2004 European Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Michael Schumacher put his Monaco disappointment behind him with a dominant victory at the Nürburgring. Rubens Barrichello completed another Ferrari one-two, while Jenson Button inherited third after an eventful race for BAR team-mate Takuma Sato.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Pole time	1:28.351
Fastest lap	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Fastest-lap time	1:29.468 on lap 7
First	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Second	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Third	Jenson Button	BAR

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
28 May 2004	Practice 1	11:00
28 May 2004	Practice 2	14:00
29 May 2004	Practice 3	09:00
29 May 2004	Practice 4	10:15
29 May 2004	Qualifying 1	13:00
29 May 2004	Qualifying 2	14:00
30 May 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 7 leading the 2004 F1 World Championship on 50 points, with Rubens Barrichello on 38. Ferrari headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 88 points.

Ferrari raced in mourning following the death of former Fiat chairman Umberto Agnelli. At Williams, Sam Michael had taken over as technical director from Patrick Head as the team sought to improve a disappointing start to the season.

Race entries

The race line-ups remained unchanged for the European Grand Prix. Toyota raced close to its Cologne base, while the Schumacher brothers and Nick Heidfeld competed in front of their home supporters.

Free Practice

Davidson headed the opening session in BAR’s third car, ahead of the two Ferraris. Giancarlo Fisichella stopped out on track, interrupting Sauber’s preparations. The additional Friday drivers again had an important role in tyre evaluation, while the race drivers balanced their set-up work against the requirement to preserve one engine for the whole meeting.

Kimi Räikkönen took the afternoon’s fastest time, but Michael Schumacher lost running to a hydraulic problem. Ferrari therefore relied heavily on Rubens Barrichello’s tyre comparisons when deciding between stronger initial grip and more consistent long-run performance. Jenson Button and Ralf Schumacher were also quick, while Toyota remained concerned about tyre degradation on the relatively green circuit.

Jenson Button set a strong early Saturday pace, comfortably ahead of Ralf Schumacher and Takuma Sato. The morning was another opportunity to assess how the tyres behaved as more rubber went down. That evolution was particularly relevant to Toyota, whose concerns about performance dropping away would ease as grip improved through the weekend.

Jenson Button stayed fastest in the final session, with Michael Schumacher and Takuma Sato close behind. Juan Pablo Montoya spun and finished without a timed lap despite completing ten laps, costing him a useful final comparison before qualifying. Kimi Räikkönen remained competitive, although the different fuel loads meant McLaren’s true race prospects were still uncertain.

Free Practice 1 Classification

2004 European Grand Prix FP1, 28 May 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	35	Anthony Davidson	BAR	1:29.447	19
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.184s	14
3	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.418s	12
4	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+2.001s	6
5	38	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	+2.140s	23
6	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+2.196s	4
7	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.226s	9
8	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+2.233s	14
9	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+2.321s	16
10	9	Jenson Button	BAR	+2.323s	11
11	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+2.335s	10
12	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+2.463s	10
13	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+2.854s	5
14	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	+3.053s	10
15	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+3.249s	15
16	16	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+3.468s	15
17	39	Timo Glock	Jordan	+4.478s	15
18	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	+4.524s	10
19	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	+4.955s	11
20	19	Giorgio Pantano	Jordan	+5.041s	15
21	37	Bjorn Wirdheim	Jaguar	+5.596s	9
22	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	+5.739s	13
23	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	+6.008s	17
24	40	Bas Leinders	Minardi	+8.162s	15
25	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	No time	2

Free Practice 2 Classification

2004 European Grand Prix FP2, 28 May 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:29.355	18
2	9	Jenson Button	BAR	+0.263s	16
3	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.322s	28
4	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.345s	17
5	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+0.564s	23
6	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.588s	24
7	35	Anthony Davidson	BAR	+0.673s	32
8	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.808s	22
9	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.872s	9
10	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	+0.928s	17
11	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.982s	20
12	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+1.111s	29
13	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.142s	24
14	16	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+1.176s	25
15	38	Ricardo Zonta	Toyota	+1.594s	33
16	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	+1.619s	26
17	37	Bjorn Wirdheim	Jaguar	+2.425s	26
18	39	Timo Glock	Jordan	+2.725s	29
19	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	+2.862s	15
20	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.955s	12
21	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	+3.288s	19
22	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	+3.631s	18
23	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	+3.820s	20
24	19	Giorgio Pantano	Jordan	+4.038s	17
25	40	Bas Leinders	Minardi	+5.183s	19

