STORY OF THE DAY: Schumacher earns Ferrari’s 150th Grand Prix victory

Michael Schumacher won the 2002 Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal, round eight of the Formula One World Championship, in Ferrari number 1. David Coulthard finished second for McLaren and Rubens Barrichello took third in the other Ferrari. Schumacher’s sixth victory of the season was also Ferrari’s 150th win in a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix.

Juan Pablo Montoya started from pole, but Barrichello took the lead after the Williams driver ran wide at the final chicane. A safety-car period compromised Barrichello’s two-stop strategy and reshaped the contest, while Schumacher’s longer first stint placed him in a strong strategic position. Montoya remained a threat until his BMW engine failed, allowing Schumacher to control the closing laps.

The F2002 combined Ferrari’s three-litre V10 with an exceptionally compact rear end and a lightweight longitudinal gearbox. Rory Byrne’s chassis team pursued efficient aerodynamics, low mass and careful packaging, while the car’s mechanical systems delivered exceptional reliability. Its performance remained formidable even in Montreal’s low-downforce configuration.

Michael Schumacher was a German four-time World Champion entering the Montreal weekend and Ferrari’s established team leader. He had joined the Scuderia in 1996 and ended its long Drivers’ Championship drought in 2000. His strategic discipline in Canada added a significant team milestone to a season that was rapidly moving under his control.