2002 Belgian Grand Prix
Template:Infobox Grand Prix race report The 2002 Belgian Grand Prix (formally the 2002 Foster's Belgian Grand Prix)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was a Formula One motor race held on 1 September 2002 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Francorchamps, Stavelot, Wallonia, Belgium before 91,000 spectators. It was the 14th round of the 2002 Formula One World Championship and the 49th Belgian Grand Prix as part of the Formula One World Championship. Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher won the 44-lap race from pole position. His teammate Rubens Barrichello finished second and Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya claimed third.
Michael Schumacher, the World Drivers' Champion, started from pole position after setting the fastest qualifying lap during the one-hour qualifying session. Kimi Räikkönen of McLaren started second, with Barrichello starting third. At the start, Michael Schumacher maintained the race lead while Barrichello made a better start than Räikkönen to pass him for second. Michael Schumacher led the race for most of the race, only ceding it to Barrichello during the first pit stop cycle, leading to Ferrari's one-two finish. Michael Schumacher secured his tenth victory of the season and the 63rd of his career; he broke Nigel Mansell's record for most victories in a single season, which he had previously tied three times.
The race result maintained Michael Schumacher's unassailable lead in the World Drivers' Championship with 122 championship points, 71 ahead of his teammate Barrichello and 78 in front of Montoya. Ferrari extended their unassailable World Constructors' Championship advantage over Williams to 87 championship points with three races remaining in the season.
Background
The 2002 Belgian Grand Prix was the 14th of the 17 races in the 2002 Formula One World Championship and the 49th time it was part of the Formula One World Championship. It took place at the 21-turn Template:Convert Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Francorchamps, Stavelot, Wallonia, Belgium on 1 September.<ref name="CF1Race" /><ref name="ESPNMSportMagResults" /> For the Grand Prix, the exit of the Bus Stop chicane was modified to allow for a faster exit into the La Source turn.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The new pit entrance was moved to right before the Bus Stop chicane end.<ref name="AF1Preview" /><ref name="F1RUMagReport">Template:Cite journal</ref> The track was also resurfaced from La Source to Les Combes corners, as well as Blanchimont to the Bus Stop chicane.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The exit kerb at the top of Eau Rouge turn was flattened to make it quicker, causing drivers to straightline it on the way to Raidillon corner.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /><ref name="SpeedFridayNotebook">Template:Cite web</ref>
Before the race, both the World Drivers' Championship and World Constructors' Championship were already won, with Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher having secured the World Drivers' Championship three races earlier at the Template:F1 GP and Ferrari took the World Constructors' Championship two races after that at the preceding Template:F1 GP, with Williams too many championship points behind to be able to catch them.<ref name="2002points">Template:Cite book</ref> Although both titles were settled, the battle for second in the drivers' standings was not.<ref name="AF1Preview">Template:Cite journal</ref> Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello led the battle from Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher and McLaren's David Coulthard.<ref name="2002points" />
Michael Schumacher had won the Belgian Grand Prix five times and was aiming to become the first driver to win ten races in a single season, beating Nigel Mansell's record shared four times (Template:F1).<ref name="WRRSchumacher">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He added, "Of course, I have the best memories of Spa. I've spent so much time there during my career that I always enjoy returning."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Barrichello hoped Ferrari would allow him to race against Michael Schumacher in the remaining four races, despite sporting director Jean Todt's indication to prohibit it if it went against Ferrari's interests.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He felt finishing runner-up in the drivers' championship would be an improvement over the previous season, adding, "But to be honest it is much more important to win the races itself and then see you finish second in the championship more than anything else, but I would be lying to say it has no importance."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Montoya rated Spa-Francorchamps as one of his favourite circuits and hoped it would be a good fit for the Williams squad, especially in dry conditions.<ref name="WRRSchumacher" />
