Globalisation, whatever it means, is a concept well assimilated in Maranello. Ferrari is a multinational company with an Italian heart. European, African and South American people work in the key-areas, a mix of cultures and skills that has produced extraordinary results. Having won the fourth consecutive World Constructors' Championship in Budapest, the seventh title of the last three years, the Sports Management doesn’t stop. While the on-track tests are still suspended throughout Formula 1, the activity continues on two fronts: the preparation of the Belgian Grand Prix - even if the development of the F2002 was interrupted by obvious superiority - and the birth of the single-seater for 2003. The final goal is to consolidate the second place of Rubens Barrichello, who has 45 points against 40 of the Williams-Bmw of Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya and 34 of David Coulthard on McLaren-Mercedes. The construction of the most successful team in the history of the Maranello team began in the autumn of 1991, when Luca Montezemolo was called to drive the Ferrari. The first seasons were really tough, then the group got rich, found the agreement and now works with the same synchrony of the indestructible ten-cylinder engine. A German and a Brazilian are on track today. Michael Schumacher was hired in 1996 because he was the best and it took a lot of talent to raise a team in difficulty. Rubens Barrichello arrived in 2000, good enough to deserve Ferrari, to trigger the enthusiasm of the fans - and the market - in Brazil and not to shadow his teammate. From this year, in the test team another Brazilian, Luciano Burti, works together with the Italian Luca Badoer. The general management of the Sports Management is in French hands, those of Jean Todt, 56 years old, from Pierrefort. When he arrived in Maranello in 1993, he had a great experience in racing and organising Rallies and Sports, but he didn’t know Formula 1. After a couple of years of break-in, he put together the right men and built the unbeatable Maranello cars.
He treats Michael Schumacher like a triumphant son. Jean Todt’s right-hand man is Ross Brawn, 47, from Manchester: an Englishman who replaced the tea ritual at 5:00 p.m. with the banana ritual at 3:00 p.m., in the middle of the fight for the Grand Prix. Always imperturbable, he is able to revolutionise the race strategies in a few seconds in case of rain, accidents, safety car or other unforeseen events. From the pits he had already led Michael Schumacher to win the two World Championships with Benetton. Around the technicians and computers, on which are designed the cars that the world of Formula 1 envies, there are, among others, two Africans: one is Rory Byrne, head of the car project. Born in Pretoria (South Africa) 58 years ago, he doesn’t want much attention. He comes from Benetton, he has been twice a world champion too and has helped to rebuild a formidable group in Maranello. Responsible for the engine project is a French engineer born in Morocco in 1958, Gilles Simon, who creates it under the direction of the Italian Paolo Martinelli. The aerodynamics, one of the strengths of the F2002, is developed by the Athenian Nicholas Tombazis, born in 1968, called El Greco, another man from Benetton. The foreign legion is completed by the Englishman Nigel Stepney, technical manager of the race, 43 years old. His name will say little to most, but many remember when Michael Schumacher walked on his foot during the 2000 Spanish Grand Prix (the mistake was the mechanic with the Italian paddle - which gave way too soon to the driver). After crossing the gates of Maranello, the official language becomes English. Jean Todt and Rubens Barrichello are doing well with Italian, Michael Schumacher doesn’t.
"I never speak it, even when I’m in Italy".
And now that he always wins, no one throws it back at him. In Formula 1 the technological challenge leaves very little unexplored. Now the one about the drivers' helmet is in progress. Two years ago Michael Schumacher tried one that allowed him to read on the visor some data on his Ferrari using bright LEDs. On the eve of the Belgian Grand Prix, Bmw announces that Ralf Schumacher from next year will have at his disposal a helmet of aeronautical and space derivation even more sophisticated and interesting. Wednesday, August 28, 2002 the newspaper Bild reveals news regarding the World Champion. According to rumours, the Schubert of Braunschweig is developing a futuristic helmet (called Cyberhelm), equipped with laser systems that use the knowledge of satellite navigation.
