2004 Chinese Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Rubens Barrichello won Formula 1’s first Chinese Grand Prix, holding off Jenson Button and Kimi Räikkönen at Shanghai International Circuit. Michael Schumacher endured an unusually troubled weekend, while the championship welcomed a spectacular new venue.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Pole time	1:34.012
Fastest lap	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Fastest-lap time	1:32.238 on lap 55
First	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Second	Jenson Button	BAR
Third	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
24 September 2004	Practice 1	11:00
24 September 2004	Practice 2	14:00
25 September 2004	Practice 3	09:00
25 September 2004	Practice 4	10:15
25 September 2004	Qualifying 1	13:00
25 September 2004	Qualifying 2	14:00
26 September 2004	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 16 leading the 2004 F1 World Championship on 136 points, with Rubens Barrichello on 98. Ferrari headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 234 points.

Race entries

Jacques Villeneuve returned to Formula 1 with Renault, replacing Jarno Trulli alongside Fernando Alonso. Ralf Schumacher rejoined Williams after recovering from his Indianapolis injuries, and Timo Glock replaced Giorgio Pantano at Jordan for the remaining races. Ricardo Zonta continued alongside Olivier Panis at Toyota.

Free Practice

Davidson set the opening pace as the field learnt Shanghai’s long corners and heavy-braking zones. Ralf Schumacher returned strongly in second, with Juan Pablo Montoya close behind. Michael Schumacher lost time to a software problem near the end of the session, while Jacques Villeneuve began adjusting to the Renault after almost a year away from racing.

Davidson and Jenson Button gave BAR the top two times in the afternoon, but Takuma Sato’s engine failed on his installation lap. The replacement would cost him ten grid places and left him short of experience at the new track. Ferrari improved between sessions but still had too much understeer, making overnight set-up work important.

Ralf Schumacher headed a Williams one-two on Saturday morning, continuing an encouraging return. Nick Heidfeld also impressed with sixth for Jordan. Takuma Sato used the session to recover some of the running lost on Friday, while the teams refined their balance as the unfamiliar surface evolved.

Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello moved Ferrari to the front in final practice. The champion’s improvement suggested that Friday’s difficulties had been overcome, while Kimi Räikkönen remained a strong contender. Olivier Panis still needed work on grip and balance before qualifying, and the closely matched midfield meant even a small error could cost several positions.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2004 Chinese Grand Prix FP1, 24 September 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	35	Anthony Davidson	BAR	1:35.369	22
2	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.086s	13
3	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.392s	13
4	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+0.717s	12
5	38	Ryan Briscoe	Toyota	+1.025s	21
6	9	Jenson Button	BAR	+1.106s	11
7	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.291s	14
8	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.515s	15
9	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	+1.575s	9
10	16	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	+1.601s	16
11	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.733s	5
12	37	Bjorn Wirdheim	Jaguar	+1.773s	19
13	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.822s	14
14	7	Jacques Villeneuve	Renault	+1.871s	20
15	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.931s	11
16	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	+2.069s	9
17	19	Timo Glock	Jordan	+2.218s	15
18	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+2.607s	5
19	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	+2.763s	14
20	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	+3.135s	15
21	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+3.392s	11
22	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	+3.436s	13
23	39	Robert Doornbos	Jordan	+3.875s	23
24	40	Bas Leinders	Minardi	+4.160s	15
25	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	+7.426s	12

Free Practice 2 Classification

2004 Chinese Grand Prix FP2, 24 September 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	35	Anthony Davidson	BAR	1:33.289	22
2	9	Jenson Button	BAR	+0.885s	19
3	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.000s	16
4	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.073s	15
5	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.159s	21
6	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	+1.391s	23
7	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.425s	23
8	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.487s	25
9	16	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	+1.579s	23
10	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.581s	25
11	38	Ryan Briscoe	Toyota	+1.592s	29
12	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+1.670s	23
13	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+2.225s	27
14	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+2.357s	22
15	7	Jacques Villeneuve	Renault	+2.562s	25
16	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+2.597s	22
17	37	Bjorn Wirdheim	Jaguar	+3.074s	19
18	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	+3.341s	19
19	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	+3.787s	15
20	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	+3.822s	25
21	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	+4.142s	19
22	19	Timo Glock	Jordan	+4.439s	15
23	40	Bas Leinders	Minardi	+5.233s	18
24	39	Robert Doornbos	Jordan	+5.762s	15
25	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	No time	1

