use, with two pit stops, unlike its direct rivals who preferred that of a single pit-stop. But even with this elusive theory, there was nothing to be done against the F2002s. The plans of Juan Pablo Montoya, who had promised to be a spoilsport, were ruined by teammate Ralf Schumacher. On the second lap the Colombian placed a thrilling overtaking on the German, who tried to resist and, culpably, turned around touching the other Williams. Juan Pablo was luckier, he didn’t suffer any damage, but he lost positions and in the end he could only conquer a miserable fourth place. Ralf Schumacher, however, paid the price. He was forced to return to the pits to change the rear wing detached and ended the race in last place, largely overtaken. The German Williams crash made him lose a bit of consideration by Patrick Head, the co-owner designer of the team, who at the end of the race didn't hide his great disappointment at the collision between his two drivers. Thus, with Juan Pablo Montoya practically out of action for the fight in third place, the role of third wheel passed on the shoulders of David Coulthard who with his McLaren-Mercedes took a small revenge on the Williams-Bmw, although the second place in the Constructors' World Championship is now in favour of the team of Frank Williams.
Satisfaction also for Jarno Trulli, in points, fifth with Renault, after a good start that allowed him to immediately gain two positions. Giancarlo Fisichella was less fortunate, seventh. The penultimate race of the 2002 World Championship will however be remembered for the final twist. It’s difficult to understand if Michael Schumacher really wanted to make a gift to Rubens Barrichello, if the two wanted to finish together and fate wanted to reward the Brazilian by putting him in front for a few centimetres. This is also a story that will only be revealed when one of the protagonists writes the memoirs. One hypothesis: Michael Schumacher may have allowed himself an inaccuracy, betrayed by the difficulty of distinguishing, in Indianapolis, the real finish line from the brick line ahead. A thing from the old circuit. Eleven thousandths of a second between the success in the sprint of Barrichello and the second place of Schumacher, who had also dominated in Indianapolis. How he has been dominating the whole season. A trifle, the space between the two Ferraris. But what happened? Only in the 1971 Italian Grand Prix did something like this happen when the British Gethin (with his B.R.M.) had preceded Ronnie Peterson and his March Ford to the finish line by 0.010 seconds. But they were rivals, not teammates. And it was an exciting sprint between fierce rivals, which excited the fans present at Monza. After the race, in Indianapolis, everything revolves around the little improvised case on the finish line, which is preceded by a strip of bricks like the ancient track of Indiana. The truth emerges: the two Ferraris were looking for an unprecedented arrival together, the Brazilian won it, perhaps by mistake, at the expense of the German. The latter seems amused, laughing at the end of the US Grand Prix. A great festive climate. Rubens Barrichello confesses:
"I was not supposed to be the one to win this race. We had not decided this before. We had a lot of fun trying to go one faster than the other. And then at the last corner I found myself there, I didn’t know what to do. It was very kind of Michael to wait for me, to fight against me for success. If it was a football game, it would have ended zero to zero. Yes, we had fun putting our cars in front of everyone. I can only thank Michael for the support he has given me throughout the season. A victory in the United States is very important to me, it's beautiful to win here. The future? I am optimistic for 2003, I am happy within this team, we all work well, Ferrari is a fantastic team. I look forward to next year: I just want to keep having fun like this".
Michael Schumacher smiles. The World Champion adds some fun details about the finish:
"The truth is we wanted to break another record. We wanted to get together on the finish line. We got close even if we didn't succeed, but we hit another record of the season: the shortest gap between first and second. These things are possible because we are a fantastic team, Rubens and I are always supporting each other, there is absolute solidarity. That’s why I thought it would be great to finish together today. McLaren? In the end the gap was less than ten seconds, our two-stop strategy was right, but it could also have been a problem. This year everything is okay".
Jean Todt doesn’t pay attention to detail. For him, it counts above all the 1-2 of the cars built in Maranello.
"Beautiful race, the fourteenth victory of Ferrari this year. Michael already had the title of world champion from Magny-Cours and made a small gift to Rubens to consolidate his second position in the standings. That’s it".
David Coulthard, third behind the two Ferrari drivers, says:
"When I came back behind Michael and Rubens after the only pit stop there was incredible traffic, I couldn’t do more. I was fine keeping third place. I pushed, but in the last laps I had to protect the engine, it wasn’t the case to risk because I could never reach the Ferraris. I just needed to be in front of the Williams".
He wanted to give a show, to finish the race with an authentic red parade, two Ferraris together, at the same time, on the finish line, to score a historic result on one of the most famous tracks in the world. But he was also sure to win the United States Grand Prix, which until then had led to the lead. But Michael Schumacher made a mistake, slowing down his F2002 too much.
