2002 San Marino Grand Prix
Template:Infobox Grand Prix race report
The 2002 San Marino Grand Prix (formally the Gran Premio di San Marino 2002)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was a Formula One motor race held before between 90,000 and 100,000 spectators on 14 April 2002 at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. It was the fourth round of the 2002 Formula One World Championship and the 22nd San Marino Grand Prix. Ferrari's Michael Schumacher won the 62-lap race from pole position. His teammate Rubens Barrichello finished in second and Williams's Ralf Schumacher was third.
Going into the event, Michael Schumacher led the World Drivers' Championship from Ralf Schumacher while Williams led Ferrari in the World Constructors' Championship. After setting the fastest lap time in the one-hour qualifying session, Michael Schumacher started the Grand Prix from pole position and led for the majority of the race to claim his third victory of the season and 56th of his career. Barrichello finished second, 17.907 seconds behind, with Ralf Schumacher third, another 1.808 seconds back.
The race result meant Michael Schumacher increased his lead in the World Drivers' Championship to 14 championship points ahead of Ralf Schumacher and 17 ahead of Williams's Juan Pablo Montoya. With thirteen races left in the season, Ferrari reclaimed the lead in the World Constructors' Championship, three championship points ahead of Williams.
Background
The 2002 San Marino Grand Prix was the fourth round of seventeen in the 2002 Formula One World Championship and took place on 14 April 2002 at the Template:Convert anti-clockwise Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy,<ref name="2002GPStats" /><ref name="DTPreview">Template:Cite news</ref> away from the small principality of San Marino.<ref name="AF1Preview">Template:Cite journal</ref> It was the 22nd San Marino Grand Prix,Template:Efn<ref name="GazetteQualifying">Template:Cite news</ref> the season's first European race,<ref name="AF1Preview" /><ref name="F1MagRuReport">Template:Cite journal</ref> and one of two Grands Prix to be held in Italy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> There were eleven teams (each representing a different constructor) with two drivers each for the Grand Prix, with no changes from the season entry list.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Going into the race, Ferrari's Michael Schumacher led the World Drivers' Championship with 24 championship points, eight ahead of Williams's Ralf Schumacher. Juan Pablo Montoya, the second Williams driver, was third with 14 championship points, while Renault's Jenson Button was fourth with 6.<ref name="2002points">Template:Cite book</ref> Williams led the World Constructors' Championship with 30 championship points, six ahead of Ferrari. McLaren and Renault were third and fourth with eight and six championship points, respectively.<ref name="2002points" />
Following the Template:F1 GP on 31 March,<ref name="AF1Test1">Template:Cite web</ref> eight of the eleven teams tested their cars, racing setups, tyres, car components and reliability checks for three days at Spain's Circuit Ricardo Tormo from 2 to 4 April as preparation for the San Marino Grand Prix.<ref name="FIAUpdate">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AF1Day3">Template:Cite web</ref> Sauber's Nick Heidfeld was fastest on the first day,<ref name="AF1Test1" /> with McLaren's Kimi Räikkönen leading the second and final days.<ref name="AF1Day3" /><ref name="AutosportDay2">Template:Cite web</ref> Ferrari spent five days testing electronics, Bridgestone tyres, and an artificially wet circuit at their private test track, Italy's Fiorano Circuit, alongside Michael Schumacher and test driver Luca Badoer.<ref name="FIAUpdate" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Rubens Barrichello and teammate Michael Schumacher tested the Ferrari F2002's racing setup and ran extensive runs at Italy's Mugello Circuit.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Minardi's Mark Webber spent a day testing the PS02's car and electrical components at Italy's Misano Adriatico track.<ref name="FIAUpdate" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Arrows were the only team that did not test due to a lack of finance, instead focusing on working privately at its headquarters in Leafield.<ref name="F1MagRuReport" /><ref name="FIAUpdate" />