Free Practice 3 Classification

2004 Chinese Grand Prix FP3, 25 September 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:34.380	7
2	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.299s	7
3	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.464s	9
4	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.474s	8
5	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	+0.669s	14
6	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.152s	5
7	16	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	+1.217s	8
8	9	Jenson Button	BAR	+1.280s	9
9	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.550s	5
10	7	Jacques Villeneuve	Renault	+1.585s	9
11	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.622s	6
12	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	+1.846s	13
13	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.863s	8
14	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.159s	18
15	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+2.243s	6
16	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	+2.780s	4
17	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	+2.786s	10
18	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	+3.153s	12
19	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	+3.172s	13
20	19	Timo Glock	Jordan	+3.748s	11

Free Practice 4 Classification

2004 Chinese Grand Prix FP4, 25 September 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:33.448	13
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.348s	12
3	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.594s	11
4	9	Jenson Button	BAR	+0.785s	15
5	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	+0.838s	10
6	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	+0.956s	12
7	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+1.010s	12
8	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.022s	10
9	16	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	+1.070s	19
10	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+1.159s	12
11	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.179s	12
12	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.321s	9
13	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	+1.707s	16
14	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.763s	14
15	7	Jacques Villeneuve	Renault	+1.861s	12
16	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.906s	20
17	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	+2.421s	17
18	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	+3.300s	10
19	19	Timo Glock	Jordan	+3.710s	14
20	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	+4.566s	9

Qualifying

Rubens Barrichello took pole ahead of Kimi Räikkönen and Jenson Button. Felipe Massa produced an excellent lap for fourth, while the other Ferrari’s session ended with a spin at the start of Michael Schumacher’s decisive run. The world champion failed to set a time and later took a replacement engine before starting from the pit lane.

Takuma Sato’s engine penalty pushed him back from the top ten, while Jacques Villeneuve qualified thirteenth on his return. Ralf Schumacher took fifth, ahead of Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella. Sauber’s strong showing gave both drivers a realistic opportunity to score at the new venue.

Qualifying Classification

2004 Chinese Grand Prix Qualifying, 25 September 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	First qualifying	Second qualifying	Laps
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:33.787	1:34.012	6
2	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:33.499	1:34.178	6
3	9	Jenson Button	BAR	1:34.273	1:34.295	6
4	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	1:33.816	1:34.759	6
5	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:33.849	1:34.891	6
6	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:34.599	1:34.917	6
7	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	1:33.738	1:34.951	6
8	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	1:34.153	1:34.975	6
9	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	1:34.051	1:34.993	6
10	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:34.355	1:35.029	6
11	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:34.016	1:35.245	6
12	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:34.334	1:35.286	6
13	7	Jacques Villeneuve	Renault	1:34.425	1:35.384	6
14	16	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	1:34.958	1:35.410	6
15	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	1:34.808	1:36.507	6
16	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	1:35.447	1:36.535	6
17	19	Timo Glock	Jordan	1:37.143	1:37.140	6
18	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	1:37.510	1:40.240	6
19	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:33.185	1:33.185	5
20	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	1:36.623	1:36.623	5

Michael Schumacher did not get a time in Q2 after spinning off the track at turn 1.

Gianmaria Bruni did not get a time in Q2 after spinning off the track at turn 1.

Takuma Sato, Zsolt Baumgartner and Michael Schumacher received a 10-place grid penalty for engine changes.

What happened in the 2004 Chinese Grand Prix?

Rubens Barrichello retained the lead ahead of Kimi Räikkönen, while Fernando Alonso initially gained third. Jenson Button soon worked back past Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso, putting BAR into the leading battle. Michael Schumacher’s recovery went badly: contact with Christian Klien ended the Jaguar’s race, and a later spin cost the Ferrari more time.

Kimi Räikkönen stayed close to Rubens Barrichello, but Jenson Button’s two-stop strategy brought him into contention against their three-stop plans. Ferrari maintained enough pace for Rubens Barrichello to complete his final stop ahead. Ralf Schumacher retired after contact with David Coulthard, while a puncture added to Michael Schumacher’s problems.

Rubens Barrichello won for the second consecutive race, with Jenson Button second and Kimi Räikkönen third. Fernando Alonso, Juan Pablo Montoya, Takuma Sato, Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa completed the points. Jacques Villeneuve finished eleventh and Michael Schumacher twelfth, while BAR extended its advantage over Renault in the contest for second in the constructors’ championship.

