Minardi have signed up 24-year-old British driver Justin Wilson for the 2003 Grand Prix season. Wilson, the 2001 European F3000 Champion, was initially considered by Minardi last year, but his 6ft3in frame was too large for the PS02. Wilson brings an estimated US$2million in sponsorship to the team.
Michael Schumacher strolled to another crushing victory, his eleventh of the season and with team mate Rubens Barrichello dutifully following him home it rounded the year off with another tedious Ferrari procession. The win saw Michael Schumacher finish every race of the season on the podium.
Rubens Barrichello was handed a lucky victory as an attempted formation finish by the Ferrari drivers appeared to be misjudged by the Brazilian on the line. Another Ferrari display saw the red cars claim their fourteenth win of the season and their ninth consecutively.
Michael Schumacher and Ferrari dominated qualifying for the United States Grand Prix, the German ending the session sitting on pole with team mate Rubens Barrichello next to him. First non Ferrari, David Coulhard's McLaren-Mercedes, finished up over 6/10ths second adrift of Schumachers time.
Rubens Barrichello chose an effective two stop pit strategy, leading home team mate Michael Schumacher in another crushing Ferrari display infront of the Tifosi at Monza.
Juan Pablo Montoya claimed his first pole since the French Grand Prix, on his way breaking Keke Rosberg's 17-year-old record for the fastest ever F1 lap. His 161mph average speed scorcher saw him line up quater of a second ahead of Michael Schumacher, with Rubens Barrichello further back in fourth position.
Michael Scumacher ran to an easy win number six at Spa, the world champion never threatened all afternoon. Win number ten of the season gave Schumacher another place in the record books for most wins in a season. With Rubens Barrichello in the second Ferrari next up, the Brazilian extended his grip on second place in the drivers championship.
Michael Schumacher dominated qualifying to take his first ever pole at the Spa track. His closest challenger was McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, who lined up next to him on the front row, with Rubens Barrichello in the second Ferrari taking third slot ahead of the two Williams drivers.
Starting from pole position, Rubens Barrichello led all the way to the flag, resisting strong pressure from Michael Schumacher to claim his second win of the season, giving Ferrari their fifth 1-2 and wrapping up the constructors title.
17.08.2002
Rubens Barrichello had the edge on team mate and 2002 World Drivers Champion Michael Schumacher for most of the session, with Schumacher eventually running out of time to complete a fourth run. Minardi new boy Anthony Davidson set steady times on his way to last slot on the grid in his debut race.
BAR test driver Anthony Davidson has been drafted in to replace Alex Yoong in the second Minardi. After failing to qualify in two of the last three races, Minardi have decided to rest Yoong for the next two races and allow him to undertake a confidence rebuilding test programme.
To celebrate his recent record equalling fifth Formula 1 World Driver's Championship title, Michael Schumacher brought together his winning Ferrari F2002 Formula 1 car displaying it along with his everyday road cars, a just delivered new Ferrari 575M and the recently introduced Maserati Spyder.
Michael Schumacher led from start to finish to claim his first ever home Grand Prix victory in front of an enthusiastic crowd who had come to celebrate his record equalling fifth world title. Problems at the start and a refuelling rig failure saw Rubens Barrichello trail home a distant fourth.
Michael Schumacher ended Juan Pablo Montoya's run of pole positions with a late charge which saw him head younger brother Ralf in an all Schumcher front row.
Michael Schumacher wrapped up his fifth world title, equalling Juan Manuel Fangio's record, at a race dominated by pit stop errors. Schumacher, who had earlier been given a drive through penalty, won somewhat fortituitously when Kimi Raikkonen, seemly on his way to a maiden grand prix victory, made an error with only four laps remaining.
Another pole for Juan Pablo Montoya, now his fifth in a row, saw him edge out the Ferrari pair of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. All three had traded fastest times all session, Montoya's fastest coming as the chequered flag fell.
An incident filled, rain soaked race, saw Michael Schumacher cruise to his 60th career Grand Prix win, assisted by Bridgestone's wet tyres which proved superior to Michelin's offering. Rubens Barrichello, after stalling on the parade lap, scythed his way through the field to give Ferrari their fourth 1-2 finish of the season.
race report
Juan Pablo Montoya took his fourth consecutive pole position with a late flying lap conjured out of nowhere, to line up ahead of Rubens Barrichello, happy to be second after seeing his first two runs aborted. Michael Schumacher and brother Ralf occupied the second row.
qualifying report
While no sanctions were taken over Ferrari's last corner team orders imposition at the recent Austrian Grand Prix, the FIA fined the team US$1 million for their breach of podium protocol and stated that the FIA "deplored" the team's antics.
read the full FIA statement
Rubens Barrichello took his first win of the year, leading for virtually the entire race and withstanding pressure from Michael Schumacher who came home second after holding station toward the end of the race.
race report
The front row was an all Williams-BMW affair, with Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello lining up behind on row 2. Schumacher had a difficult session as he was forced to change to the spare car after his first run and struggled to get the car competitive.
qualifying report
Another flawless performance by Michael Schumacher in an action packed race saw Ferrari score their 150th Grand Prix victory, after his only challenger, Juan Pablo Montoya, saw his BMW engine expire with 14 laps left. Early leader and pace setter, Rubens Barrichello, brought his Ferrari home third.
race report
Juan Pablo Montoya stormed to his second consecutive pole position in Montreal, almost 2/10ths faster than Michael Schumacher, the Bridgestone's unable to match the Michelin's as the track temperature rose during the session. Rubens Barrichello in the second Ferrari, was joined on row 2 by Ralf Schumacher who suffered handling problems all session.
