2002 Austrian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Michael Schumacher won the Austrian Grand Prix after Ferrari ordered Rubens Barrichello to surrender the lead just before the finish. The controversial switch overshadowed a dominant drive by Rubens Barrichello and a frightening accident involving Nick Heidfeld and Takuma Sato.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Pole time	1:08.082
Fastest lap	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Fastest-lap time	1:09.298 on lap 68
First	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Second	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Third	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
10 May 2002	Practice 1	11:00
10 May 2002	Practice 2	13:00
11 May 2002	Practice 3	09:00
11 May 2002	Practice 4	10:15
11 May 2002	Qualifying	13:00
12 May 2002	Warm-up	09:30
12 May 2002	Race	14:00

All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.

Championship background

Michael Schumacher arrived at round 6 leading the 2002 F1 World Championship on 44 points, with Juan Pablo Montoya on 23. Ferrari headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 50 points.

Race entries

Minardi returned with Mark Webber and Alex Yoong after withdrawing from the Spanish race to investigate its wing failures. The other teams also retained their regular drivers, restoring the full 22-car field.

Free Practice

Michael Schumacher led Friday’s opening session on a dusty, low-grip A1-Ring. Rubens Barrichello, Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella were among the drivers who visited the gravel but escaped damage. Ferrari and Sauber featured strongly as the teams built confidence on the short lap.

Rubens Barrichello narrowly headed Michael Schumacher in the warmer afternoon session. Most of the quickest laps came early, before temperatures fell and rain threatened. Nick Heidfeld lost running with an alternator problem, while Heinz-Harald Frentzen damaged his undertray by spinning over a kerb.

Friday Practice Classification — Combined

2002 Austrian Grand Prix opening-day practice, 10 May 2002

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:10.549	39
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.030s	44
3	6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.064s	45
4	4	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.108s	40
5	25	Allan McNish	Toyota	+0.591s	44
6	21	Enrique Bernoldi	Arrows	+0.695s	28
7	17	Pedro de la Rosa	Jaguar	+0.787s	40
8	12	Olivier Panis	BAR	+0.833s	66
9	3	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.867s	45
10	10	Takuma Sato	Jordan	+0.988s	42
11	16	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	+1.059s	43
12	5	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.103s	46
13	20	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Arrows	+1.194s	29
14	15	Jenson Button	Renault	+1.221s	47
15	8	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+1.464s	50
16	7	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+1.474s	28
17	14	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+1.606s	47
18	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+1.644s	26
19	24	Mika Salo	Toyota	+1.826s	48
20	22	Alex Yoong	Minardi	+2.015s	52
21	11	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+2.025s	44
22	23	Mark Webber	Minardi	+2.670s	47

Michael Schumacher led another Ferrari one-two in the first Saturday session. The clear, dry conditions and improved grip allowed cleaner running than on Friday, with Kimi Räikkönen third. Schumacher’s pace provided a strong benchmark before the final preparation session.

Michael Schumacher improved again in the last practice as temperatures rose. Several drivers ran into the gravel, and Enrique Bernoldi’s session was particularly difficult: gearbox trouble cost him much of the running before a spin at Turn 2 left the Arrows stranded.

Saturday Practice Classification — Combined

2002 Austrian Grand Prix Saturday practice, 11 May 2002

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:08.433	42
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.713s	32
3	5	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.783s	43
4	6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.855s	32
5	20	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Arrows	+0.993s	25
6	8	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+1.093s	25
7	7	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+1.159s	32
8	4	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.319s	28
9	12	Olivier Panis	BAR	+1.347s	48
10	11	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.440s	40
11	25	Allan McNish	Toyota	+1.539s	34
12	24	Mika Salo	Toyota	+1.571s	35
13	3	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.611s	28
14	21	Enrique Bernoldi	Arrows	+1.657s	25
15	14	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+1.710s	32
16	15	Jenson Button	Renault	+1.796s	33
17	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+2.037s	41
18	10	Takuma Sato	Jordan	+2.583s	29
19	17	Pedro de la Rosa	Jaguar	+2.624s	32
20	16	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	+2.875s	34
21	23	Mark Webber	Minardi	+3.558s	29
22	22	Alex Yoong	Minardi	+3.901s	35

Each practice table combines that day’s two sessions, showing each driver’s best time and total laps.