Ten constructors represented by a racing team entered two drivers each for the event.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Arrows team continued to struggle financially following a London High Court injunction that prevented them from selling important assets or attracting new investors, and it was possible that it would not compete in Belgium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Arrows were able to visit Belgium after an American investor reportedly agreed to purchase the team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the team withdrew from the race on the night of August 30 on the advice of lawyers due to difficulties in finalising legal procedures of the purchase before qualifying began.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Anthony Davidson, British American Racing's (BAR) test driver, replaced regular driver Alex Yoong at Minardi for the second successive race before Yoong returned for the season's final three races.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Although there was no testing for the race,<ref name="AF1Preview" /> Ferrari's test driver Luca Badoer shook down three F2002 car sent to Belgium at the Mugello Circuit, while Jaguar's Eddie Irvine shook down front suspension components at Silverstone Circuit for Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With four races remaining in the season, several teams reducing development of their 2002 vehicles and began focussing on their Template:F1-spec cars.<ref name="AutosprintTech">Template:Cite journal</ref> In the absence of significant innovations, the teams' primary goal was to find the right balance between the high top speeds required for the Spa-Francorchamps circuit's long straights and the high aerodynamic load required by the second sector's fast corners, testing front and rear wings with varying numbers of profiles and incidence.<ref name="AutosprintTech" /> Jaguar introduced the most important modifications, installing reworked components to the new front suspension on the R3B car in an attempt to address steering issues that its drivers had since the season began.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mercedes and Toyota introduced revised specification of their V10 engines.<ref name="AutosprintTech" /><ref name="FIAFriday" />
Practice
Two one-hour practice sessions on Friday and two 45-minute sessions on Saturday preceded the race.<ref name="regulations2">Template:Cite book</ref> Race organisers delayed the first practice session for an hour due to heavy fog, preventing the medical helicopter from landing at nearby hospitals in the case of an accident, shortening the session from an hour to half an hour.<ref>Template:Cite web
Template:Cite web</ref> Conditions were sunny for the first session.<ref name="F1RacingNetFP1">Template:Cite web</ref> Barrichello lapped fastest at 1:49.009 with two minutes remaining.<ref name="AF1FP1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AutosportFP1">Template:Cite web</ref> His teammate Michael Schumacher, Coulthard, Renault's Jarno Trulli, Coulthard's teammate Kimi Räikkönen, Irvine, Jordan's Takuma Sato, Trulli's teammate Jenson Button, Toyota's Mika Salo and Ralf Schumacher followed in the top ten.<ref name="AF1FP1" /> Michael Schumacher ran wide onto the grass at the fast Pouhon left-hand turn and nearly crashed at high speed, whereas Räikkönen ran onto the grass on the outside before entering the left-hand Blanchimont curve but avoided a crash.<ref name="AutosportFP1" /> BAR's Olivier Panis had an engine failure into Les Combes turn in the final minute;<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /><ref name="F1RacingNetFP1" /> a new Honda V10 engine was fitted in his car by mechanics in 42 minutes.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /><ref name="FIAFriday">Template:Cite web</ref>
Lap times fell during the second practice session,<ref name="F1RacingNetFP2">Template:Cite web</ref> which took place later in the afternoon under sunny skies.<ref name="F1COMFridayPractice">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AF1FP2">Template:Cite web</ref> Räikkönen set the day's quickest lap of 1:47.196 in the final ten minutes.<ref name="F1RacingNetFP2" /><ref name="AF1FP2" /> Coulthard was second and was fastest until his teammate's best lap.<ref name="AutosportFP2">Template:Cite web</ref> The Ferrari duo of Michael Schumacher and Barrichello, Ralf Schumacher, Button, Jaguar's Pedro de la Rosa, Montoya, Irvine and Salo completed the top ten.<ref name="AF1FP2" /> Montoya ran off the circuit three times throughout the session.