2002 European Grand Prix
Barrichello wins at the rebuilt Nürburgring ahead of Schumacher.
The 2002 European Grand Prix, formally the 2002 Allianz Grand Prix of Europe, was a Formula One race held on 23 June 2002 at the Nürburgring in Germany. It was the ninth round of the 2002 World Championship and the first race on the circuit's newly rebuilt layout. Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello won from fourth on the grid, with teammate Michael Schumacher second and Kimi Räikkönen third.
Quick Facts
- Grand prix
- European
- Country
- Germany
- Date
- 23 June
- Official name
- 2002 Allianz Grand Prix of Europe
- Location
- Nürburgring, Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
- Distance laps
- 60
- Distance (mi)
- 192
- Distance (km)
- 308.88
Facts from the source article.
Background
The 2002 European Grand Prix was the ninth of seventeen rounds in the 2002 Formula One World Championship. It took place on 23 June at the 5.148 km clockwise Nürburgring, which had hosted the European Grand Prix seven times since its 1984 reopening. The race was one of two Grands Prix held in Germany that season. Before the event, Michael Schumacher led the Drivers' Championship with 70 points, followed by Williams teammates Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya tied on 27. David Coulthard had 26 points and Rubens Barrichello 16. Ferrari led the Constructors' Championship with 86 points, ahead of Williams (54) and McLaren (33). After the Canadian Grand Prix on 9 June, most teams conducted testing at European circuits. Eight teams tested at the Circuito de Jerez in Spain over three days, with McLaren's Alexander Wurz fastest on day one and Kimi Räikkönen leading days two and three. Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer tested at Mugello before Michael Schumacher took over for component testing. Sauber drivers Nick Heidfeld and Felipe Massa joined them for aerodynamic and mechanical work. Jordan tested at Elvington Airfield with Formula Renault champion Marcel Lasée, while Arrows conducted straightline tests at RAF Kemble. Minardi did not test, preparing cars at their Faenza factory.
Practice
Four practice sessions preceded the race: two one-hour sessions on Friday and two 45-minute sessions on Saturday. The Saturday sessions were scheduled 45 minutes earlier than usual to accommodate the 2002 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals. Friday morning's first practice was dry and gloomy, with a brief rain shower. Rubens Barrichello set the fastest time of 1:33.665, one-tenth ahead of Michael Schumacher. Enrique Bernoldi spun into a tyre barrier at the Ford Kurve, requiring a yellow flag. The second session, in cool overcast conditions, saw Coulthard fastest at 1:31.886 despite running into the Dunlop Kurve gravel trap. Kimi Räikkönen was third, with the Ferraris second and fourth. Eight drivers left the track during the session; Mark Webber suffered a right-rear suspension failure, and Alex Yoong's session ended early due to an engine failure. Saturday morning's warm overcast session saw Michael Schumacher fastest at 1:30.658, despite a spin at the Veedol-S chicane. Barrichello was second, followed by Ralf Schumacher, Montoya, Heidfeld, Massa, Button, Coulthard and Trulli. Massa ran wide in the stadium section and Jacques Villeneuve spun at the Bit-Kehre corner.
Qualifying
Qualifying took place on Saturday afternoon in overcast, dry conditions. Each driver had twelve laps, with the 107% rule in effect. Juan Pablo Montoya took his third consecutive pole position and seventh of his career with a time of 1:29.906, set 13 minutes before the session ended. He improved on each of his first three timed runs and went wide at turn three on his final attempt. Ralf Schumacher was 0.009 seconds slower in second, having limited himself to three timed runs to save fresh tyres. Michael Schumacher qualified third after a gearbox issue forced him into the spare Ferrari; he made minor mistakes on his penultimate run that prevented improvement. Rubens Barrichello secured fourth after improving his car's balance. David Coulthard was fifth, his setup change compromising the first sector. Kimi Räikkönen dropped a wheel on turn 13 kerbs and took sixth. Jarno Trulli qualified seventh ahead of Jenson Button in eighth, with Trulli pleased and Button suffering understeer and slower traffic.
Race
The race started at 14:00 local time before 150,000 spectators in overcast conditions with air temperature 23°C and asphalt 28–32°C. At the start, Juan Pablo Montoya moved to the inside but Ralf Schumacher took the outside line and braked later to lead into turn one. David Coulthard slid wide, allowing the Ferraris to retake their positions. Both Jordan drivers collided at the first corner; Giancarlo Fisichella spun into Takuma Sato, but both continued after pit stops. Michael Schumacher passed Montoya for third at the Veedol chicane, though Montoya briefly retook the position. Rubens Barrichello passed Ralf Schumacher on the inside of the straight linking the Dunlop chicane to lead at the end of lap one. Michael Schumacher passed Ralf Schumacher for second at the RTL Kurve on lap three and closed on Barrichello. Jarno Trulli locked his brakes and dropped from eighth to twelfth. Barrichello led throughout, winning his first race since the 2000 German Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher finished 0.294 seconds behind in second, with Kimi Räikkönen third. The result promoted Barrichello to fourth in the Drivers' Championship tied with Coulthard, while Michael Schumacher extended his lead to 46 points over Ralf Schumacher. Ferrari's one-two finish increased their Constructors' Championship lead over Williams.
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