After the race, Michael Schumacher headed the drivers’ standings with 136 points, followed by Rubens Barrichello on 108. Ferrari led the constructors’ table on 244, with BAR on 105.

2004 Chinese Grand Prix race results

The 2004 Chinese Grand Prix was held on 26 September 2004, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	56	1:29:12.420	10
2	9	Jenson Button	BAR	56	+ 1.035	8
3	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	56	+ 1.469	6
4	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	56	+ 32.510	5
5	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	56	+ 45.193	4
6	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	56	+ 54.791	3
7	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	56	+ 1:05.454	2
8	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	56	+ 1:20.080	1
9	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	56	+ 1:20.619	0
10	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	55	+ 1 Lap	0
11	7	Jacques Villeneuve	Renault	55	+ 1 Lap	0
12	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	55	+ 1 Lap	0
13	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	55	+ 1 Lap	0
14	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	55	+1 Lap	0
15	19	Timo Glock	Jordan	55	+1 Lap	0
16	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	53	+3 Laps	0
Ret	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	38	Mechanical	0
Ret	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	37	Collision damage	0
Ret	16	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	35	Transmission	0
Ret	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	11	Suspension	0

Michael Schumacher started the race from the pitlane.

2004 Chinese Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	55	1:32.238	212.749
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	28	1:32.455	212.250
3	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	53	1:32.876	211.288
4	9	Jenson Button	BAR	33	1:32.935	211.154
5	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	34	1:33.108	210.761
6	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	43	1:33.483	209.916
7	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	25	1:33.520	209.833
8	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	36	1:33.533	209.804
9	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	31	1:33.546	209.774
10	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	55	1:33.625	209.597
11	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	26	1:33.727	209.369
12	16	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	24	1:34.269	208.165
13	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	51	1:34.603	207.431
14	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	55	1:34.717	207.181
15	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	32	1:34.893	206.797
16	19	Timo Glock	Jordan	54	1:34.931	206.714
17	7	Jacques Villeneuve	Renault	55	1:34.950	206.672
18	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	10	1:36.888	202.539
19	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	23	1:37.377	201.521
20	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	51	1:37.578	201.106

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

2004 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 2004 Chinese Grand Prix.

2004 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	136
2	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari	108
3	Jenson Button	British	BAR	79
4	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	50
5	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Renault	46
6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	Williams	46
7	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	34
8	Takuma Sato	Japanese	BAR	26
9	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	24
10	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Sauber	21
11	Ralf Schumacher	German	Williams	12
12	Felipe Massa	Brazilian	Sauber	11
13	Mark Webber	Australian	Jaguar	7
14	Olivier Panis	French	Toyota	6
15	Antônio Pizzonia	Brazilian	Williams	6
16	Christian Klien	Austrian	Jaguar	3
17	Cristiano da Matta	Brazilian	Toyota	3
18	Nick Heidfeld	German	Jordan	3
19	Timo Glock	German	Jordan	2
20	Zsolt Baumgartner	Hungarian	Minardi	1
21	Ricardo Zonta	Brazilian	Toyota	0
22	Marc Gené	Spanish	Williams	0
23	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	Renault	0
24	Giorgio Pantano	Italian	Jordan	0
25	Gianmaria Bruni	Italian	Minardi	0

2004 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Ferrari	244
2	BAR	105
3	Renault	96
4	Williams	64
5	McLaren	58
6	Sauber	32
7	Jaguar	10
8	Toyota	9
9	Jordan	5
10	Minardi	1

2004 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	2004 Australian Grand Prix	Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne	7 March
2	2004 Malaysian Grand Prix	Sepang International Circuit, Sepang	21 March
3	2004 Bahrain Grand Prix	Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir	4 April
4	2004 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	25 April
5	2004 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	9 May
6	2004 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	23 May
7	2004 European Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	30 May
8	2004 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	13 June
9	2004 United States Grand Prix	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis	20 June
10	2004 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	4 July
11	2004 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	11 July
12	2004 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	25 July
13	2004 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	15 August
14	2004 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	29 August
15	2004 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	12 September
16	2004 Chinese Grand Prix	Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai	26 September
17	2004 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	10 October
18	2004 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	24 October