3/19/2023 0 Comments Pocket circuit racer takuma buildThe difference between a two and a three stop strategy was very fine, with neither driver nor team in a position to afford making even the slightest mistake to take the win. Rubens responded in grand style driving an amazing race. All our chances of victory rested on Rubens, given the start positions, while Michael faced a climb through the field after what happened in qualifying and the decision to start him from the pit lane. Jean Todt, Team Principal: "We knew it would be a fight and so it was. Finally, came the puncture on the left rear tyre which cost me a lot of time as I had to drive a long part of the track at very slow speed, coming into the pit much too early which meant the team decided to change my strategy." Then I had a spin as I was following Alonso very closely in his slipstream and lost downforce. I tried to pass Christian (Klien) when I saw the door was open, but he turned in as I was halfway alongside. This was a slightly more interesting race than I would have wanted! But at least all the unlucky things have come in just one race weekend, so hopefully we will have no more this season. If one driver fails, the other is there is the way we share our responsibilities, so congratulations to Rubens. Michael Schumacher (12th): "I am happy that Ferrari won today. This track has been really challenging, but with a variety of possible lines through the corners overtaking is possible and that is all we need for a good race." Also at one point, I had to lap Villeneuve who did not see me at first as he was fighting for position but then he let me through correctly. Towards the end, when I had a lead of about eight seconds, the team told me to back off a bit, but then I had to step up the pace again when Jenson got closer. So, as I left the pits I still pushed flat out and then at Turn 3, I looked in my mirrors and saw no one behind me so I knew I was okay. I was not sure I had command of the race until my final pit stop when Ross told me that I should be okay. Kimi pushed me quite hard but I was able to keep a gap. I had a very good start and I was amazed at the amount of grip I had on the first lap. The reception we have had from the Chinese people has been fantastic. I must thank the team for giving me a good set-up that allowed me to push hard when I needed to. Rubens Barrichello (1st): "I have spent much of this season trying to catch up Michael and now I am going through a good phase and here in China, everything has gone well all weekend. Michael Schumacher - after starting from the pitlane after a spin in qualifying - continued to have troubles throughout the race, coming together with Cristian Klien in the hairpin (forcing the Austrian to retire), having a spin on his own at one point, and also suffering a tyre puncture later in the race, finishing in 12th place.Įleventh place was all that Jacques Villeneuve could manage in the Renault on his return to Formula 1 after nearly a season out of the drivers seat. Sauber-Petronas team mates Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa took the final points in seventh and eighth positions. The win also clinches second place for Barrichello in the Drivers World Championship.įernando Alonso finished in fourth in his Renault, Juan Pablo Montoya was fifth in his Williams-BMW, and Takuma Sato finished in sixth in the second BAR-Honda. It was Barrichello's second win in a row, and Ferrari's 14th win of 16 races this season. The Brazilian led from the start, but was pressured for most of the race by Raikkonen, the two using a three-stop pit strategy - and also by Button who was on a two-stop strategy. Rubens Barrichello took his Ferrari to win the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai today, winning by 1 second over Jenson Button in his BAR-Honda and Kimi Raikkonen in third in his McLaren-Mercedes, 1.4 seconds back.
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