Inside the helmet there is a GPS that records the exact position of the driver. A sensor stores every single movement of the head and sends the signal to a mini-computer on top of the helmet. Meanwhile, four laser beams run along the guide track and record the line of the followed trajectory. If Michael Schumacher records an exceptional lap time, he would record the data and with a button he could view it any time he wants to. On the layers of his visor were inserted micro-crystals that allow the driver to see in front of him the ideal line of the trajectory to follow: exactly what happens on the driving simulator of a playstation. It should be very useful in case of rain, as the lasers anticipate the path. However, this is a very theoretical phase and it will take time to get to practice. But if it really works, the rivals who already see Michael Schumacher always from behind might not even see him anymore. Turning to facts, Toyota announces that they have hired the Frenchman Olivier Panis for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. He will replace Allan McNish. Mika Salo will also have to pack his bags: in his place, it should arrive the Brazilian Cristiano Da Matta, currently engaged in US races. There are problems in Formula 1, but it is a lucky sport. After the World Championship challenges for Michael Schumacher and Scuderia Ferrari ended well in advance, the season could suffer a drop in interest. But at the crucial moment, the motor circus presents its show in one of the most beautiful circuits where drivers and the audience have fun and entertain. So people come to Belgium mainly from Germany, but also from Italy and other countries. The campsites, located in the middle of the forests of the Ardennes are full and the fans, waiting for the show that begins Friday, August 30, 2002, gorge themselves with French fries topped with mayonnaise and empty barrels of excellent local beer, produced by the trappist friars. And the flags of Scuderia Ferrari are waving, together with those of the German champion who is celebrating a special day: the tenth anniversary of his first victory, obtained here on Sunday, August 30, 1992. On the track where in 1991 he made his debut in Formula 1 with Jordan, before moving to Benetton. Is it the best memory?
"One of the best, but not the most beautiful. During my experience, there are many happy, successful days and it is difficult to choose one. However, I still have images of that day. I can think of one thing, the secret of that victory. I was off track at Stavelot and my teammate Martin Brundle overtook me. While I was getting back into motion, for a moment, I saw the rear tyres of the English car and I noticed that they were very worn out. So I thought: mine must not be in good condition either. So I immediately went back to the pits to change them. In the next lap I gained 5 seconds on Brundle who was in trouble and it was enough for me to finish first".
Then there were four more, plus one cancelled by disqualification...
"I have a love affair with this circuit. I like it. It’s like being in the living room at home".
Yet Schumacher never took pole position at Spa-Francorchamps.
"Really? I don’t remember. If so, I hope to make up for it".
If Barrichello is on pole, will there still be team games?
"It’s a different situation. In Budapest I was probably a little faster than Rubens. But if I tried I don’t know if I would have been able to overtake him due to the characteristics of the track. In fact, I wouldn’t have had the chance even if Montoya, a more direct opponent, had been in the place of my teammate. Now everything is different, we can have fun and if I’m in the right condition I’ll try to win. Without forgetting that there are also other drivers".
Does Schumacher feel changed from ten years ago?
"Everyone changes somehow. I don’t know if it’s better or worse. It’s not on me to judge. The only thing I can say is that I am always hungry for victories, like the first day".
Is that why you rode the circuit with the bike on Thursday?
"When pedalling you really see the track, you learn all the secrets. Formula 1 cars are too fast...".
In particular at the famous Eau Rouge curve, the one where it is said it takes a lot of courage to face it with full throttle.
"Courage? I wouldn’t say so. If that’s what it takes, it means that something is not working in the car. Great sensitivity is needed. Then, if you overcome it well, you feel great satisfaction".
These days there are a lot of chats about his future. It is said that he could leave after 2004, to perhaps take the place of Jean Todt.
"I’m not a fortune teller. Ferrari doesn’t depend on one person. The only sure thing is that others will try to beat it. 2002 has already been exceptional, it will be difficult to improve or even repeat it. However, I don’t see myself behind a desk for ten hours a day in the place of Todt. My place is in the cockpit for a few more years".
