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Most challenging year for Schumie
Paris, Dec 23: Michael Schumacher endured the most testing season of his Formula One career and came through it in record-breaking fashion with an unprecedented sixth world title to defiantly wave in the faces of those critics foolish enough to write off both him and Ferrari.
Paris, Dec 23: Michael Schumacher endured the most testing season of his Formula One career and came through it in record-breaking fashion with an unprecedented sixth world
title to defiantly wave in the faces of those critics foolish enough to write off both him and Ferrari.
But in stark contrast to his fifth crown, which he had wrapped up by the midway point of the 2002 championship, this was an entirely different story.
After the one-man show of 2002, the FIA, in an effort to put the brakes on the German's red machine, brought in a new points system, a revamped qualifying weekend and restrictions on testing.
And it almost worked as Schumacher squeezed home beating Mclaren's Kimi Raikkonen by two points in a championship which went down to the wire in Japan.
In the end it was Schumacher's trusty lieutenant, Brazilian Rubens Barrichello who won that decisive race at Suzuka. Schumacher was only eighth but Barrichello's win allowed Ferrari to celebrate as they landed their fifth consecutive constructors' title.
"It has been a tough year and a very tough race, one of my toughest ever," said Schumacher. "I can feel for the team but not for myself yet. I am exhausted and proud of what we have achieved.”
Bureau Report
But in stark contrast to his fifth crown, which he had wrapped up by the midway point of the 2002 championship, this was an entirely different story.
After the one-man show of 2002, the FIA, in an effort to put the brakes on the German's red machine, brought in a new points system, a revamped qualifying weekend and restrictions on testing.
And it almost worked as Schumacher squeezed home beating Mclaren's Kimi Raikkonen by two points in a championship which went down to the wire in Japan.
In the end it was Schumacher's trusty lieutenant, Brazilian Rubens Barrichello who won that decisive race at Suzuka. Schumacher was only eighth but Barrichello's win allowed Ferrari to celebrate as they landed their fifth consecutive constructors' title.
"It has been a tough year and a very tough race, one of my toughest ever," said Schumacher. "I can feel for the team but not for myself yet. I am exhausted and proud of what we have achieved.”
Bureau Report