Michael Schumacher expected Williams to be the best team at Imola due to their car's top speed, adding, "From our experience last year, we’re aware that the race won’t be easy, but we also know that we’ve improved since then."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Barrichello had collected no championship points in the first three races, but declared his championship would begin in Imola with the F2002 car, "I've been in the lead three times, and I've retired three times. That means that sooner or later I will win."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ralf Schumacher won his first Grand Prix at Imola the previous year and felt there was no reason Williams could not be competitive because the circuit's layout suited him.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
At Imola, teams worked on braking systems, although the intermittent rain during the Friday free practice sessions prevented material experimentation. Several teams tested wider air intakes to improve brake disc cooling.<ref name="AutosprintTech">Template:Cite journal</ref> Ferrari delivered four F2002s and offered one to Barrichello, who had driven a year-old F2001B car for the opening three rounds.<ref name="AutosprintTech" /> McLaren introduced a new rear suspension designed for the MP4-17's Michelin tyres while Jordan added an additional wing profile on the EJ12's anti-roll bar.<ref name="AutosprintTech" /> Renault introduced new front wing endplates but not the suspension tested in Spain.<ref name="FIAFriday">Template:Cite web</ref> Honda supplied British American Racing (BAR) and Jordan with the latest development of its V10 engine, the RA002E, which was modified to reduce internal friction and increase RPMs.<ref>Template:Cite web
Template:Cite web</ref> Toyota debuted a new engine with improved driveability, as well as revised front and rear wings, at Imola.<ref name="AutosprintTech" /><ref name="FIAFriday" />
Practice
Preceding the race were two one-hour practices on Friday and two 45-minute sessions on Saturday.<ref name="regulations">Template:Cite book</ref> The first practice session took place on Friday morning in cold, overcast and wet weather conditions,<ref name="AtlasF1FP1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AutosportFP1">Template:Cite web</ref> the first time in the season teams and drivers experienced cool and wet conditions at a Grand Prix.<ref name="GazettePractice">Template:Cite news</ref> Rain fell on the circuit hours before the practice and continued to fall severely until it eased at the halfway point.<ref name="F1RacingNetFP1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="GuardianPractice">Template:Cite news</ref> Several drivers get acquainted with the damp conditions since rain was expected for qualifying.<ref name="AutosportFP1" /> Michael Schumacher lapped fastest with a time of 1:37.486, ahead of Jordan's Giancarlo Fisichella, Barrichello, Räikkönen, Arrows's Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Renault's Jarno Trulli, Sauber's Felipe Massa, Ralf Schumacher, McLaren's David Coulthard and Heidfeld in positions two to ten.<ref name="AtlasF1FP1" /> Multiple drivers aquaplaned off the track and into the grass or the gravel traps during the practice.<ref name="AutosportFP1" /><ref name="F1RacingNetFP1" />
.jpg){kind=link}
By the second practice session later in the afternoon, the rain had stopped and the air and track temperatures had risen marginally. The circuit was still wet and had standing water, however some drivers used intermediate tyres.<ref name="AutosportFP2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="F1RacingNetFP2">Template:Cite web</ref> Michael Schumacher set the day's fastest lap of 1:36.898. Barrichello, Fisichella, the McLaren pairing of Coulthard and Räikkönen, Frentzen, Trulli, Massa, Montoya and Ralf Schumacher completed the top ten.<ref name="AF1FP2">Template:Cite web</ref> Drivers again went off the track during the session.<ref name="AutosportFP2" /><ref name="F1RacingNetFP2" /> Trulli damaged his Renault's right-front suspension and removed the front wing against the Variante Bassa chicane barrier before the pit lane.<ref name="FIAFriday" /><ref name="AF1FP2" /> On the start/finish straight's grass verge, he abandoned the car facing the opposite direction.<ref name="F1RacingNetFP2" /> With 15 minutes remaining, Michael Schumacher was lapping faster when he lost control of his Ferrari's rear clipping a kerb exiting the Variante Alta chicane after running slightly off the racing line overtaking an Arrows car. He stalled despite regaining control and stopped at the side of the circuit.Template:Efn