On Friday, August 30, 2002 the script looks similar to those already seen on other occasions this year. The fastest McLaren-Mercedes, Williams-Bmw taking pole position on Saturday and Scuderia Ferrari winning on Sunday. At Spa, Kimi Raikkonen shatters the record of the Ardennes circuit, made faster by a change to the Bus Stop chicane, now less angular, and shortened by 22 metres. A fairytale ride the one of the Finn, who with a time of 1'47"196, at an average of 233.840 km/h, snatches the record to the compatriot Mika Hakkinen who held it since 1998. The Finn is 0.160 seconds behind teammate David Coulthard and 0.207 seconds behind Michael Schumacher. Further away is Rubens Barrichello, fourth, to lead the group of pursuers who are over a second behind. It is a result to be taken with caution, even if someone thinks of a hidden direction determined to interrupt the successes of the Maranello team to give prominence to Formula 1. Meanwhile, with the modified chicane that no longer requires passing on the kerbs, and cars can be adjusted to a minimum height from the asphalt, it is a favourable situation for McLaren. And then there is always the suspicion that the Anglo-German team tries on Friday with little fuel in the tank, while rivals prepare for the race with a full tank of fuel. The real unknown is represented by the tyres: in Belgium, among the top twelve of the time list, ten have Michelin tyres.
Only the Ferraris mount Bridgestone tyres. A situation that had already occurred in Malaysia, where Ralf Schumacher won with Williams-Bmw. The Maranello team, however, competed with the old F2001. Michael - he said it clearly - wants to win. Not so much to set new limits (tenth success of the season and sixth success in Belgium) but for emotional reasons. We are on the track where he debuted in 1991, where he won for the first time in 1992, where he experienced the most intense emotions of his career: the memorable triumphs, like that of 1995 with Benetton, when he started in sixteenth position, and the black moments, as the disqualification in 1994 (Benetton irregular), the collision with the McLaren of David Coulthard, who had tricked him not speeding in a corner in the rain in 1998, overtook by Hakkinen in 2000. Another flaw of Michael Schumacher at Spa-Francorchamps is that he never conquered pole position. On Saturday he will face McLaren, Williams and Rubens Barrichello who hopes to win again. This time the challenge will be more open, even if the German and the Brazilian reiterate that there will be no battle between them. Overtaking here is not prohibitive. This is not a problem for Arrows, which won’t go on track and could be struck off Formula 1. Michael Schumacher, after having amazed everyone with a successful career, Saturday, August 31, 2002 still manages to surprise himself. He did not know - or pretended not to - that he had never won a pole position in the Belgian Grand Prix, the race he has always liked the most, where he runs on the track that suits him like a suit. So he fixes the result and memory: Sunday he will start in front of all, after crushing the track record and in one way also rivals’ mood. Two perfect laps, always with the best times in all three sectors in which the track is divided, and the game is done: 1'43"726, at an average of 241.726 km/h, almost five seconds faster than the old limit established in 1998 by Mika Hakkinen, but when the circuit was a bit different, with the chicane of the bus stop edgy and not soft coming out, as it was transformed this year for safety reasons. The fate, however, requires that there is still a Finn on the road to the World Champion, able to annoy Michael Schumacher and to give the dizziness to teammate David Coulthard who deluded themselves when Mika Hakkinen himself announced his retirement to live with his wife Erja and his son Hugo. Kimi Raikkonen, a 23-year-old blond who is pining for love for the former Miss Scandinavia, Jenni Dahlman, but on the track seems to have a cool head. The guy after embarrassing Juan Pablo Montoya in Budapest with a shivering overtaking, also makes Michael Schumacher tremble. He does not manage to make the perfect lap with his McLaren, but he is very close (0.424 seconds). In any case, with his best performance since he is in Formula 1, he composes an unprecedented pair in the front row: one more reason to revive the spectacle of a championship that has lived for some time from race to race. Kimi Raikkonen says:
"Win the race? Why not, I will try".