<ref name="FIAFriday" /> On the second occasion, he lost control of his car's rear approaching Fagnes corner but he avoided hitting the tyre barrier by passing through the gravel trap and returning to the pit lane.<ref name="F1COMFridayPractice" /><ref name="AutosportFP2" /> Mark Webber stopped his Minardi car at La Source turn with gearbox issues after 25 minutes.<ref name="F1COMFridayPractice" /><ref name="AutosportFP2" /> De La Rosa stopped his Jaguar when an electrical glitch caused his engine to cut out at the pit lane entry,<ref name="FIAFriday" /><ref name="F1RacingNetFP2" /> forcing him to push his car into pit lane.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /> With seven minutes left, Barrichello attempted to go fastest when he spun into the gravel trap at the exit of Malmedy corner, ending his session early.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /><ref name="AutosportFP2" /><ref name="DailyF1Analysis">Template:Cite web</ref>
The third practice session took place in sunny conditions on Saturday morning.<ref name="F1RacingNetFP3">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AF1FP3">Template:Cite web</ref> Michael Schumacher set the track's first sub-1:45 lap at 1:44.951 with a minute left,<ref name="F1COMFP3">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AutosportFP3">Template:Cite web</ref> 0.888 seconds ahead of his teammate Barrichello in second.<ref name="AutosportFP3" /> The McLaren duo of Räikkönen and Coulthard, the Williams pair of Ralf Schumacher and Montoya, Toyota's Allan McNish, Panis, Button and Jordan's Giancarlo Fisichella were in positions three to ten.<ref name="AF1FP3" /> Webber stopped at Stavelot turn with an electrical issue between the gearbox and engine.<ref name="F1RacingNetFP3" /><ref name="FIASaturday">Template:Cite web</ref> His teammate Davidson stopped when his engine cut out and was pushed into the pit lane by marshals.<ref name="AutosportFP3" /><ref name="FIASaturday" /> BAR's Jacques Villeneuve removed a bargeboard from his car on a kerb.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /><ref name="F1COMFP3" /> Felipe Massa locked his brakes into Malmedy corner and ran onto the grass but his Sauber car was undamaged.<ref name="AutosportFP3" />
Clouds formed over the circuit for the final practice session later in the morning.<ref name="AF1FP4">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AutosportFP4">Template:Cite web</ref> Räikkönen lapped fastest at 1:44.870 on a new set of tyres after 29 minutes, demoting Michael Schumacher to second.<ref name="AutosportFP4" /><ref name="F1COMSaturdayPractice">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="F1RacingNetFP4">Template:Cite web</ref> Coulthard, Barrichello, the Williams pair of Montoya and Ralf Schumacher, Salo, Panis, De La Rosa and Button rounded out the top ten.<ref name="AF1FP4" /> Michael Schumacher and Ralf Schumacher both spun their cars at Malmedy and Les Combes corners, but both continued. Davidson went off the track into Stavelot corner but continued.<ref name="F1COMSaturdayPractice" /><ref name="F1RacingNetFP4" />
Qualifying
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Each driver was allowed twelve laps during Saturday's one-hour qualifying session, with starting positions determined by the drivers' quickest laps. During this session, the 107% rule was in effect, requiring each driver to remain within 107% of the quickest lap time in order to qualify for the race.<ref name="regulations2" /> Although there were forecasts for rain, it was dry and cloudy for qualifying.<ref name="F1COMQualifying">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="F1RacingNetQualifying">Template:Cite web</ref> Michael Schumacher changed his gearbox before qualifying and a spare Ferrari was ready for him if needed.<ref name="FIASaturday" /> With ten minutes remaining,<ref name="F1COMQualifying" /> he won his fifth pole of the season and 48th of his career with a lap time of 1:43.726,<ref name="FIASaturday" /><ref name="ObserverQualifying">Template:Cite news</ref> the track's first sub-1:44 lap.<ref name="AutosportQualifying">Template:Cite web</ref> Schumacher aborted his second run because of oil laid on the circuit by Panis's car,<ref name="FIASaturday" /> prompting the waving of oil flags.<ref name="SundayTimesQualifying" /> Räikkönen qualified second for the first time in his career, 0.424 seconds slower,<ref name="BBCSportQualifying">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="SundayTelegraphQualifying">Template:Cite news</ref> steadily improving during qualifying.<ref name="DailyF1Analysis" /> He was the early pacesetter and set his best time on his final run, going onto the grass with his right rear wheel over the kerb at the Pouhon left-hand curve and lifting dust in the second sector.