Free Practice 3 Classification

2004 European Grand Prix FP3, 29 May 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	9	Jenson Button	BAR	1:29.485	11
2	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.707s	7
3	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	+0.776s	7
4	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	+0.884s	11
5	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.933s	10
6	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+1.047s	5
7	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+1.066s	5
8	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+1.115s	5
9	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+1.196s	5
10	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.763s	11
11	16	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+2.329s	11
12	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	+2.331s	9
13	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.721s	10
14	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+3.111s	5
15	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	+3.205s	13
16	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	+3.413s	14
17	19	Giorgio Pantano	Jordan	+3.741s	12
18	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	+4.014s	9
19	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	+4.432s	16
20	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	No time	2

Free Practice 4 Classification

2004 European Grand Prix FP4, 29 May 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	9	Jenson Button	BAR	1:28.827	13
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.237s	15
3	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	+0.300s	15
4	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	+0.527s	12
5	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	+0.718s	13
6	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	+0.728s	13
7	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.128s	14
8	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.349s	9
9	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	+1.450s	14
10	16	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	+1.489s	16
11	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	+1.692s	13
12	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	+2.040s	18
13	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	+2.159s	11
14	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	+2.234s	15
15	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	+2.677s	11
16	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	+3.129s	12
17	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	+3.926s	15
18	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	+4.067s	15
19	19	Giorgio Pantano	Jordan	+4.556s	13
20	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	No time	10

Qualifying

Michael Schumacher claimed his 60th pole with a lap more than six tenths clear of Takuma Sato. The BAR driver nevertheless made history as the first Japanese driver to earn a Formula 1 front-row start, having also been fastest in the first qualifying run.

Jarno Trulli and Kimi Räikkönen shared the second row, ahead of Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso. Olivier Panis and da Cristiano da Matta were closely matched in tenth and eleventh, while the Williams drivers faced a difficult race from further down the order than they had hoped.

Qualifying Classification

2004 European Grand Prix Qualifying, 29 May 2004

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	First qualifying	Second qualifying	Laps
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:28.278	1:28.351	6
2	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	1:27.691	1:28.986	6
3	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	1:29.905	1:29.135	6
4	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	1:28.897	1:29.137	6
5	9	Jenson Button	BAR	1:28.816	1:29.245	6
6	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	1:29.069	1:29.313	6
7	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	1:29.014	1:29.353	6
8	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	1:29.092	1:29.354	6
9	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:28.655	1:29.459	6
10	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	1:29.243	1:29.697	6
11	16	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	1:29.272	1:29.706	6
12	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	1:30.933	1:31.431	7
13	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	1:32.216	1:31.604	6
14	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	1:30.579	1:31.797	6
15	19	Giorgio Pantano	Jordan	1:31.928	1:31.979	6
16	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	1:31.879	1:31.982	6
17	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	1:33.061	1:34.398	6
18	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:28.717	1:28.717	3
19	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	1:29.327	1:29.327	5
20	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	1:33.077	1:33.077	3

Mark Webber initially set a lap time of (1:30.797), but received a one-second time penalty for ignoring yellow flags in practice.

Zsolt Baumgartner, David Coulthard, Giancarlo Fisichella and Gianmaria Bruni received a 10-place grid penalty for engine changes.

Gianmaria Bruni had his time set (1:34.022) canceled for leaving the pits with the red light on.

David Coulthard did not get time in Q2 due to gearbox problems.

Giancarlo Fisichella did not set a time in the second section to save fuel and tyres.

What happened in the 2004 European Grand Prix?

Michael Schumacher led through the opening corner as Juan Pablo Montoya struck Ralf Schumacher, sending the second Williams into da Cristiano da Matta. Ralf Schumacher and da Cristiano da Matta retired, while Juan Pablo Montoya stopped for a new nose. The battle behind the leader allowed Kimi Räikkönen to emerge second, but the Ferrari quickly pulled clear and the McLaren later retired with an engine failure.