An intention similar to that of the German, of course, so the battle on the track is assured. Even at Spa, Ferrari, which places Rubens Barrichello in third place, is the only one to enter the top twelve with Bridgestone tyres. Ten cars with Michelin tyres among the first suggest an advantage of the French supplier. But during the race, history might be different. Without forgetting that, most likely, Michael Schumacher - who chose soft tyres - made a different choice than Rubens Barrichello, while David Coulthard, only sixth, officially explains that he chose the hard ones over Kimi Raikkonen. A puzzle that can be solved in the race, with fuel. The start, with the curve of Source lurking after a few hundred metres and the first passage in the famous Eau Rouge - where in practice Michael Schumacher transits at 319 km/h - is another element to be taken into account. Along with the usual tactics of the stops, the risk of rain, the ambitions of Ralf Schumacher, fourth on the grid, and that loose cannon that is Juan Pablo Montoya, down in qualifying performance, but always dangerous. Beyond the finish line, for Michael there are the seasonal successes’ record and some others lowest records to share with Ferrari.
On Sunday, September 1, 2002, at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher keeps the lead of the race, while behind him Kimi Räikkönen starts badly and is overtaken by Rubens Barrichello. Juan Pablo Montoya moves up to fourth place at the expense of his teammate Ralf Schumacher. Michael Schumacher immediately begins to keep an unsustainable pace for rivals, distancing them considerably. Kimi Räikkönen, in difficulty due to a wrong pressure of the rear tyres, is also overtaken by Juan Pablo Montoya, while David Coulthard overtakes Ralf Schumacher, bringing himself behind his teammate. On lap 15 Michael Schumacher sets the fastest lap in the race, which remains over a second faster than the second best performance in the race, achieved by Rubens Barrichello at the end of lap 16. The German driver makes the first refuelling during lap 17, returning to the track in second position. Rubens Barrichello also refuels on lap 18, while Ralf Schumacher makes a mistake and gives the sixth position to Jarno Trulli. During the first series of pit stops Kimi Räikkönen loses the fourth position to the advantage of his teammate, while Giancarlo Fisichella, who started with a single pit stop tactic, recovers to the sixth position. When the Roman driver also stops at the pits to refuel, Michael Schumacher is ahead of Rubens Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Coulthard, Kimi Räikkönen, Jarno Trulli, Ralf Schumacher and Eddie Irvine. The positions are quite defined and nothing happens until the second series of pit stops. The advantage of Michael Schumacher over Rubens Barrichello is such as to allow the German driver to refuel and get back on track in front of his teammate. Behind the two Ferrari drivers the order remains unchanged even after the second series of pit stops. During lap 36, on Kimi Räikkönen’s McLaren the Mercedes engine breaks; moments later also Jarno Trulli is forced to retire due to a problem with the Renault engine. Ralf Schumacher moves up to fifth, while Eddie Irvine moves up to sixth. At the end, Michael Schumacher slows down a lot, bringing Rubens Barrichello closer, while Juan Pablo Montoya resists the pressure of David Coulthard, winning the third place. Michael Schumacher wins, followed by Rubens Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher and Eddie Irvine, who wins a point for Jaguar, just a few tenths ahead of Mika Salo.
"Thanks to all the team. It’s beautiful, I’m happy".