The third practice session on Saturday morning was sunny, but overnight rain had left the track slightly damp, causing most drivers to use intermediate tyres, but it was not dry enough for dry tyres until near the end of the session.<ref name="F1COMFP3">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AutosportFP3">Template:Cite web</ref> Because of the mild ambient and track temperatures, the circuit dried slowly and got faster as the session progressed.<ref name="F1RacingNetFP3">Template:Cite web</ref> Montoya went fastest towards the conclusion of the session with a 1:29.718 lap, 0.081 seconds quicker than his teammate Ralf Schumacher in second.<ref name="AutosportFP3" /><ref name="AF1FP3">Template:Cite web</ref> Coulthard, Michael Schumacher, Frentzen, BAR teammates Jacques Villeneuve and Olivier Panis, Fisichella, Barrichello and Massa followed in the top ten.<ref name="AF1FP3" /> Some drivers went off the racing line and off the circuit during the session.<ref name="AutosportFP3" />
During the last practice session, the dry line began to extend throughout the course, but it remained slippery in parts.<ref name="AutosportFP4">Template:Cite web</ref> Lap times reduced as the circuit dried, and drivers utilised grooved tyres before it got completely dry with less than ten minutes left..<ref name="F1RacingNetFP4">Template:Cite web</ref> Michael Schumacher slipstreamed Trulli across the start/finish line and set the session's fastest lap time of 1:23.046 with a minute remaining.<ref name="AutosportFP4" /><ref name="AF1FP4">Template:Cite web</ref> Coulthard, Barrichello, Heidfeld, Ralf Schumacher, Montoya, Räikkönen, Button, Villeneuve and Frentzen occupied positions two through ten.<ref name="AF1FP4" /> More drivers again ran off the track and lost control of their cars during practice.<ref name="AutosportFP4" />
Qualifying
.jpg){kind=link}
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="regulations" /> Rainfall was forecast but never materialised despite overcast weather,<ref name="AutosportQualifying">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="F1RacingNetQualifying">Template:Cite web</ref> and the track was dry.<ref name="IndependentOnSundayQualifying">Template:Cite news</ref> Having made minor driver errors on two earlier runs,<ref name="FIASaturday2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="SundayTelegraphQualifying">Template:Cite news</ref> Michael Schumacher took his 45th career pole position with a track lap record of 1:21.091 in the last seconds of qualifying with no traffic, breaking Coulthard's pole record from 2001.<ref name="GazetteQualifying" /><ref name="SundayTelegraphQualifying" /> Barrichello did not complete all of his fast runs, coming second, 0.064 seconds behind.<ref name="SpeedQualifying">Template:Cite web</ref> He held pole position for most of qualifying until his teammate's lap,<ref name="GazetteQualifying" /><ref name="IndependentOnSundayQualifying" /> and his final run was hampered by a car ahead of him kicking up dust at the Variante Alta chicane exit.<ref name="F1RacingNetQualifying" /><ref name="FIASaturday2" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes2">Template:Cite web</ref> The Williams pairing of Ralf Schumacher and Montoya were third and fourth.<ref name="SpeedQualifying" /> Ralf Schumacher made a minor error at the Villeneuve chicane on his final lap, and Montoya reported excessive understeer, failing to improve his final run through errors midway through the circuit.<ref name="F1RacingNetQualifying" /><ref name="FIASaturday2" /><ref name="BBCQualifying">Template:Cite web</ref> Coulthard had to wait until a replacement Mercedes-Benz V10 engine was put into his car because an engine failed between the final practice session and qualifying,<ref name="IndependentOnSundayQualifying" /><ref name="SundayTelegraphQualifying" /><ref name="ObserverQualifying2">Template:Cite news</ref> and was absent until 23 minutes had passed before qualifying fifth.<ref name="FIASaturday2" /> Räikkönen, sixth, lost control of his McLaren's rear leaving the second Rivazza turn on his third run, but was able to regain control and avoid stalling the engine.<ref name="F1RacingNetQualifying" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes2" /> Heidfeld took seventh after losing time putting a wheel onto the grass on his fastest lap.<ref name="FIASaturday2" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes2" /> Trulli reported slower cars affecting each of his runs and was eighth;<ref name="FIASaturday2" /> his final run was affected by Panis spinning ahead of him.<ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes2" /> His teammate Button was ninth, having worked on optimising his racing setup before making an error at Rivazza corner on his last run.<ref name="FIASaturday2" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes2" /> Villeneuve, 10th, aggressively mounted the kerbs.<ref name="AutosportQualifying" />
