2002 Belgian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Michael Schumacher set a new single-season record with his tenth victory of the year at Spa-Francorchamps. Rubens Barrichello completed another Ferrari one-two, while Juan Pablo Montoya held off David Coulthard for third.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Pole time	1:43.726
Fastest lap	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Fastest-lap time	1:47.176 on lap 15
First	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Second	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Third	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
30 August 2002	Practice 1	12:00 (delayed; 30 minutes)
30 August 2002	Practice 2	13:00
31 August 2002	Practice 3	09:00
31 August 2002	Practice 4	10:15
31 August 2002	Qualifying	13:00
1 September 2002	Warm-up	09:30
1 September 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 14 leading the 2002 F1 World Championship on 112 points, with Rubens Barrichello on 45. Ferrari headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 157 points.

Race entries

Arrows remained absent, and Anthony Davidson continued alongside Mark Webber at Minardi. The same 20 drivers who had raced in Hungary therefore contested the Belgian weekend, with both world championships already settled in Ferrari’s favour.

Free Practice

Fog delayed the first Friday session because medical-helicopter access was restricted, and the running was shortened to half an hour. Rubens Barrichello went fastest once conditions cleared. Michael Schumacher and Kimi Räikkönen both survived high-speed excursions, while Olivier Panis suffered an engine failure near the finish.

Kimi Räikkönen led a McLaren one-two in the afternoon as times improved. Juan Pablo Montoya repeatedly ran off, Mark Webber stopped with gearbox trouble and Pedro de la Rosa’s engine cut out near the pit entrance. Rubens Barrichello ended his session in the gravel after spinning while attempting a faster lap.

Friday Practice Classification — Combined

2002 Belgian Grand Prix opening-day practice, 30 August 2002

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	4	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:47.196	20
2	3	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.160s	29
3	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.207s	27
4	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.125s	24
5	5	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.239s	31
6	15	Jenson Button	Renault	+1.582s	27
7	17	Pedro de la Rosa	Jaguar	+1.706s	18
8	6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+1.773s	19
9	16	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	+2.026s	16
10	24	Mika Salo	Toyota	+2.064s	26
11	25	Allan McNish	Toyota	+2.364s	28
12	14	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+2.407s	29
13	11	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+2.701s	23
14	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+2.948s	23
15	10	Takuma Sato	Jordan	+3.161s	24
16	12	Olivier Panis	BAR	+3.196s	20
17	8	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+3.872s	26
18	22	Anthony Davidson	Minardi	+4.074s	32
19	7	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+4.159s	25
20	23	Mark Webber	Minardi	+5.147s	13

Michael Schumacher set the pace in the first Saturday session. Both Minardis suffered stoppages, with Mark Webber encountering an electrical problem and Anthony Davidson’s engine cutting out. Jacques Villeneuve lost a bargeboard over a kerb, while Felipe Massa ran onto the grass without damaging his Sauber.

Kimi Räikkönen displaced Michael Schumacher in the final practice on fresh tyres. Both Schumacher brothers spun but continued, and Anthony Davidson also recovered from an excursion at Stavelot. McLaren’s pace offered encouragement before qualifying after Ferrari’s strong opening Saturday session.

Saturday Practice Classification — Combined

2002 Belgian Grand Prix Saturday practice, 31 August 2002

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	4	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:44.870	17
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.081s	17
3	3	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.537s	22
4	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.581s	21
5	6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.750s	21
6	5	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.826s	21
7	24	Mika Salo	Toyota	+1.454s	25
8	12	Olivier Panis	BAR	+1.758s	29
9	17	Pedro de la Rosa	Jaguar	+1.889s	23
10	15	Jenson Button	Renault	+1.950s	26
11	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+1.996s	21
12	16	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	+2.003s	23
13	11	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+2.217s	24
14	8	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.222s	23
15	14	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+2.422s	26
16	10	Takuma Sato	Jordan	+2.506s	25
17	7	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+2.517s	24
18	25	Allan McNish	Toyota	+2.800s	17
19	23	Mark Webber	Minardi	+3.865s	14
20	22	Anthony Davidson	Minardi	+4.516s	23

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

Qualifying

Michael Schumacher claimed pole ahead of Kimi Räikkönen, who secured his first front-row start. Rubens Barrichello qualified third, followed by Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya. Olivier Panis’s engine failure spread oil and smoke, disrupting several attempts.