This way Michael Schumacher, by radio, crossing the finish line expresses his gratitude to Ferrari that has allowed him in these years to become the greatest driver of all time, at least in terms of results. Behind him follows Rubens Barrichello, signing the 1-2 for the Maranello team, with Juan Pablo Montoya and David Coulthard fighting for third place, won by the Colombian. On his favourite track Michael Schumacher got excited. A perfect start (he also managed to open the trajectory to his teammate: widening to the centre allowed the Brazilian to jump Kimi Raikkonen at the first corner), then a series of incredible laps. For eleven consecutive laps the World Champion scored the track record, mortifying poor Rubinho and all rivals. On lap 30, before the second pit stop, the German driver was over 20 seconds ahead of Rubens Barrichello and 55 seconds ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya. More than half track, over 3.5 kilometres. If the aggressive Juan Pablo Montoya finished third at about 18.5 seconds, it is only because in the last 20 minutes Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello have slowed down their pace. The comparison was also merciless in the fast laps: in this ranking Rubens Barrichello is still second but at 1,020 seconds, Juan Pablo Montoya third at 2.117 seconds, David Coulthard fourth at 2.222 seconds, Ralf Schumacher fifth at 2.505 seconds. And away with these detachments. Literally deadly, not happening since immemorial time. The new goals achieved by the German driver and by Ferrari are discussed separately. On the supremacy of the Maranello team and its team there is little to say. Just look at the faces of rivals, technicians and drivers. At this moment, while never giving up, they see the triumphs in red as something ineluctable, a divine punishment to which they must submit. Some will say that competitions are boring. But the fans think the opposite: everyone, like the president of Ferrari, Luca Montezemolo, would like to fall asleep in front of the video immediately after the start and wake up at the end of the race to see the two F2002s parade in front of the chequered flag, in first and second place. The problem is not Ferrari, then. In the past McLaren and Williams also dominated for several seasons.
If the two teams, now Anglo-German, cannot regain competitiveness, it is their fault. Mercedes had prepared a new engine for David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen, but it didn’t have the performance it expected and it paid in reliability with the withdrawal of the Finn, actually still a bit naive and inexperienced, as a couple of mistakes he made. Williams may be suffering from the fact that tyre supplier Michelin has chosen to work on two fronts, that is, with two top teams. But even the car prepared by Patrick Head technicians has some problems with tuning. Ferrari, on the other hand, also repaid the trust placed in Bridgestone. The two teams worked in symbiosis without sparing efforts. Suffice it to say that between Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Luca Badoer and Luciano Burti have covered since the beginning of the season more than 50.000 kilometres of testing, many of which focused on the development of tyres. Jean Todt has been able to create a valid organisation and has prepared winning plans. Among other things it is not easy to hold together a group of 700 people, those of the Sports Management, with the many temptations to which they are subjected by other teams. To give an example: an electronic technician from the Maranello team was hired by a rival team with a quadruple salary. All this to stay that there must be passion and family spirit to be in the Maranello team. A spirit that is also explained by the program of the week: from Tuesday, September 3, 2002, Michael Schumacher will be on track in Monza. And Luca Badoer in France at Le Castellet, where he will almost certainly try many elements and tyres for 2003. There are many standing ovations for Michael Schumacher from the public, numerous as never before, who invades the circuit at the end of the race, climbing over the nets and throwing himself dangerously on track. Ferrari flags in the wind and also some tricolours flags, brazilian flag for Rubens Barrichello and colombian flag for Juan Pablo Montoya.
"It’s incredible, I feel like I’m living a dream. At the beginning of the season I was optimistic, but we didn’t expect these results. The race was easy, I admit. The credit goes mostly to the F2002. It’s just extraterrestrial. We started well, Rubens and I. I waited a couple of laps to not deteriorate the tyres, then I pushed 100%. In the end, this is obvious, with the margin of advantage that we had, I just tried to manage it as best as I could, without risking. But, you know, it’s hard to go slowly with this Ferrari. You enjoy it much more when you push the throttle".
After fourteen races out of seventeen, practically all the goals were achieved. Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships, tenth victory, etc...
"It was a Grand Prix without the slightest flaw. I honestly didn’t expect it. We were optimistic, but you never know what can happen in a race. At the end we took our time. I saw several engines jump and I wanted to avoid any problem, needless to stress the mechanical organs of the car. Rubens approached a lot, but I was calm because Montoya on the last lap was still more than ten seconds".
Even if it was not foreseeable a similar domination of Ferrari, there was a demonstration of unprecedented strength.
"If we look at the last two races, maybe we gave the impression of suffering more. But there were times, at the beginning of the season, like in Spain, when we had already shown our clear superiority. This Belgian circuit, then, with its fast corners and everything else, seems to be made for our car".
On track, before the start, there was also Nigel Mansell, with whom he shared the record of nine seasonal victories. He warned him that he was in danger...
