Ahead of this week’s season opener, we look back to one of the classic races at Albert Park, the spectacular 2002 Australian Grand Prix.
Qualifying saw a great battle emerge between the Ferrari drivers of Michael Schumacher – the defending champion – and Rubens Barrichello, with the Brazilian taking pole position just five thousandths of a second ahead of his German team-mate. The two Williams sandwiched the McLarens, Ralf Schumacher ahead of Coulthard, Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya. Mark Webber was making his F1 début at his home race, lining up 18th for Minardi, in front of both Jaguars, his team-mate and Takuma Sato’s Jordan.
What was about to unfold in the race, no one could have predicted.
The cars lined up on the grid, the five lights went out and all hell broke loose. Ralf Schumacher made a fantastic start, challenging his brother and Rubens Barrichello for the lead as soon as the race got under way. Barrichello weaved a bit at the start, and weaved once too much! Cutting up Ralf Schumacher, Barrichello cause the Williams to plough straight into the back of the Ferrari, launching the German into the air, over the top of the Ferrari and sending him for a long ride through the gravel and into the tyres.
The chaos caused more carnage occurred further back, eliminating both Saubers of Massa and Hedfield, Fisichella’s Jordan, Button’s Renault, Panis’ BAR and finally Allan McNish’s Toyota.
The Safety Car was deployed straight away, but much to everyone’s surprise that was all – no red flags were thrown. This meant that those who were eliminated couldn’t switch to the spare cars, those who were out were out. One corner done, 8 cars out.
The Safety Car pitted at the end of lap 4, with David Coulthard emerging from the carnage in the lead. Jarno Trulli was second for Renault, whilst polesitter Michael Schumacher had dropped to fourth behind Montoya.
Italian Trulli became another casualty of the Albert Park track on lap 8, with his Renault’s traction control failing – sending him into the barriers and bringing out the Safety Car for the second time.
Coulthard made a hash of the restart, out braking himself into the last corner and running onto the grass. The Ferrari of Michael Schumacher therefore led across the line, but a bold move by Williams driver Montoya saw him swoop around the outside of the then triple world champion, into the lead of the eventful race.
The move didn’t last and Schumacher used a defensive mistake by the Colombian to re take the lead. DC’s day didn’t improve, his McLaren ground to a half with a gearbox failure on lap 33. There were now just 8 cars remaining out of the 22 that started – both Arrows were black flagged earlier on whilst Sato and Villeneuve were also added to the long list of retirements with mechanical issues.
The order up front hadn’t changed – Schumacher still lead Montoya, with Raikkonen fairing better than his team-mate in third place. Eddie Irvine was fourth for Jaguar, with a certain Mark Webber in fifth and Salo sixth. Alex Yoong and Pedro de la Rosa brought up the rear of the extremely small pack.
Webber had put in a solid drive during the Grand Prix, staying out of trouble and ending up in the points paying positions with his Minardi. His race wasn’t entirely trouble-free though. He had sixth gear – the top gear on the PS02 – and that was allowing Finnish driver Salo to chase the Australian down in the Toyota.
With just 2 laps to go, Salo was right on Webber’s tale. The Toyota driver fluffed it, spinning out whilst trying to pass the Minardi and ensuring Webber would come home in fifth, securing the only two points the backmarker team would pick up that season.
Webber and Minardi were given their own podium celebration, and winner Schumacher called Webber up to the Ferrari garage to congratulate him that evening. Not a bad first race at all!
Picture courtesy of markwebber.com