<ref name="FIASaturday" /><ref name="F1RacingNetQualifying" /><ref name="AutosportQualifying" /> On his second run, Räikkönen drove through dense smoke from Panis' car on the straight after the Eau Rouge turn.<ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="SundayTimesQualifying">Template:Cite news</ref> Barrichello used the harder Bridgestone tyre compound and took third, the slower Ferrari driver, after the Minardi cars affected his quickest lap. He was unable to set a fourth quick lap after testing a racing setup tweak, reporting no improvement.<ref name="FIASaturday" /> The Williams pair were fourth and fifth; both drivers reported car balance issues.<ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes" /> Ralf Schumacher took fourth in the final minute.<ref name="AutosportQualifying" /> Montoya was unable to remove excess understeer;<ref name="FIASaturday" /> he was impeded by the slow moving Räikkönen on the racing line at the Bus Stop chicane before moving onto the escape road on his third run,<ref name="AutosportQualifying" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes" /> leading to an expletive-laden radio rant.<ref name="Montoya2017">Template:Cite web</ref> Coulthard selected the harder Michelin tyre compound,<ref name="FIASaturday" /> causing him to be off the pace owing to less grip and took sixth.<ref name="ObserverQualifying" /><ref name="AutosportQualifying" /> Trulli qualified seventh after failing to complete his fourth run due to a pit lane issue.<ref name="FIASaturday" /> Irvine qualified a season-best eighth.<ref name="SundayTimesQualifying" /> He reported his Jaguar appeared to be extracting the maximum performance from the tyres.<ref name="FIASaturday" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes" /> Toyota made minor changes to Salo's car and tyre pressure adjustments for his final run to qualify ninth.<ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes" /> Button qualified three places behind his teammate Trulli in tenth.<ref name="ObserverQualifying" /> Renault removed too much downforce from his racing setup for the last two runs and Villeneuve spun ahead of him on the third.<ref name="FIASaturday" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes" />
Although De La Rosa did not need to change his Jaguar midway through qualifying, he locked the front wheels on his third run entering La Source turn and cancelled his last run due to a driver error, taking 11th.<ref name="FIASaturday" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes" /> Villeneuve was 12th in a slippery car.<ref name="TorontoStarQualifying">Template:Cite news</ref> On his second run,<ref name="WinnipegSunQualifying">Template:Cite news</ref> he ran wide and spun backwards off the racing line to avoid a slowing Sauber car at Pouhon turn late in qualifying.<ref name="FIASaturday" /><ref name="F1COMQualifying" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes" /> McNish, 13th, made a mistake by failing to locate the correct tyre pressure for his last run while Toyota spent qualifying working on his racing setup.<ref name="FIASaturday" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes" /> Fisichella oversteered, putting his left-rear wheel onto the kerb braking heavily for the downhill right-hand Fagnes turn and hit the tyre wall with 20 minutes remaining.<ref name="FIASaturday" /><ref name="F1COMQualifying" /><ref name="F1RacingNetQualifying" /> He returned to the pit lane to drive the spare Jordan car, returning to the track late in qualifying to claim 14th. Panis had his second engine failure of the meeting on his second run, 35 minutes in, when he approached Les Combes corner.<ref name="FIASaturday" /><ref name="F1COMQualifying" /><ref name="AutosportQualifying" /> Thick smoke billowed fro his car and oil was laid on the circuit.<ref name="SundayTimesQualifying" /> Panis returned to the pit lane for the final 20 minutes, driving the spare BAR car and qualifying 15th due to traffic.<ref name="FIASaturday" /> Sato, 16th, reported his car required extra grip and stability.<ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes" /> Sauber secured the grid's ninth row.<ref name="SundayTelegraphQualifying" /> Massa finished 17th, with significant understeer in slow and medium-speed curves and snap oversteer in high-speed corners. He could not lap quicker due to traffic.<ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes" /> Heidfeld, 18th, locked up and went wide at Les Combes corner in his second run. He then had engine setting issues on his third lap, which was fixed, but had too much oversteer in the last sector on his final run.<ref name="FIASaturday" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes" /> Minardi took the final starting positions in 19th and 20th.<ref name="F1COMQualifying" /> Webber was six-tenths of a second faster than his teammate Davidson,<ref name="AutosportQualifying" /> who had his car modified for the first run before being baulked by Panis on the final run.<ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes" /> This meant all 20 entrants qualified for the race.<ref name="WinnipegSunQualifying" />