qualifying report
The Ferrari's struggled to match the Michelin tyres around Monte Carlo, with race winner David Coulthard able to fend off late pressure from Michael Schumacher. Rubens Barrichello, made a poor start, lost a nose cone when he ran into the back of Kimi Raikkonen, and subsequently gained two stop-go penalties.
race report
In a poor session for the Ferrari's, Michael Schumacher lined up his Ferrari in third, behind pole sitter Juan Pablo Montoya and David Coulthard while Rubens Barrichello was two places further adrift.
qualifying report
Ferrari have been ordered to appear before the FIA in Paris on June 26th to explain their actions at the recent Austrian GP. Although expected to focus on the breaking of podium protocol, the FIA will examine whether Ferrari's action brought the sport into disrepute. Meanwhile the episode continues to reverberate, with the world's media in uproar over the result and even the press in Italy and Schumacher's home country of Germany being vociferous in their condemnation.
In one of the most shamefully manipulated Grands Prix of all time, Rubens Barrichello, who from pole position had dominated the entire race, was ordered by the Ferrari team to allow Michael Schumacher past to claim maximum points, crossing the finish line to the boos and jeers of the angry crowd
race report
The qualification session saw Rubens Barrichello claim pole position, with Michael Schumacher unable to make it onto the front row, Ralf Schumacher joined Rubens at the head of the field.
qualifying report
Rubens Barrichello, with his contract due to expire at the end of the year, has squashed speculation about his future with Ferrari by signing a two year contract extension with the team it was announced today.
For the second race in succession, Michael Schumacher dominates from lights to flag, leaving the opposition trailing, while Barrichello fails to make it away from the grid and the Minardi's withdraw after wing failures.
race report
In a repeat of San Marino qualifying, Michael Schumacher, snatches pole position on his last lap, demoting Rubens Barrichello to second place, and for the second consecutive race, an all red front row
qualifying report
Michael Schumacher, becoming the Ferrari driver to make the most starts in the company's history, easily leading home Rubens Barichello home to record Ferrari's first 1-2 finish at Imola for twenty years, in a race that Ferrari completely dominated
race report
with both drivers now equipped with the new car Michael Schumacher desposed team mate Rubens Barichello off the top slot in the dying seconds of qualifying to recond pole and make it an all red front row
qualifying report
Michael Schumacher gave the new F2002 chassis a debut victory after a closely fought battle to the flag with brother Ralf. Rubens Barichello, in his home Grand Prix, was an early race retirement.
race report
using the new F2002 for the first time, Michael Schumacher makes the front row, alongside pole sitter, Juan Pablo Montoya. Meanwhile, still using last years car, Rubens Barichello is off the pace, lining up on the fourth row of the grid.
qualifying report
Ferrari finally confirm the long awaited debut of the new F2002 in the hands of Michael Schumacher will take place at the Brazilian Grand Prix. However Rubens Barichello will continue with last years car. Successfull testing at Barcelona last week have convinced Schumacher and Ferrari that the new car is reliable enough, coupled with the fact that the F2001 was comprehensively outpaced in Malaysia by the Williams'.
Eight teams have taken part in a four day test session in Barcelona, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barichello extensively testing in the new F2002 chassis. Despite running several full race simulations in the new car, Ferrari are still undecided about using it in the forthcoming Brazilian Grand Prix.
test report
Michael Schumacher salvaged the final podium position after a first corner collision required a new nosecone and a run from the back of the field, meanwhile Rubens Barichello's engine expired while running strongly.
race report
Michael Schumacher continued his run of Malaysian pole positions, two tenths ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya, with team mate Rubens Barichello making a late jump into third slot
qualifying report
As expected, Ferrari officially confirm that they will use the F2001 at the Malaysian Grand Prix next week. Meanwhile Luca Badoer finished an extensive three day test program with the new F2002 at Mugello which included several full race distance runs. Simultaneously Luciano Burti has been running a tyre test program at Fiorano in an F2001.
Justifying the decision to use last years car, Michael Schumacher easily won a race dominated by a hugh first corner incident whose victims included the pole-sitter, Rubens Barichello. To the delight of the Australian crowd and his Minardi team, Mark Webber came home fifth.
race report
Ferrari pick up where they left off with Rubens Barichello pipping Michael Schumacher to pole by five-hundredths of a second to make it an all red front row in a rain dominated practice. Meanwhile Mark Webber on his F1 debut delighted the Minardi team with a strong 18th place.
qualifying report
as expected, Ferrari announce that Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barichello will be using last years cars at the opening race in Melbourne. Since the completion of the new car ten days ago, bad weather has severly hampered testing and Ferrari feel the chassis, with incorporates many new ideas, cannot as yet be proven reliable.
see the F2002 on its initial test runs
the small and neat F2002 is new in almost every area, distinctive for its restyled rear end and revolutionary gearbox, everyone at Ferrari is excited by its potential. No news though on whether the new car will be on the grid in Australia
photos & details of the F2002
Alex Yoong undertakes shakedown test of new Minardi PS02 at Circuit Enzo E Dino Ferrari
Australian F3000 racer Mark Webber is confirmed for the vacant Minardi seat. He brings on board Telstra who will back him throughout his debut season.
both Ferrari's were severly damaged in accidents on the second day, cutting short their test program
Schumacher and Barichello test for Ferrari, while Minardi run several young hopefuls for their vacant seat
the new years first official Formula 1 test takes place in Barcelona: new Ferrari test driver Luciano Burti gets his first taste of Ferrari power while sharing four days of testing with Luca Badoer