.jpg){kind=link}
Massa in 11th oversteered in the faster corners and under braking, unable to find the best handling balance for qualifying.<ref name="FIASaturday2" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes2" /> Panis took 12th due to a lack of grip and excess oversteer, notably in the final sector. Frentzen, 13th, drove a car lacking a good handling balance.<ref name="FIASaturday2" /> Takuma Sato improved on each of his runs and qualified 14th,<ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes2" /> ahead of his Jordan teammate Fisichella (15th) for the first time in the season.<ref name="AutosportQualifying" /> On his first run, Fisichella's car's hydraulics failed, so he drove the spare car, which was not properly setup.<ref name="FIASaturday2" /> Toyota teammates Mika Salo and Allan McNish qualified 16th and 17th.<ref name="SpeedQualifying" /> Salo reported that his car lacked grip and did not ride the circuit's kerbs.<ref name="FIASaturday2" /> The Jaguar pairing of Eddie Irvine and Pedro de la Rosa were 18th and 21st.<ref name="ObserverQualifying2" /> Both drivers were impacted by a lack of aerodynamic downforce in the Jaguar R3 caused by generating tyre temperature in colder weather compared to the heat in Brazil. Webber was the sole Minardi driver to qualify for the Grand Prix in 19th, using the spare Minardi car after an engine issue.<ref name="FIASaturday2" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes2" /> Arrows's Enrique Bernoldi had smoke billowing from his car's rear due to an engine failure on his first run and ran back to the pit lane.<ref name="AutosportQualifying" /><ref name="F1COMQualifying">Template:Cite web</ref> He switched to the spare Arrows A23 car, losing a set of tyres, and qualified 21st after being delayed on his final run.<ref name="FIASaturday2" /><ref name="DailyF1SatQuotes2" /> Minardi's Alex Yoong spun off at the Variante Alta corner on his last lap.<ref name="F1COMQualifying" /> Yoong failed to set a lap within 107% of Michael Schumacher's pole time and was barred from starting the race under FIA regulations after the stewards determined there were "no special circumstances" to grant him dispensation.<ref name="SpeedQualifying" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This meant 21 drivers would begin the Grand Prix.<ref name="SpeedQualifying" />
Qualifying classification
Warm-up
On race morning, a half-hour warm-up session was held in cool and dry weather, during which drivers and teams shook down their race and spare cars and tested intermediate tyres before the race.<ref name="F1RacingNetWarmUp">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="F1COMWarmUp">Template:Cite web</ref> Barrichello lapped fastest at 1:25.483. In positions two to ten were Michael Schumacher, Montoya, Heidfeld, Massa, Räikkönen, Coulthard, Villeneuve, Button and Bernoldi.<ref name="AtlasF1WarmUp">Template:Cite web</ref> Other than Michael Schumacher going into the gravel trap and Trulli suffering an engine failure late on,<ref name="F1COMWarmUp" /><ref name="FIAWarmUp">Template:Cite web</ref> there were no major incidents during the session.<ref name="F1RacingNetWarmUp" />
Race
A heavy cloud was over the circuit and a brief rain shower fell 30 minutes before the start, but the circuit remained dry when their drivers took up their grid places and it became sunny.<ref name="AF1Review">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="F1RacingNetRace">Template:Cite web</ref> The air temperature was between Template:Convert. and the track temperature was Template:Convert.<ref name="F1MagRuReport" /><ref name="F1RacingNetRace" /> The 62-lap race commenced before between 90,000 and 100,000 spectators at 14:00 local time.Template:Efn<ref name="F1MagRuReport" /><ref name="F1RacingMay2002" /><ref name="HeraldSunReport">Template:Cite news</ref> Michael Schumacher maintained the race lead heading into the Tamburello chicane after the red lights went out.<ref name="AF1Review" /><ref name="CrashRaceReport">Template:Cite web</ref> Behind him, Ralf Schumacher made a fast start to draw alongside the slow-starting Barrichello on the track's dirty side.<ref name="AutosportRaceReport">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="IndependentReport">Template:Cite news</ref> He lined up his Ferrari for a straighter run and provided him with enough space.<ref name="CrashRaceReport" /><ref name="AutosportRaceReport" /> Ralf Schumacher took second on the inside into Tamburello despite locking his tyres under braking and regaining control of his car.<ref name="AF1Review" /><ref name="AutosportRaceReport" /> Barrichello held off the slow-starting Montoya to maintain third.<ref name="CrashRaceReport" /> Trulli and Button's Renaults made quick starts because of their powerful launch control systems, passing Heidfeld for seventh and eighth.<ref name="F1COMRace">Template:Cite web</ref> McNish pulled over onto the grass to retire after losing power in his car's transmission.<ref name="F1COMRace" /><ref name="F1LivecomRace">Template:Cite webTemplate:Cite web</ref>