Post-qualifying
After qualifying, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA; Formula One's governing body) delegate Charlie Whiting agreed to the Grand Prix Drivers' Association's request at a drivers' briefing to remove on-track painted advertisements due to the hazards they posed, particularly in wet weather.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Qualifying classification
Warm-up
On race morning, drivers were given a half-hour warm-up session to run installation laps in their race and spare cars in dry and sunny conditions. Heavy rain fell overnight, removing the rubber and therefore grip laid down by drivers.<ref name="F1RacingNetWarmUp">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="F1COMWarmUp">Template:Cite web</ref> Michael Schumacher set the fastest lap of 1:48.044 halfway through warm-up, almost a second faster than Räikkönen. Coulthard, De La Rosa, Barrichello, Trulli, Panis, Ralf Schumacher, Villeneuve and Heidfeld made up positions third to tenth.<ref name="AF1WarmUp">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AutosportWarmUp">Template:Cite web</ref> Massa damaged his car against a marker cone at the Bus Stop chicane.<ref name="FIAWarmUp">Template:Cite web</ref> Halfway through warm-up,<ref name="F1COMWarmUp" /> Sato ran wide leaving Stavelot corner and spun after two wheels hit the grass.<ref name="AutosportWarmUp" /> Although he was able to straighten his car out after spinning, Sato ran out of space and damaged the front-left suspension against the tyre barrier.<ref name="AutosportWarmUp" /><ref name="FIAWarmUp" /> Marshals removed Sato's stricken car from the track.<ref name="F1RacingNetWarmUp" />
Race
The 44-lap race commenced at 14:00 local time,<ref name="CF1Race" /> in dull and overcast weather;<ref name="F1COMRaceLIve">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="F1LiveCOMRace">Template:Cite web
Template:Cite web</ref> teams expected conditions to remain dry.<ref name="F1RacingNetRace">Template:Cite web</ref> The air temperature was between Template:Convert and the asphalt temperature was between Template:Convert.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /><ref name="F1LiveCOMRace" /> The race attracted 91,000 spectators.<ref name="TimesRaceReport">Template:Cite news</ref> When the red lights went out to begin the race,<ref name="AF1Review">Template:Cite journal</ref> Michael Schumacher made a clean start to maintain the lead into the La Source hairpin.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /><ref name="AutosportRace">Template:Cite web</ref> Räikkönen had a poor start and sought to block Barrichello by driving to the right, but the latter pushed Räikkönen outwards and passed him on the inside for second into turn one. This caused a minor traffic jam as Ralf Schumacher chose to go around both Räikkönen and Barrichello, but was blocked by Räikkönen and passed by his teammate Montoya.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /><ref name="AF1Review" /><ref name="AutosportRace" /><ref name="GPCOMEntry">Template:Cite web</ref> Coulthard was the least effected by the traffic jam and moved to the inside after Trulli ran wide on the outside of the hairpin after unintentionally pressing the neutral button on his steering wheel. He slipstreamed past and braked later than Ralf Schumacher to move into fifth at Les Combes turn.<ref name="AutosportRace" /><ref name="AF1Tech">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="CrashRaceReport">Template:Cite web</ref> Heidfeld had the best start, gaining three places by the end of the first lap,<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /> but Villeneuve lost three positions over the same distance.<ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" />
