tamermotorsports.com - Formula 1 - Great Prize of France

If to Schumacher it needed some record more than to pulverize and to reach the maximum top like pilot of Formula 1, that same era to equal the impressive record of five world-wide titles obtained by the Argentinean Juan Manuel Fangio. It obtained it to Schumacher and how…
The extraordinary German pilot adjudged his villa crowns, and third consecutive one, with five races still more to dispute. The numbers of this season make an impression. Three pole positions, eight victories in eleven races, three records of return, eleven podios and the sum of 96 points on the 110 ideals in eleven competitions.
The forceful F2002 model of the house of Maranello accompanied by decisive way the anticipated consecration of Schumacher. A simply wonderful car, perhaps the best one of the history of F1, with an admirable trustworthiness and that into the hands of the German is a lethal weapon terribly for its rivals.
“Thanks remain short to thank for to the equipment everything what it has done by me. I want them and I admire to all by the work that have done and the motivation that have demonstrated. It did not think that it could reach the championship today, but when I have seen that Rubens remained outside and that Montoya lost positions, I have begun to think about it. It was enjoying the race, but then I have committed the error to step on the white line and thought that the title escaped”, commented a moved Schumacher.
Surely the Great Prize of France will not happen to history like one more. This edition was entertainment enough although 19 machines only took leave from the test.
For the second time consecutive the pilot second of Ferrari, Rubens Barrichello, could not take its F2002 when the previous return began. The problems of the machine were so serious that the Brazilian not even could release from the last place. The displeasure of the Brazilian was made feel.
Montoya was able to maintain the leadership in the starting, although constantly pressed by Schumacher from the first moment. A little more back Takuma Sato and Olivier Panis confused in the first curve.
The attack of the German of Ferrari was not made hope. Schumacher tried without success to escape to the Colombian in the first two returns. Before the energetic attitude of Montoya to defend the first position, Schumacher chose to wait for the first resupply. Hardly meters behind these two, Kimmi Raikkonen maintained an excellent level demonstrating already of entrance that was one of the candidates to the triumph. Some seconds behind; its companion David Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher.
After the first round of resupplies the race seemed to define itself. Montoya entered before Schumacher, this last one was useful to realize some quick returns and to give back itself to track in front of the Colombian. Nevertheless Schumacher stepped on the white line when coming out of boxes gaining a penalty on the part of the commissioners. With penalty and everything fulfilled, the German hardly returned to track some meters behind Montoya and Raikkonen.
Once again the pilot of Ferrari chose to maintain the calm and to hope the second round of resupplies to gain positions. Montoya returned to be first in pausing withdrawing much. Again the strategy of Williams was a failure, like almost always, and adding to the yield in fall of the FW24, Montoya and its Schumacher companion quarter and fifth a finished more than forty seconds of the F2002 de Schumacher…
With Montoya in frank reduction, Raikkonen and Schumacher were outlined for the victory. Although behind, Coulthard with a dangerous strategy was able to be placed enough near both first. Unfortunately the Scot was penalized by the same maneuver that Schumacher, and David lost a great opportunity to fight by the triumph.
The last and decisive round of resupplies maintained everything as it were. Raikkonen returned to right track in front of Schumacher and with the free path to obtain his first victory. When everything seemed defined in favor of Raikkonen, the young Finn only committed an infantile error to five returns of the end. Kimmi was followed of length in the Adelaida bracket and Schumacher without thinking twice surpassed the Finn. The little experience of 27 races of Raikkonen in the F1 was made feel in the definition. Anyway its yield is remarkable.
“He is a little strange to admit that the best result of my race in I have obtained it to the F1 in the worse race of my life, but thus is I feel as it. To be to the front of a race for want of four returns the end and to end up losing it is terrible. Nevertheless, it is certain that there was oil on the track”, commented Raikkonen.
Michael Schumacher both adjudged the victory after 1h32'09 " 837 flanked by pilots of McLaren Mercedes. Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher and Jenson Button closed the six first positions.
“Again I could not remove advantage from my position of cord. In the race I have much been battling with the balance of my car, which was very difficult to handle. Our election of tires was good in the conditions of greater heat of yesterday, but it did not pay dividends today, in conditions of more cold. In agreement the race passed, we were losing more and more it takes hold. With respect to the victory of championship of Michael, fodder that is wonderful for him”, commented Montoya.
In order to emphasize the eighth position secured by Mark Webber in the modest Minardi. The Australian finished the race to a single return in front of supposedly more competitive cars.
Also the action of Eddie Irvine in the R3B of Jaguar is rescatable. Although the Irish left after to lose the back aileron of his machine, the car has progressed enough and of not mediating this disadvantage, Irvine could have added a point.
“It was reaching to Jenson, and since he had another shutdown to do, a precious point could here have been possible. However, we have demonstrated to some encouraging signals of east change weekend, and in spite of the fact that still we have some subjects that to solve, we are moving to us in the right direction. The car feels much more like a race car now”, explained Eddie.
To Schummy it would have left very just a short time to celebrate its villa crowns, since the next weekend the F1 visits the new circuit of Hockenheim to dispute the Great Prize of Germany.

To see result of the race