At the conclusion of the first lap, Michael Schumacher led Ralf Schumacher by 1.3 seconds.<ref name="F1LivecomRace" /> They were followed by Barrichello, Montoya, Räikkönen and Coulthard.<ref name="F1COMRace" /> Michael Schumacher began to pull away from the field, increasing his lead over Ralf Schumacher to four seconds by the end of lap five. Meanwhile, Frentzen overtook Sato for 13th while Fisichella passed Irvine for 17th on lap two.<ref name="AF1Review" /> Sato slowed on lap six due to a gearbox issue that left him locked in first gear. He returned to the pit lane, where Jordan attempted to reset the electronics.<ref name="F1LivecomRace" /><ref name="SundayQuotes">Template:Cite web</ref> The problem reoccurred, and Sato pulled over onto the grass at the Villeneuve chicane, retiring from the race.<ref name="F1COMRace" /><ref name="F1LivecomRace" /> Bernoldi overtook Salo for 14th on the same lap.<ref name="AF1Review" /> By lap 10, Michael Schumacher had extended his lead to eight seconds, with Barrichello a second behind,<ref name="F1RacingNetRace" /> with Barrichello gaining on Ralf Schumacher.<ref name="BBCLapwatch">Template:Cite web</ref>
Heidfeld made the race's first pit stop on lap 17,<ref name="F1LivecomRace" /> believing Sauber had told him over the radio to enter the pit lane, but this was not the case.<ref name="AF1Review" /><ref name="GPCOMEntry">Template:Cite web</ref> The stop was complicated by a refuelling nozzle failure, which prevented fuel from entering his car and kept him stationary for 17.9 seconds.<ref name="AutosportRaceReport" /><ref name="F1COMRace" /> Heidfeld consequently dropped from ninth to 16th,<ref name="BBCLapwatch" /> passing two drivers.<ref name="GPCOMEntry" /> On lap 20, he made a second pit stop to refuel, which this time was successful.<ref name="AutosportRaceReport" /><ref name="BBCLapwatch" /> On the next lap, Fisichella pulled off onto the grass at the Tosa hairpin, retiring due to a hydraulic pressure loss.<ref name="F1RacingNetRace" /><ref name="F1LivecomRace" /> On laps 23 and 24, Trulli and Button made their first pit stops, with Button ahead of his Renault teammate due to his faster pit stop.<ref name="AF1Review" /><ref name="F1COMRace" /> On lap 26, the FIA stewards issued Heidfeld a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane during his second pit stop, serving it shortly after.<ref name="F1COMRace" /><ref name="DailyF1Analysis">Template:Cite web</ref>
Frentzen retired on the grass on lap 27 after losing fuel rail pressure unexpectedly. Salo retired to the Toyota garage two laps later after losing use of traction control and fourth gear.<ref name="F1LivecomRace" /><ref name="DailyF1Analysis" /> As the race approached halfway, Michael Schumacher led Ralf Schumacher by 17 seconds, and Barrichello was still putting pressure on the lead Williams driver.<ref name="F1RacingNetRace" /> Räikkönen was the first of the top six to make a pit stop on lap 31. His 10.8-second stop dropped him behind teammate Coulthard.<ref name="AF1Review" /><ref name="F1COMRace" /> Ferrari and Williams were both executing two-stop strategies after converting from one-stop strategies, and they carried fuel in their vehicles in case their plans changed sooner in the race.<ref name="CrashRaceReport" /><ref name="GPCOMEntry" /> Michael Schumacher made his pit stop from the race lead on lap 31, followed by Ralf Schumacher on the same lap.<ref name="BBCLapwatch" /> Barrichello took the lead for one lap and pushed hard to pass Ralf Schumacher before his pit stop on lap 32.<ref name="BBCLapwatch" /><ref name="GPCOMEntry" /> His 7.4-second stop moved him past Ralf Schumacher.<ref name="F1LivecomRace" /> Meanwhile, De La Rosa retired on the side of the track where the pit lane joined the circuit due to a driveshaft failure on the same lap.<ref name="F1COMRace" /><ref name="GPCOMEntry" />