Michael Schumacher had a 2.2-second lead over his teammate Barrichello after the first lap.<ref name="IHTRace2">Template:Cite news</ref> They were followed by Räikkönen, Montoya, Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /> Räikkönen ran wide on lap two in the second part of the quick downhill left-hand Pouhon corner, but regained control of his McLaren after a broadside.<ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" /><ref name="AutosportRace" /><ref name="GuardianRace2" /> Montoya took advantage of the error and passed Räikkönen for third.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /> By lap five, the two Ferrari drivers had pulled away from the rest of the field, nine seconds ahead of Montoya.<ref name="AF1Review" /> On the same lap, Webber retired at Eau Rouge turn due to gearbox failure, becoming the race's first retiree.<ref name="AF1Review" /><ref name="AutosportRace" /> Massa overtook his teammate Heidfeld for 15th into Les Combes turn.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /> On lap seven, Villeneuve considered passing Fisichella at La Source, but he was too far away.<ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" /> Fisichella then appeared to conduct two illegal manoeuvres to keep Villeneuve behind at Les Combes corner.<ref name="CrashRaceReport" /><ref name="BBCSportLapwatch">Template:Cite web</ref> On lap eight, Villeneuve forced Fisichella into cutting the Bus Stop chicane and passed him for 13th at La Source. Massa used the situation to pass Massa for 14th on the straight after Radillion turn.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /> On lap 11, Button pulled off the track into Fagnes corner due to an unspecified engine issue.<ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" /><ref name="AutosportRace" /> Villeneuve gained on McNish and braked later than him for 11th on the inside through Les Combes corner three laps later.<ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" /><ref name="F1LiveCOMRace" /><ref name="F1RacingNetRace" />
The first round of pit stops began on lap 15.<ref name="F1LiveCOMRace" /><ref name="F1RacingNetRace" /> Michael Schumacher made his first pit stop from the race lead on lap 16.<ref name="CalgaryHeraldRace2">Template:Cite news</ref> His 8.6-second pit stop saw him rejoin the race in second, 11 seconds behind his teammate Barrichello.<ref name="BBCSportLapwatch" /> On lap 17, Ralf Schumacher spun into the grass at Les Combes turn, losing sixth place to Trulli.<ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" /><ref name="F1RacingNetRace" /> Barrichello entered the pit lane on the same lap.<ref name="AF1Review" /> His stop was slow due to a fuel nozzle malfunction,<ref name="F1LiveCOMRace" /> which meant it was momentarily stuck,<ref name="CrashRaceReport" /> and was stationary for 10.2 seconds.<ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" /> He fell to fifth, behind Montoya, Räikkönen and Coulthard.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /><ref name="AF1Review" /> Montoya and Räikkönen made their first pit stops on lap 18, moving Coulthard to second and Barrichello to third.<ref name="F1LiveCOMRace" /><ref name="AF1Review" /> Montoya remained ahead of Räikkönen because McLaren put more fuel into his car.<ref name="F1RacingNetRace" /> That same lap, Davidson understeered at the Pouhon turn, which he entered too quickly and spun into the gravel trap, putting two wheels on the kerbing,<ref name="AF1Tech" /><ref name="CrashRaceReport" /><ref name="BBCSportLapwatch" /> causing him to lose grip.<ref name="NewsLetterRace2">Template:Cite news</ref> On lap 19, Coulthard entered the pit lane, and after an 8.2-second stop, he rejoined in fourth, ahead of Räikkönen but behind Montoya.<ref name="F1LiveCOMRace" /><ref name="AF1Review" /> Fisichella was the only driver who used a one-stop strategy with the goal of gaining him positions, making his pit stop from sixth on lap 22.<ref name="DailyF1Analysis" /><ref name="AF1Review" /><ref name="CrashRaceReport" /> He dropped to 15th,<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /> moving Trulli to sixth.<ref name="AF1Review" />
The race order following the first round of pit stops was Michael Schumacher, Barrichello, Montoya, Coulthard, Räikkönen and Trulli.<ref name="F1LiveCOMRace" /> The ensuing laps were processional, with little action on the track. Michael Schumacher's race lead over teammate Barrichello increased to 25 seconds, with Montoya almost a minute behind Schumacher by lap 30.<ref name="AF1Review" /> Meanwhile, McNish ran slightly sideways through La Source on lap 22, and Massa failed to pass him.<ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" /><ref name="F1LiveCOMRace" /> The second round of pit stops commenced on lap 28.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /> Michael Schumacher made his second pit stop from the race lead two laps later. He returned to the circuit just behind his teammate Barrichello. Michael Schumacher retook the lead when Barrichello's second scheduled pit stop occurred at the end of lap 31.<ref name="F1RacingNetRace" /><ref name="BBCSportLapwatch" /> Barrichello returned to the track in second.<ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" /> After his second pit stop on lap 32, Ralf Schumacher accidentally pressed the wrong button on the steering wheel when leaving the Williams pit stall,<ref name="DailyF1Analysis" /><ref name="AF1Tech" /> losing him time and dropping him to ninth.<ref name="F1LiveCOMRace" /><ref name="F1RacingNetRace" /> Montoya's second stop was on lap 34, briefly moving Coulthard to third and demoting Montoya to fifth.<ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" /><ref name="BBCSportLapwatch" /> Räikkönen made his second pit stop on lap 35, falling to fifth behind Montoya. Coulthard, his teammate, made his second pit stop on lap 36 and rejoined the track in fourth, behind Montoya.<ref name="F1LiveCOMRace" />