Qualifying

Rubens Barrichello claimed pole ahead of Ralf Schumacher. Michael Schumacher qualified third after brake trouble and traffic, trying the spare Ferrari without improving enough to reach the front row. Juan Pablo Montoya took fourth after an engine misfire also forced him into a spare car.

Nick Heidfeld put Sauber fifth, while Jarno Trulli’s engine failure and the resulting oil stopped the session for a clean-up. Eddie Irvine damaged his front wing by hitting Enrique Bernoldi, adding to Jaguar’s difficult qualifying.

Qualifying Classification

2002 Austrian Grand Prix Qualifying, 11 May 2002

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:08.082	10
2	5	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:08.364	12
3	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:08.704	10
4	6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:09.118	12
5	7	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	1:09.129	11
6	4	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:09.154	12
7	8	Felipe Massa	Sauber	1:09.228	10
8	3	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:09.335	12
9	12	Olivier Panis	BAR	1:09.561	12
10	24	Mika Salo	Toyota	1:09.661	11
11	20	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Arrows	1:09.671	11
12	21	Enrique Bernoldi	Arrows	1:09.723	12
13	15	Jenson Button	Renault	1:09.780	11
14	25	Allan McNish	Toyota	1:09.818	12
15	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	1:09.901	12
16	14	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:09.980	10
17	11	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:10.051	12
18	10	Takuma Sato	Jordan	1:10.058	12
19	17	Pedro de la Rosa	Jaguar	1:10.533	12
20	16	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	1:10.741	10
21	23	Mark Webber	Minardi	1:11.388	10
22	22	Alex Yoong	Minardi	1:12.336	12

Sunday warm-up

Rubens Barrichello led Michael Schumacher in the Sunday warm-up as the teams checked their race and spare cars. There were no major interruptions, although Ralf Schumacher visited the gravel at two corners. Ferrari approached the start with both pace and a clear strategic advantage.

Warm-up Classification

2002 Austrian Grand Prix Warm-up, 12 May 2002

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:10.876	15
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.019s	17
3	8	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+0.636s	17
4	20	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Arrows	+0.876s	15
5	7	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+0.921s	16
6	21	Enrique Bernoldi	Arrows	+1.082s	17
7	3	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.247s	18
8	11	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.281s	20
9	4	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.493s	17
10	16	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	+1.576s	15
11	12	Olivier Panis	BAR	+1.719s	14
12	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+2.031s	18
13	15	Jenson Button	Renault	+2.131s	14
14	5	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+2.449s	17
15	10	Takuma Sato	Jordan	+2.486s	16
16	17	Pedro de la Rosa	Jaguar	+2.514s	15
17	14	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+2.609s	10
18	6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+2.692s	10
19	23	Mark Webber	Minardi	+2.808s	12
20	24	Mika Salo	Toyota	+2.844s	19
21	25	Allan McNish	Toyota	+2.852s	16
22	22	Alex Yoong	Minardi	+4.345s	15

What happened in the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix?

Rubens Barrichello led away and Michael Schumacher moved into second, allowing Ferrari to pull clear. Olivier Panis’s engine failure brought out the Safety Car. Soon after the restart, Nick Heidfeld lost control under braking and his Sauber struck Takuma Sato’s Jordan heavily; both drivers required medical attention, and the Safety Car returned while the scene was cleared.

Rubens Barrichello remained in control through the pit stops, with Michael Schumacher behind and Juan Pablo Montoya moving ahead of Ralf Schumacher for third. Ferrari then instructed Rubens Barrichello to give up the win. He complied only in the final metres, allowing Schumacher across the line first to widespread disapproval.

Juan Pablo Montoya completed the podium ahead of Ralf Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella and David Coulthard. Schumacher handed the winner’s trophy to Rubens Barrichello and stood aside on the podium. Team orders were permitted at the time; the subsequent FIA fine concerned the podium procedure. The controversy contributed to a ban on team orders affecting race results from the following season.

After the race, Michael Schumacher headed the drivers’ standings with 54 points, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya on 27. Ferrari led the constructors’ table on 66, with Williams on 50.