Eddie Irvine qualified eighth in an improving Jaguar. Giancarlo Fisichella crashed and used the spare Jordan, while Sauber struggled for balance and occupied the ninth row. All 20 entrants qualified for the race.

Qualifying Classification

2002 Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying, 31 August 2002

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:43.726	9
2	4	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:44.150	12
3	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:44.335	12
4	5	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:44.348	12
5	6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:44.634	12
6	3	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:44.759	12
7	14	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:45.386	11
8	16	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	1:45.865	12
9	24	Mika Salo	Toyota	1:45.880	12
10	15	Jenson Button	Renault	1:45.972	12
11	17	Pedro de la Rosa	Jaguar	1:46.056	10
12	11	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:46.403	11
13	25	Allan McNish	Toyota	1:46.485	12
14	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	1:46.508	11
15	12	Olivier Panis	BAR	1:46.553	10
16	10	Takuma Sato	Jordan	1:46.875	12
17	8	Felipe Massa	Sauber	1:46.896	12
18	7	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	1:47.272	10
19	23	Mark Webber	Minardi	1:47.562	12
20	22	Anthony Davidson	Minardi	1:48.170	11

Sunday warm-up

Overnight rain reduced grip again before the warm-up. Michael Schumacher went fastest, but Takuma Sato damaged his Jordan after spinning at Stavelot and striking the tyre barrier. Felipe Massa also damaged his car against a marker at the Bus Stop, creating last-minute work for both teams.

Warm-up Classification

2002 Belgian Grand Prix Warm-up, 1 September 2002

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:48.044	10
2	4	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.989s	11
3	3	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.060s	10
4	17	Pedro de la Rosa	Jaguar	+1.063s	11
5	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.359s	12
6	14	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+1.419s	9
7	12	Olivier Panis	BAR	+1.762s	10
8	5	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+2.042s	8
9	11	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+2.107s	11
10	7	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	+2.111s	10
11	6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+2.320s	13
12	24	Mika Salo	Toyota	+2.422s	11
13	15	Jenson Button	Renault	+2.566s	9
14	25	Allan McNish	Toyota	+2.713s	9
15	8	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.852s	11
16	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	+2.897s	13
17	16	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	+3.456s	10
18	22	Anthony Davidson	Minardi	+4.248s	11
19	23	Mark Webber	Minardi	+4.609s	12
20	10	Takuma Sato	Jordan	+19.246s	4

What happened in the 2002 Belgian Grand Prix?

Michael Schumacher led away, and Rubens Barrichello passed Kimi Räikkönen to establish Ferrari’s one-two. Juan Pablo Montoya soon took third when Kimi Räikkönen ran wide at Pouhon. The Ferraris rapidly built a substantial advantage, leaving the remaining podium place as the closer contest.

Juan Pablo Montoya stayed ahead through the stops while David Coulthard moved in front of his team-mate. Kimi Räikkönen later retired with engine failure, and Jarno Trulli also stopped. A succession of mechanical failures thinned the field during the closing laps, promoting Eddie Irvine into the points.

Michael Schumacher eased his pace near the finish but still led Rubens Barrichello home. Juan Pablo Montoya resisted David Coulthard for third, with Ralf Schumacher fifth and Eddie Irvine sixth. Schumacher’s tenth win surpassed the previous single-season record, adding another milestone to an already decisive championship campaign.