"I gifted the American race to my friend Rubinho, after what happened in Austria I owed him something; now we’re even".
The Americans, however, didn’t like it very much. Someone misinterprets the episode, thinking of another team order and talks about an already decided Formula 1. In fact, it didn’t turn out like that: Ferrari’s goal was to win, to hit the eighth 1-2 of the season and to mathematically secure second place in the overall standings for the Brazilian man. This result would also have been obtained with the first place of Michael Schumacher and with Rubens Barrichello's withdrawal. There was therefore no bad faith in Michael’s gesture, but only a misunderstanding between the two, in the awkward attempt of the German to parade together in front of the 150,000 fans in the stands. About the fact that Ferrari can also afford certain games, it is certainly not his fault. If opponents can’t recover, if the F2002 missiles are indestructible for three seasons, it is only because the team in Maranello has worked better than the others, because the team is strong and the technology developed the best. At Indianapolis there was yet another proof of the anxiety that disturbs the two main competitors of Ferrari. To keep up the pace imposed by Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, Kimi Raikkonen blew up the Mercedes engine of his McLaren. So, without pressure, in the end it was Michael Schumacher who paid the price, who lost his possible success number 64 to do the phenomenon, granting the fifth success to Rubens Barrichello.
"The important thing was to see two Ferraris in the first two places. The order at this point is the same for us. Michael wanted to get close to Rubens, there was no need to push to the maximum, there were no team orders like in other races. They had a great race, fighting each other until the second stop for tyres and fuel. Then everything had to be normal. Schumi also asked us via radio if the team wanted something, we replied that they were free to decide. The German thought about the parade but it’s impossible to calculate the arrival at the thousandth. It went this way, we are happy anyway".
On Tuesday, October 1, 2002, Ferrari will test with Luciano Burti at Jerez and Luca Badoer at Mugello. And Michael Schumacher, before returning home with his wife Corinna, makes a promise, after an American journalist tells him:
"You said you are obsessed with victory. After Monza and Indianapolis I think you are more interested in second place".
Michael replies that:
"Well, wait until Suzuka’s race. You’ll see what I'm obsessed with".
Bernie Ecclestone hasn’t shown himself in the United States these days. Contrary to usual, the Formula 1 boss stayed at home. He is preparing for the World Council of Motorsport, scheduled for Thursday, October 3, 2002 in Paris, attended by the twenty-one members of the Federation and the constructors’ representative (which is Jean Todt). On the agenda there is the composition of the calendar for 2003, without remarkable changes, at most some date shift, given that the news announced (Bahrain, perhaps China or Turkey and maybe a second race in the United States) won’t be ready until the following year. Bernard Charles Ecclestone, also known as Mister E, 72, seems intent on driving a revolution. Disappointed by the results obtained by digital television, increasingly in crisis, after having set up a colossal organisation with more than 200 technicians that he transports with its own planes (men and materials) around all circuits, the English manager in recent times is meditating to quickly change the rules of the game to make the show more interesting and the result more uncertain. According to rumours, Bernie would ask teams for a drastic reduction in aerodynamic sophistication, a new limitation of electronics on cars to force drivers to a less assisted type of driving, with less stable cars and probably also the return to a single tyre supplier.
"There are too many differences between the top teams and the others. We have to recompose the group".
But Ecclestone’s ideas, even if justified in part, clash violently with the interests of the constructors. They have different programs, as it is known. For huge car constructors, the biggest problem concerns the distribution of Formula 1’s economic revenues:
"If there is more money available, distributed evenly among all the competitors, each team will have the opportunity to develop the best cars and make them competitive".
At the same time they will provide engines to teams that may not be directly supported by themselves. But it will be difficult for them to agree to go back on the technical side: too much investment has been made in recent years (wind tunnels, new factories, materials research, hardware and software processing) to abandon everything. It would also be anachronistic: the standard cars on the road are more advanced than those that are the maximum expression in racing. The challenge is therefore open, there will be an internal battle in Paris, with the FIA that among other things always lives under the threat of the establishment of a new World Championship organised by the constructors. Among many disturbing news, however, something positive is happening. Some of the old glories of American racing, including Dan Gurney, Graham Hill and Danny Sullivan, as well as forming a school of young drivers for Formula 1, are thinking of setting up a team made in the USA to participate in the Formula 1 World Championship, maybe as early as next year. In this regard there is the possibility that Arrows, who is absent from the races since the Hungarian Grand Prix, will participate in the trip to Japan for the last race. The reason: not to lose acquired rights. And it could be Arrows, bought by the Americans, to become the US team in 2003.