2002 Austrian Grand Prix race results

The 2002 Austrian Grand Prix was held on 12 May 2002, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	71	1:33:51.562	10
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	71	+0.182	6
3	6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	71	+17.730	4
4	5	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	71	+18.448	3
5	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	71	+49.965	2
6	3	David Coulthard	McLaren	71	+50.672	1
7	15	Jenson Button	Renault	71	+51.229	0
8	24	Mika Salo	Toyota	71	+1:09.425	0
9	25	Allan McNish	Toyota	71	+1:09.718	0
10	11	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	70	Engine	0
11	20	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Arrows	69	+2 Laps	0
12	23	Mark Webber	Minardi	69	+2 Laps	0
Ret	14	Jarno Trulli	Renault	44	Fuel pressure	0
Ret	22	Alex Yoong	Minardi	42	Engine	0
Ret	16	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	38	Hydraulics	0
Ret	7	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	27	Collision	0
Ret	10	Takuma Sato	Jordan	26	Collision	0
Ret	12	Olivier Panis	BAR	22	Engine	0
Ret	8	Felipe Massa	Sauber	7	Suspension	0
Ret	4	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	5	Engine	0
Ret	21	Enrique Bernoldi	Arrows	2	Collision	0
Ret	17	Pedro de la Rosa	Jaguar	0	Throttle	0

2002 Austrian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	68	1:09.298	224.733
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	57	1:09.320	224.662
3	6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	70	1:09.853	222.948
4	5	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	66	1:09.862	222.919
5	11	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	52	1:10.823	219.894
6	20	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Arrows	67	1:11.201	218.727
7	15	Jenson Button	Renault	68	1:11.209	218.702
8	3	David Coulthard	McLaren	69	1:11.223	218.659
9	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	66	1:11.284	218.472
10	25	Allan McNish	Toyota	67	1:11.456	217.946
11	24	Mika Salo	Toyota	64	1:11.591	217.535
12	23	Mark Webber	Minardi	67	1:11.819	216.845
13	7	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	20	1:12.180	215.760
14	12	Olivier Panis	BAR	22	1:12.594	214.530
15	16	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	22	1:12.602	214.506
16	14	Jarno Trulli	Renault	40	1:12.626	214.435
17	10	Takuma Sato	Jordan	20	1:13.119	212.989
18	4	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	5	1:14.028	210.374
19	8	Felipe Massa	Sauber	6	1:14.052	210.306
20	22	Alex Yoong	Minardi	22	1:14.441	209.207
21	21	Enrique Bernoldi	Arrows	2	1:21.891	190.174

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. Average speeds are in km/h. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.

2002 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix.

2002 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	54
2	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	Williams	27
3	Ralf Schumacher	German	Williams	23
4	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari	12
5	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	10
6	Jenson Button	British	Renault	8
7	Nick Heidfeld	German	Sauber	5
8	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	4
9	Eddie Irvine	British	Jaguar	3
10	Felipe Massa	Brazilian	Sauber	3
11	Mark Webber	Australian	Minardi	2
12	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Jordan	2
13	Mika Salo	Finnish	Toyota	2
14	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Arrows	1
15	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	BAR	0
16	Allan McNish	British	Toyota	0
17	Alex Yoong	Malaysian	Minardi	0
18	Pedro de la Rosa	Spanish	Jaguar	0
19	Takuma Sato	Japanese	Jordan	0
20	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Renault	0
–	Enrique Bernoldi	Brazilian	Arrows	0
–	Olivier Panis	French	BAR	0

2002 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Ferrari	66
2	Williams	50
3	McLaren	14
4	Renault	8
5	Sauber	8
6	Jaguar	3
7	Minardi	2
8	Jordan	2
9	Toyota	2
10	Arrows	1
11	BAR	0

2002 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	2002 Australian Grand Prix	Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne	3 March
2	2002 Malaysian Grand Prix	Sepang International Circuit, Sepang	17 March
3	2002 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	31 March
4	2002 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	14 April
5	2002 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	28 April
6	2002 Austrian Grand Prix	A1-Ring, Spielberg	12 May
7	2002 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	26 May
8	2002 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	9 June
9	2002 European Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	23 June
10	2002 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	7 July
11	2002 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	21 July
12	2002 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	28 July
13	2002 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	18 August
14	2002 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	1 September
15	2002 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	15 September
16	2002 United States Grand Prix	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis	29 September
17	2002 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	13 October