Montoya made his first pit stop on lap 33, and after a 6.8-second stop, he remained fourth. Coulthard was underpowered relative to his competitors, and his first pit stop came two laps later.<ref name="CrashRaceReport" /><ref name="F1COMRace" /> His 7.2-second stop dropped him from fifth to seventh, behind Button who took over sixth.<ref name="F1LivecomRace" /><ref name="BBCLapwatch" /> Ralf Schumacher was unable to keep up with Barrichello, who began to pull away.<ref name="AF1Review" /> The second round of pit stops began on lap 38. Button took his second pit stop four laps later, dropping from sixth to seventh behind Coulthard.<ref name="F1LivecomRace" /> Panis retired from the race when the throttle linkage broke and the engine failed on his 44th lap.<ref name="SundayQuotes" /><ref name="GPCOMEntry" /> Räikkönen's car pumped hot gasses onto the rear suspension from a broken exhaust system,<ref name="AutosportRaceReport" /><ref name="GPCOMEntry" /> as detected by telemetry.<ref name="GuardianRaceReport">Template:Cite news</ref> On lap 45, McLaren engineers instructed him to enter pit lane and drive into the garage to retire as a precaution.<ref name="F1LivecomRace" /><ref name="BBCLapwatch" /><ref name="GPCOMEntry" /> Räikkönen's retirement promoted Button to fifth and Coulthard to sixth.<ref name="AutosportRaceReport" />
Michael Schumacher made his second pit stop from the lead on lap 46, moving Barrichello into first.<ref name="BBCLapwatch" /> Ralf Schumacher entered the pit lane on the same lap, falling behind teammate Montoya. Barrichello's second pit stop came at the end of lap 47, but it proved difficult.<ref name="F1COMRace" /> Ferrari had problems putting the left-rear tyre when a wheel nut became stuck in the wheel, but he retained second, behind Michael Schumacher, because his lead over Ralf Schumacher was large enough to keep him ahead of the Williams driver.<ref name="AutosportRaceReport" /><ref name="SpeedRaceReport">Template:Cite web</ref> Irvine stopped his car on the next lap at the pit lane exit due to a driveshaft failure.<ref name="AF1Review" /><ref name="F1LivecomRace" /><ref name="BBCLapwatch" /> Montoya made his second pit stop on the same lap, remaining in fourth. Coulthard's stop came on lap 49 and fell behind Button because McLaren did not change his Michelin tyres.<ref name="F1RacingNetRace" /><ref name="F1LivecomRace" /> After the pit stops had been completed, Michael Schumacher led from Barrichello, Montoya, Button and Coulthard.<ref name="F1RacingNetRace" />
Bernoldi retired from the race after becoming stranded in the gravel trap at Rivazza turn owing to a loss of water pressure on lap 52.<ref name="F1COMRace" /><ref name="GPCOMEntry" /> Yellow flags were waved because there was an exhaust system possibly from Bernoldi's car on the circuit.<ref name="F1COMRace" /><ref name="F1LivecomRace" /> During lap 60, Massa came up on Trulli and passed him on the inside while braking at the first Rivazza corner's entry for eighth.<ref name="F1MagRuReport" /><ref name="F1RacingNetRace" /><ref name="F1LivecomRace" /> Massa began to pull clear from Trulli.<ref name="F1COMRace" /> Michael Schumacher led for the rest of the race, securing his third victory in four races this season and 56th of his career.<ref name="F1RacingNetRace" /> After three consecutive retirements in 2002,<ref name="IndependentReport" /> Barrichello finished second, 17.907 seconds behind, recording his first points and finish of the season.<ref name="CrashRaceReport" /><ref name="AutosportRaceReport" /> Ralf Schumacher closed up to Barrichello in the final laps and took third.<ref name="F1COMRace" /> Montoya finished fourth due to understeer that did not improve once his tyres were clean.<ref name="AF1Review" /> Button finished fifth for his third consecutive points score and was the last driver on the lead lap.<ref name="AutosportRaceReport" /><ref name="DTRace">Template:Cite news</ref> Coulthard drove a low-grip McLaren, and despite a wing adjustment, he was the final points scorer in sixth, one lap down.<ref name="DailyF1Analysis" /><ref name="SpeedRaceReport" /> Villeneuve drove cautiously to finish seventh, ahead of Massa in eighth.<ref name="AutosportRaceReport" /> Trulli's performance dropped, probably because his gearbox overheated, finishing ninth.<ref name="AF1Review" /><ref name="SundayQuotes" /> Heidfeld and Webber were the final finishers.<ref name="GPCOMEntry" /> Just 11 of the 21 starters finished the Grand Prix.<ref name="DTRace" />
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="regulations" /> Michael Schumacher said there were "obviously many reasons to be proud and happy" after retiring from the previous year's race, adding, "It's the first home Grand Prix for us this year. It is, as you said, a special Grand Prix for me here today in the history of Ferrari, so therefore I am more than proud to have done it this way."<ref name="PressConference">Template:Cite web</ref> Barrichello was relieved to finish a race and called it "one of my best weekends in terms of car set-up and car balance, because it's been a really wonderful car."<ref name="PressConference" /> Ralf Schumacher said finishing third was the best possible result for his Williams team but was disappointed by Ferrari's dominant victory, "We went to the last two races with the impression we could win them, we failed, twice, so why should be too happy about it?".<ref name="PressConference" />