"He’s a friend, we didn’t talk about it much, he came to me nicely to wish me luck. He behaved like a gentleman".
A bad question: Schumacher had a lot of fun but he competed alone. Do you prefer glory to a heated, uncertain and sporting challenge?
"I’ve never said that".
The performance of Michael Schumacher in part also annihilated Rubens Barrichello, who, however, had preferred hard tyres and therefore in some respects was less fast for the conditions found in the race.
"Considering my problems, since I was wrong with the tyres and I never managed to find the right set-up of the car, second place is fine. This weekend I never had the chance to ask the team anything more, given Michael’s performance. He deserves all he got".
Rubens, however, also behaved well, with a perfect start.
"It went well. I wondered how fast Raikkonen would be at the start. Then when I saw him widening in the centre, I slipped inside. He tried to close the door, but it was too late. I was already next to him and he had to lift his foot from the throttle. From that moment it was easier. During the race I had only a couple of problems, when the cars of Massa and Panis broke their engines in front of me. I couldn’t see anything and I didn’t know if there was oil on the track. I tried step by step and everything went well".
Jean Todt praises the two drivers and the team. What do you think of the young Brazilian Felipe Massa, who will be removed from Sauber, despite having hinted at a good talent?
"He’s only 21 years old, he’s a guy who seems to have great potential. But the Swiss manufacturer has the right to make his own choices. We are interested in all the drivers who show their skills. Recently we have been able to admire people like Montoya and Raikkonen. Ferrari, however, isn’t in a bad situation: there are two really promising young men, Schumacher and Barrichello".
Williams-Bmw and McLaren-Mercedes are fighting for second place in the Constructors' World Championship. While Ferrari is at 177 points, the challenge is still open between the two Anglo-German teams, and then between Bmw and Mercedes, separated by 29 points, with 48 points still available. At Spa, however, Juan Pablo Montoya, third, and Ralf Schumacher, fifth, gave a nice satisfaction to Frank Williams. The Colombian admits:
"In all honesty I did not expect such a result, after the set-up problems of the car that I had had throughout the eve and also in the morning before the race. And I was surprised to be ahead of Raikkonen. It was also thanks to the team, which made two perfect pit stops. A difficult race: in the last laps I had to resist the attacks of Coulthard and I tried my best".
Still hope for second place in the drivers' standings?
"Why not? Anything can happen in three races. With one warning: if it should happen that Barrichello will have a problem, we must be there at that moment. Seven points of disadvantage are many, but you can recover. The important thing is to be fast".
Ralf Schumacher is less cheerful, satisfied with his placement only because things could have been worse for him.
"At the start I had to slow down behind Raikkonen who started badly. Then I made a couple of mistakes too. A head-tail from which I miraculously saved myself after being in the gravel and I made a mistake in the second pit stop, when I pushed a button that was not the right one on the steering wheel and the engine turned off. I mean, if you want, I finally got more than I deserved".
Black in the face is Kimi Raikkonen, the only one among the candidates for the podium who didn’t finish the race.
"It wasn’t the best way to end the weekend. After the disastrous start, in the next lap I almost lost control of my McLaren and Montoya overtook me. We almost went into the pits together to refuel and change the tyres, but he left immediately. Just before the second stop I noticed that something was not working. It was the engine losing power. The only thing I liked in the three days in Belgium was the first row on the grid start, but I should have started behind and finished the race".
His teammate, David Coulthard, isn’t satisfied.
"A shame not to do better. I managed to overtake Ralf Schumacher on the straight line of Les Combes on the first lap. And I was hoping to catch up on the others in front, but my car was very slow in the second sector of the track and I was losing ground. At the beginning I never had the chance to approach Montoya. Things improved after the second stop and McLaren’s grip made the difference. But it was too late. I arrived near the Colombian driver, but not enough to overtake him".
David Coulthard doesn’t talk about Scuderia Ferrari. Norbert Haug, Head of Mercedes, does it:
"Today no one had a chance to contend with Michael".
