2002-07-21 F310B (5) Michael Schumacher FRA - Magny-Cours 1
The 2002 French Grand Prix, otherwise known officially as the LXXXVIII Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France, was the eleventh round of the 2002 FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, on 21 July 2002.
The race would see Michael Schumacher with the F2002, claim victory and his fifth World Championship title, matching the record set by Juan Manuel Fangio for most F1 crowns.
Schumacher would have to fight for his record achievement, however, having been beaten to pole position in qualifying by Juan Pablo Montoya. Behind, Rubens Barrichello shared the second row with Kimi Räikkönen. The start saw Montoya ease into an early lead ahead of the German ace, while Räikkönen claimed third.Montoya and Michael Schumacher quickly pulled with Räikkönen stalking them in the early stages, with the #1 Ferrari all over the back of the #6 Williams-BMW. However, Magny-Cours had gained an ominous reputation for being a circuit that made overtaking difficult at best, and hence there was no way through for Schumacher in the clearly faster car.
The race therefore became a battle of strategy, with Montoya the first top stop on lap 23. Schumacher had two laps in clear air, albeit with Räikkönen still a threat, before making his stop, only to cross the white line while exiting the pits, handing himself a drive-through penalty despite emerging ahead of Montoya.Räikkönen led for a lap before making his stop. Schumacher hence assumed the lead before serving his penalty, returning the lead to Montoya, although the Colombian racer's pace had collapsed on his second set of Michelin tyres.With just five laps to go it seemed as if Räikkönen was on for his maiden F1 victory, only for Allan McNish to inadvertently decide both the race and the Championship. Indeed, the Scot would suffer an engine failure in the back of his Toyota and dump oil through the second corner, with Räikkönen the first on the scene.The Finn suffered a half-spin and slid wide, allowing Schumacher to eliminate the rest of the gap between them. The German ace duly eased ahead as Räikkönen rallied back onto the circuit, with the Ferrari full ahead as they braked for Adelaide.
With that the race was run, with Schumacher keeping Räikkönen at bay to claim victory and the Championship, becoming the first driver to win the F1 Championship in July.