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On lap 36, while battling Montoya for third,<ref name="IHTRace2" /> Räikkönen's engine failed heading towards Les Combes turn, and he retired with smoke spewing from his McLaren's rear.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /><ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" /> On the following lap, Trulli stopped off the track into Blanchimont corner due to an engine issue.<ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" /><ref name="F1LiveCOMRace" /><ref name="AF1Tech" /> His and Räikkönen's retirements promoted Ralf Schumacher into fifth and Irvine into the final points-paying position of sixth.<ref name="F1RacingNetRace" /><ref name="AF1Review" /> There were two retirements on lap 38.<ref name="AF1Review" /> Massa's engine failed on the start/finish straight, so he pulled off to the side of the circuit. De La Rosa's right-rear suspension failed at high speed, sending him off the track at Les Combes corner, but he was able to stop the Jaguar from hitting the tyre barrier.<ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" /><ref name="AutosportRace" /><ref name="GPCOMEntry" /> Fisichella's engine failed on the straight between the Radillion and Les Combes turns on lap 40, and he retired with smoke and flames bursting from his car. Panis' engine failed on the next lap, with smoke billowing from his vehicle's rear at the end of the straight as he approached Les Combes corner.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /><ref name="F1COMRaceLIve" /><ref name="F1RacingNetRace" />
Michael Schumacher slowed down in response to a series of engine issues in the final laps.<ref name="MSportMag2019">Template:Cite web</ref> His 25.8-second lead over teammate Barrichello had been reduced to 1.9 seconds by the time he was the first driver to cross the start/finish line, securing his tenth victory out of the season's 14 races and 63rd of his career.<ref name="MSportMag2019" /><ref name="DailyTelegraphRace2">Template:Cite news</ref> He broke Mansell's record for most victories in a single season, which he had previously shared three times.<ref name="IHTRace2" /><ref name="DailyTelegraphRace2" /> His teammate Barrichello finished 1.977 seconds behind in second;<ref name="IndependentRace2">Template:Cite news</ref> Ferrari achieved a 50th consecutive podium finish extending back to the 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix.<ref name="CalgaryHeraldRace2" /><ref name="NewsLetterRace2" /> Montoya finished third, nearly nine-tenths of a second ahead of Coulthard in fourth, as Coulthard went faster in the last laps with improved grip after his second pit stop due to more rubber on the track.<ref name="GuardianRace2" /><ref name="IndependentRace2" /> Ralf Schumacher secured fifth.<ref name="GuardianRace2">Template:Cite news</ref> Irvine finished sixth to earn the final championship point,<ref name="IndependentRace2" /> his and Jaguar's first points score since the season-opening Template:F1 GP.<ref name="NewsLetterRace2" /><ref name="OttawaCitizen2">Template:Cite news</ref> Salo was seventh, half a second behind Irvine.<ref name="F1RUMagReport" /> Villeneuve recovered from a slow start to finish eighth. McNish finished ninth, with a wheel sensor failure.<ref name="AF1Tech" /> Heidfeld, 10th, was off the pace despite improved handling and reliability. Sato was the final finisher in 11th despite a recalcitrant right-rear wheel nut delaying his first pit stop and nervous handling.<ref name="AutosportRace" /><ref name="AF1Tech" /><ref name="CrashRaceReport" /> 11 out of the 20 starters finished the race.<ref name="TorontoStarRace2">Template:Cite news</ref>
Post-race
The top three drivers appeared on the podium to collect their trophies and spoke to the media in the subsequent press conference.<ref name="regulations2" /> Michael Schumacher agreed that it appeared to be the "perfect race" from an external point of view, "I think we haven't really expected anything like that. We were optimistic. We had a very good weekend altogether but you never know what is going to happen in the race with the temperature and so on with different tyres."<ref name="AF1PressConference">Template:Cite web</ref> Barrichello thought it was "a good weekend" despite issues with the racing setup from the Friday free practice sessions, and he was pleased to extend his hold on second in the World Drivers' Championship.<ref name="AF1PressConference" /> Montoya described it as "a pretty hard race, I think especially at the beginning" because of the pressure he was put under by the McLaren team.<ref name="AF1PressConference" /> He talked about his late-race battle with Coulthard, "It was close. I think we had very similar pace, he had a bit of an advantage down the straights because he was just drafting along."<ref name="AF1PressConference" />