Rubens Barrichello’s two-stop strategy brought him into contention for second. Takuma Sato attacked after the final pit-stop sequence, but contact with the Ferrari damaged his front wing. He stopped for repairs and then retired, ending a weekend that had promised his first podium. David Coulthard also suffered an engine failure, leaving McLaren with another double retirement.

Michael Schumacher won ahead of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button. Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso took fourth and fifth, followed by Giancarlo Fisichella, Mark Webber and the recovering Juan Pablo Montoya. Ferrari’s drivers left the podium champagne unsprayed in tribute to Agnelli as the team extended its championship lead.

After the race, Michael Schumacher headed the drivers’ standings with 60 points, followed by Rubens Barrichello on 46. Ferrari led the constructors’ table on 106, with Renault on 61.

2004 European Grand Prix race results

The 2004 European Grand Prix was held on 30 May 2004, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	60	1:32:35.101	10
2	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	60	+17.989	8
3	9	Jenson Button	BAR	60	+22.533	6
4	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	60	+53.673	5
5	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	60	+1:00.987	4
6	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	60	+1:13.448	3
7	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	60	+1:16.206	2
8	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	59	+1 Lap	1
9	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	59	+1 Lap	0
10	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	59	+1 Lap	0
11	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	59	+1 Lap	0
12	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	59	+1 Lap	0
13	19	Giorgio Pantano	Jordan	58	+2 Laps	0
14	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	57	+3 Laps	0
15	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	57	+3 Laps	0
Ret	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	47	Engine	0
Ret	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	25	Engine	0
Ret	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	9	Engine	0
Ret	4	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	0	Collision	0
Ret	16	Cristiano da Matta	Toyota	0	Collision	0

2004 European Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	7	1:29.468	207.144
2	10	Takuma Sato	BAR	11	1:30.004	205.910
3	2	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari	14	1:30.101	205.689
4	9	Jenson Button	BAR	13	1:30.457	204.879
5	8	Fernando Alonso	Renault	29	1:31.065	203.511
6	7	Jarno Trulli	Renault	30	1:31.131	203.364
7	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Sauber	23	1:31.413	202.737
8	3	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams	43	1:31.424	202.712
9	6	Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren	2	1:31.670	202.168
10	14	Mark Webber	Jaguar	37	1:31.893	201.678
11	18	Nick Heidfeld	Jordan	55	1:32.121	201.178
12	5	David Coulthard	McLaren	14	1:32.337	200.708
13	17	Olivier Panis	Toyota	12	1:32.506	200.341
14	12	Felipe Massa	Sauber	37	1:32.729	199.859
15	19	Giorgio Pantano	Jordan	27	1:32.772	199.767
16	15	Christian Klien	Jaguar	14	1:32.804	199.698
17	21	Zsolt Baumgartner	Minardi	46	1:34.666	195.770
18	20	Gianmaria Bruni	Minardi	7	1:35.555	193.949

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 European Grand Prix.

2004 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	60
2	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari	46
3	Jenson Button	British	BAR	38
4	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Renault	36
5	Fernando Alonso	Spanish	Renault	25
6	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	Williams	24
7	Ralf Schumacher	German	Williams	12
8	Takuma Sato	Japanese	BAR	8
9	Felipe Massa	Brazilian	Sauber	5
10	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Sauber	5
11	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	4
12	Cristiano da Matta	Brazilian	Toyota	3
13	Mark Webber	Australian	Jaguar	3
14	Nick Heidfeld	German	Jordan	2
15	Olivier Panis	French	Toyota	1
16	Kimi Räikkönen	Finnish	McLaren	1
17	Zsolt Baumgartner	Hungarian	Minardi	0
18	Christian Klien	Austrian	Jaguar	0
19	Giorgio Pantano	Italian	Jordan	0
20	Gianmaria Bruni	Italian	Minardi	0

2004 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Ferrari	106
2	Renault	61
3	BAR	46
4	Williams	36
5	Sauber	10
6	McLaren	5
7	Toyota	4
8	Jaguar	3
9	Jordan	2
10	Minardi	0

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