After the race, Michael Schumacher headed the drivers’ standings with 122 points, followed by Rubens Barrichello on 51. Ferrari led the constructors’ table on 173, with Williams on 86.

2002 Belgian Grand Prix race results

The 2002 Belgian Grand Prix was held on 1 September 2002, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	44	1:21:20.634	10
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	44	+ 1.977	6
3	6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	44	+ 18.445	4
4	3	David Coulthard	McLaren	44	+ 19.357	3
5	5	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	44	+ 56.440	2
6	16	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	44	+ 1:17.370	1
7	24	Mika Salo	Toyota	44	+ 1:17.809	0
8	11	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	44	+ 1:19.855	0
9	25	Allan McNish	Toyota	43	+ 1 Lap	0
10	7	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	43	+ 1 Lap	0
11	10	Takuma Sato	Jordan	43	+ 1 Lap	0
12	12	Olivier Panis	BAR	39	Engine	0
Ret	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	38	Engine	0
Ret	17	Pedro de la Rosa	Jaguar	37	Suspension	0
Ret	8	Felipe Massa	Sauber	37	Engine	0
Ret	4	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	35	Engine	0
Ret	14	Jarno Trulli	Renault	35	Engine	0
Ret	22	Anthony Davidson	Minardi	17	Spun Off	0
Ret	15	Jenson Button	Renault	10	Engine	0
Ret	23	Mark Webber	Minardi	4	Gearbox	0

2002 Belgian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	15	1:47.176	233.884
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	16	1:48.196	231.679
3	6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	44	1:49.293	229.354
4	3	David Coulthard	McLaren	43	1:49.398	229.133
5	5	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	15	1:49.681	228.542
6	4	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	31	1:49.764	228.369
7	11	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	43	1:49.787	228.322
8	17	Pedro de la Rosa	Jaguar	14	1:50.221	227.423
9	14	Jarno Trulli	Renault	15	1:50.235	227.394
10	12	Olivier Panis	BAR	34	1:50.275	227.311
11	8	Felipe Massa	Sauber	30	1:50.595	226.654
12	16	Eddie Irvine	Jaguar	13	1:50.829	226.175
13	24	Mika Salo	Toyota	18	1:50.832	226.169
14	10	Takuma Sato	Jordan	26	1:50.886	226.059
15	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Jordan	17	1:50.969	225.890
16	7	Nick Heidfeld	Sauber	19	1:51.013	225.800
17	15	Jenson Button	Renault	6	1:51.223	225.374
18	25	Allan McNish	Toyota	17	1:51.479	224.856
19	22	Anthony Davidson	Minardi	12	1:51.878	224.054
20	23	Mark Webber	Minardi	3	1:52.469	222.877

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 Belgian Grand Prix.

2002 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	122
2	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari	51
3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	Williams	44
4	Ralf Schumacher	German	Williams	42
5	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	37
6	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	20
7	Jenson Button	British	Renault	11
8	Nick Heidfeld	German	Sauber	7
9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Jordan	7
10	Eddie Irvine	British	Jaguar	4
11	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Renault	4
12	Felipe Massa	Brazilian	Sauber	4
13	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	BAR	3
14	Olivier Panis	French	BAR	2
15	Mark Webber	Australian	Minardi	2
16	Mika Salo	Finnish	Toyota	2
17	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Arrows	2
18	Allan McNish	British	Toyota	0
19	Alex Yoong	Malaysian	Minardi	0
20	Pedro de la Rosa	Spanish	Jaguar	0
21	Takuma Sato	Japanese	Jordan	0
22	Enrique Bernoldi	Brazilian	Arrows	0
–	Anthony Davidson	British	Minardi	0

2002 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Ferrari	173
2	Williams	86
3	McLaren	57
4	Renault	15
5	Sauber	11
6	Jordan	7
7	BAR	5
8	Jaguar	4
9	Minardi	2
10	Toyota	2
11	Arrows	2

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