Mansell said he had no issue losing his most wins in a season record to Michael Schumacher, "He's done a fantastic job, as have Ferrari. Their car not only has the speed but also the reliability. It's phenomenal."<ref name="IndependentRace2" /> Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt called the result "a dream race, yet another this year. Everything went perfectly – the car, the engine, the Bridgestone tyres, the drivers and the team."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Coulthard said of finishing fourth, "It's a pity that we couldn't achieve a better result today. My car was not so good in the middle sector and that's why I couldn't get close enough to actually get past Montoya."<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> He added his second pit stop allowed him to gain ground on Montoya.<ref name=":0" /> Ralf Schumacher said he could "only be reasonably satisfied today as I made a few mistakes" because he was baulked by Räikkönen at the start and later lost control of his car at Les Combes corner.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Irvine commented on finishing sixth, "We did everything right this weekend, from qualifying well to our race preparation and strategy: This is reward for that good work."<ref name="IndependentRace2" /> He added he was happy to score one championship point because it helped Jaguar's standing in the World Constructors' Championship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
McLaren CEO Ron Dennis explained that the reduced asphalt temperatures were the primary reason McLaren's qualifying form did not carry over into the race.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Räikkönen said his engine failure late in the race was "not the ideal way to end the weekend, but it's one of those things."<ref name=":1" /> Honda suffered five engine problems during the race weekend.<ref name="ITVSmokin">Template:Cite web</ref> Their race and team test manager Shuhei Nakamoto called it "the weekend from hell and I'm just glad it's all over. We've got a lot of work to do before Monza..."<ref name="ITVSmokin" /> Fisichella characterised his engine failure as "very scary" and stated his one-stop strategy appeared to be ideal until he retired from the race.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Michael Schumacher maintained his lead in the World Drivers' Championship with 122 championship points, 71 ahead of his teammate Barrichello and 78 in front of Montoya.<ref name="2002points" /> Ferrari increased their advantage in the World Constructors' Championship to 87 championship points over Williams and 116 in front of McLaren with three races remaining in the season.<ref name="2002points" />
Race classification
Drivers who scored championship points are denoted in bold.
Championship standings after the race
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
- Drivers' Championship standings
| Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 1 | Template:Flagicon Michael Schumacher* | 122 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 2 | Template:Flagicon Rubens Barrichello | 51 |
| File:1uparrow green.svg 1 | 3 | Template:Flagicon Juan Pablo Montoya | 44 |
| File:1downarrow red.svg 1 | 4 | Template:Flagicon Ralf Schumacher | 42 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 5 | Template:Flagicon David Coulthard | 37 |
| Sources:<ref name="2002points" /><ref name="champ">Template:Cite web</ref> | |||
- Constructors' Championship standings
| Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Constructor | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 1 | Template:Flagicon Ferrari* | 173 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 2 | Template:Flagicon Williams-BMW | 86 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 3 | Template:Flagicon McLaren-Mercedes | 57 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 4 | Template:Flagicon Renault | 15 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 5 | Template:Flagicon Sauber-Petronas | 11 |
| Sources:<ref name=2002points/><ref name="champ"/> | |||
- Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
- Bold text and an asterisk indicates the 2002 World Champions.
References
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