_-_cropped.jpg){kind=link}
Montoya was disappointed to finish fourth, saying "I was expecting more from this race. There was simply nothing more there."<ref name="IndependentReport" /> Button called his fifth-place result "the best race of my F1 career", saying, "I got to fifth position not by people falling out but because we were quick enough. I pushed every lap to be as consistent as possible and to be as quick as possible – and it worked."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Renault team principal Flavio Briatore told Button, "Great drive".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Coulthard said McLaren struggled more than he had expected and felt he could extract more from his car.<ref name="IndependentReport" /> He said about being lapped by Michael Schumacher "I can't remember the last time I was lapped. I wished I had a lasso to throw onto his wing."<ref name="IndependentReport" /> Barrichello complained that Irvine delayed him for several corners while he was lapping him and gesticulated to him, adding "He's getting old."<ref name="GuardianRaceReport" /><ref name="DTRace" /> Irvine retorted, "I may be older than Rubens but I'll never be as ugly."<ref name="DTRace" /> He added Barrichello was being overly emotional and that he moved over for him.<ref name="IndependentReport" />
Despite Ralf Schumcher hailing the car as well-balanced during the race, Williams technical director Patrick Head felt the team was not quick enough, adding, "We've got some homework to do, simple as that."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The result extended Michael Schumacher's World Drivers' Championship lead to 14 championship points over Ralf Schumacher. Montoya remained third with 17 championship points while Button stayed fourth with eight. Barrichello's second-place finish moved him into fifth.<ref name="2002points" /> With a one-two finish at Imola, Ferrari reclaimed the World Constructors' Championship lead from Williams by three points. McLaren and Renault remained in third and fourth with thirteen rounds 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-start Template:Col-2
- Drivers' Championship standings
| Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 1 | Template:Flagicon Michael Schumacher | 34 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 2 | Template:Flagicon Ralf Schumacher | 20 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 3 | Template:Flagicon Juan Pablo Montoya | 17 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 4 | Template:Flagicon Jenson Button | 8 |
| File:1uparrow green.svg 14 | 5 | Template:Flagicon Rubens Barrichello | 6 |
| Sources:<ref name="2002points"/><ref name="Championship">Template:Cite web</ref> | |||
- Constructors' Championship standings
| Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Constructor | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:1uparrow green.svg 1 | 1 | Template:Flagicon Ferrari | 40 |
| File:1downarrow red.svg 1 | 2 | Template:Flagicon Williams-BMW | 37 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 3 | Template:Flagicon McLaren-Mercedes | 9 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 4 | Template:Flagicon Renault | 8 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 5 | Template:Flagicon Jaguar-Cosworth | 3 |
| Sources:<ref name="2002points"/><ref name="Championship"/> | |||
- Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
Notes
References
Template:S-start
|- style="text-align:center"
|width="35%"|Previous race:
2002 Brazilian Grand Prix
|width="30%"|Template:Nowrap
Template:Ifnumber
|width="35%"|Next race:
2002 Spanish Grand Prix
|- style="text-align:center"
|width="35%"|Previous race:
2001 San Marino Grand Prix
|width="30%"|San Marino Grand Prix
|width="35%"|Next race:
2003 San Marino Grand Prix
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:Succession box }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:Designated European Grand Prix }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:S-ach }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:F1 Promotional Trophy }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | | {{ #if: | Template:S-ach }} }}
|- style="text-align:center"
{{#if: | Template:Succession box }}
Template:S-end