They hoped so much. At least one point. But no: Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella did not see the finish line. The Renault driver was stopped by engine failure while he was battling for the sixth position, that of Jordan for a similar problem, after choosing a very difficult tactic, a single stop. Jarno Trulli, however, does not make a drama of it and remains optimistic for the future.
"I had made a great start, and gained positions. But I found myself with the gearbox in neutral and I had to widen the trajectory to avoid collisions, so I only managed to keep my sixth place on the grid. Until I had to stop, I was able to run a great race, I had also managed to get ahead of Ralf Schumacher’s Williams. Then the disaster happened. But I don’t feel frustrated or unlucky. I know I’m in a very good team that’s growing, that’s going to give me satisfaction. Unfortunately we have not reaped the fruits of the work done in these days, but we have a remarkable development program and I am sure that soon we will find ourselves fighting with the best".
Even Giancarlo Fisichella does not complain too much about his misadventures. He drove great with a car that, due to the fuel load, was much heavier than those of the opponents, and was able to recover several positions, one at the start and others with his tactics of a single stop. Up to be sixth from lap 18 to lap 20.
"I knew I wouldn’t have great chances, but if I hadn’t had the failure that stopped me, who knows, in the end Trulli, eight retirements in fourteen races I could have been very close to the points. Everything happened suddenly without signals, a frightening blaze. I couldn’t scare myself because I only saw the smoke in the mirrors and I heard a big noise. Too bad, maybe I could have been in Irvine’s place. But I don’t let myself down. I look at Monza. Who knows if there will be space for us at the Italian Grand Prix”.
After dominating the Belgian Grand Prix and setting a new record with Michael Schumacher, Scuderia Ferrari is working hard to finish the season as it did, humiliating its opponents. The reasons are not lacking: Sunday, September 15, 2002 , the Italian Grand Prix will be held in Monza, in front of the fans that surely will want to party, then there will be the race in Indianapolis where it is always good to feed the myth, also for market reasons, then the conclusion in Suzuka, when the Bridgestone Japanese co-authors of this year’s businesses will want to make more than good looks. But it is above all on another level that President Luca Montezemolo and Jean Todt wish to keep the tension high: on the wave of successes we must not relax to be ready in 2003 to face new challenges. This Tuesday, September 3, 2002, Michael Schumacher will debut in the circuit of Monza the extraterrestrial F2002. Until now, in fact, the tests in Monza had all been carried out with the old F2001. The German will be on track for two days, Rubens Barrichello on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 September 2002 (on Wednesday evening both drivers will participate in the official opening of the Ferrari Shop at the Bologna Marconi airport). On the single-seater there will be the latest evolution planned for the car that has won twelve races out of thirteen. An aerodynamic package for fast tracks. But it’s not over: from Tuesday until Thursday tests will also take place on the circuit of Le Castellet with Luca Badoer and the winning car. Tyre tests for the championship finale, but also elements that will then be used on next year’s model. That of Le Castellet is one of the basic slopes of Michelin and the collection of some data comparison could be very useful. Monday, September 2, 2002, after the race, for the first time Jean Todt lets go a bit with some adjectives of praise and satisfaction:
"It was a great demonstration from Ferrari: excellent drivers, extraordinary cars, high-performance engines, perfect tyres. But that doesn’t mean we’ll relax. We never quit and we'll never do it. Everything we can do to keep winning will be done. With all our will, with all our passion, with all our energy. We have to keep improving. It won’t be easy. But we know how to do it in all areas: suspensions, electronics and engine. What we don’t know is what others will do. What we’re seeing on the test bench and in the wind tunnel is encouraging. And usually, fortunately, we are not very wrong between theory and practice".
In the meantime, there are also those who are thinking of trying to change the regulations to stop the Scuderia Ferrari race, or at least to make it more approachable. But these are just ideas, actually until 2004, when the single engine will be introduced (ie the obligation to use only one engine for the whole weekend) the rules should not be changed. But the wisest proposal would be to ask other teams to work hard to regain competitiveness.