In the name of stability and unity, Ferrari plans things in advance: on Thursday, 9 May 2002, right after 2:00 p.m., surprising everyone, the usual and laconic statement is released from Maranello.
"Ferrari announces it has extended its technical and racing agreement with the driver Rubens Barrichello for the 2003-2004 racing seasons".
Coincidentally, in Austria, Rubens gave up his second place to his teammate in difficulty last year. Maybe they wanted to celebrate the anniversary. A team that wins cannot be touched. All together passionately, then. Jean Todt, Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne, Michael Schumacher and the Brazilian, at least for two other years. Putting an end to all rumours: for now the various pretenders stay in the waiting room, from Jacques Villeneuve to the young Felipe Massa, from the difficult Juan Pablo Montoya to the Italians in agony, especially Giancarlo Fisichella. Until the last candidate from British origins, Jenson Button.
"Ferrari has always been my first choice".
Lucky for him, more or less the same ideas also circulate in Maranello. The 30-year-old driver from São Paulo probably had some other good offers. Perhaps the only problem with Ferrari was the duration of the confirmation. The renewal for two seasons has been the best compromise for both parties.
"We decided it last week. A couple of hours of discussions were enough for us to come to an agreement. They told me: we are happy with you. And that's all".
Obviously, no numbers have been said.
"This, you will never know".
But, in the environment, we are talking about a dozen million dollars. Perhaps a little higher compared to the past seasons. Still way less than what Schumacher is getting.
"I'm very happy, our love is mutual. I have huge motivation, with the goal to win and score points. Behind the wheel of the F2002, it won't be difficult".
Two words also to clarify the situation and get your hands on the relationship with your teammate:
"He is a phenomenon, born to break all the records. The other day, an Argentinean came to me and asked me to beat him not to allow Michael to reach Fangio in the achievement of five world titles. But he's too strong. I'm proud to be by his side and also hope to be very close to him on track".
To the praises, the German responds with as many praises:
"The confirmation of Barrichello is good for the team. The best choice that could be made. We work very well with him and there are no problems. He's a positive colleague, he has clear goals. A new driver, among other things, could have created turbulence, friction, we should have started from scratch. In short, we continue together".
On Friday, May 10, 2002, the first tests will start on a circuit on which Michael Schumacher has never won. In an folkloric environment, too. A concert, with an exceptional protagonist, is announced for Saturday evening. From 8:30 p.m., the band Damon Hill and the Conrods will play. The 1996 World Champion will play guitar and sax. Meanwhile, the organisers of the A1-Ring (as the circuit is now called, the name of Zeltweg, the nearby village, has been cancelled in favour of Spielberg, where the circuit is located) decided for Mother's Day, which will take place on Sunday, to invite all the mothers of the drivers. Paid travel, spa and gala. For now, thirteen people have accepted, except one, the mother of the two Schumachers. The Swiss are wizards in doing business. Sauber, after having involved Petronas, a powerful Malaysian oil company that provides money and engines (rented from Ferrari) managed, for the first time in history, to involve a bank in Formula 1. After the breach with sponsor Red Bull, the capital was sold to Credit Suisse, the most important institution in the Confederation. The same bank has close ties to football: it subsidises Federation, National, Grasshopper and a school football championship with 140.000 students. It is normal that Sauber and Credit Suisse have joined as ambassadors, presenting yesterday the candidacy of Austria and Switzerland for the 2008 European Football Championships, aiming to build modern stadiums. Having said that, on Friday, May 10, 2002, it seems that the new contract that ties him to Ferrari until 2004 has put wings at the feet of Rubens Barrichello. Or better: it gave him more weight on the throttle. Courage and euphoria combined in a cocktail that makes him feel the excitement of being in front of Michael Schumacher, which does not often happen to him (four times out of forty in qualifying).
Thirty thousandths of a second, a breath, but enough for keeping the German behind in the free practice of the Austrian Grand Prix. On Saturday, when the timed laps will matter to establish the grid, perhaps things will be different, but Rubens Barrichello is also an obstacle for the World Champion at the moment. Both, actually, will have to push to the limit because the gap that Ferrari had shown over the rivals up to now seems to have reduced. At least apparently. On the A1-Ring circuit, the fastest of the World Championship among the short tracks (4.326 metres), with average speeds that exceed 220 km/h, Barrichello drives in 1'10"549; as usual, tyres, brakes and traction matter. The chassis is a bit less important, even if it is always necessary to find the best aerodynamic compromise between slow corners, straights and fast turns. And this is perhaps the reason why Williams and McLaren seem to have gotten closer to Ferrari. Montoya is 0.064 seconds behind the Brazilian and Räikkönen at 0.108 seconds. We would be worried if there was not the usual Friday suspect, when you can drive around with little fuel in the tank. The results are in fact rather strange, leaving clues that lead to disturbing conclusions for the rivals of the Maranello team. Why is the other McLaren, David Coulthard's one, only ninth, off by nearly 0.9 seconds? How come Ralf Schumacher at the wheel of the second Williams be twelfth, hidden in the group? What does it mean that we find Allan McNish with his Toyota in fifth place, followed by Enrique Bemoldi with his Arrows, Pedro De La Rosa with his Jaguar and Olivier Panis with his BAR? One only answer can be given to those questions: temporary exploits, things will get back in order on Saturday. Scuderia Ferrari remains cautious, though. It is normal. Barrichello says, also referring to his feet:
"I keep them on the floor. It's clear that I sleep more relaxed, but in the car, it's the same as before. I feel that, here, Williams and McLaren have made progress. But, as always, we don't know what they've done. We've done laps with a lot of fuel in the tank. We'll try to defend ourselves in qualifying where I foresee a heated challenge and then attack in the race. I'm confident".
Someone tells Rubens that while staying at Ferrari for another two years, he closed the path to an eventual arrival of Italian drivers. The Brazilian firmly answers:
"This world is a difficult, competitive one. How many drivers would like to come to Maranello? It's a team that everybody dreams about. I can't start crying for the less fortunate others".
In any case, Giancarlo Fisichella repeats his complaints again:
"Nobody helps the Italians".
The problem does not affect Schumacher. Michael is determined to also win in Austria, where he has never won. But he also knows that this is a tricky track where, during the tests, he ended up in the grass three times and where, at the first corner after the start, something has almost always happened. So better securing the pole position. At Imola and in Spain, he managed to beat Rubens Barrichello in extremis.
"I've always known that Rubens is very fast here. It will be a great fight, with him and with the others".
Trouble in the family for Michael Schumacher. This is not about his wife Corinna or even his children Mick and Gina Maria. His teammate Rubens Barrichello and his little brother Ralf promise to make his life difficult during the Austrian Grand Prix. As if the A1-Ring track that is less congenial to him was not enough, the World Champion will have to face the Brazilian and the driver of the Williams-Bmw that start ahead of him. Not to mention that he will also have this pain in the neck of Juan Pablo Montoya by his side. The race is difficult, therefore, on the competitive and psychological level, considering also that it is done on a circuit that does not easily forgive mistakes, and on which, on average, half of the drivers see the finish line. After having ended up fastest of all in the free practice in the morning, on Saturday, 11 May 2002, Michael Schumacher does not manage to repeat it in the afternoon.
"I don't know what happened, but I wasn't fast enough".
However, Rubens Barrichello is very fast as he sets the track record lapping in 1'08"082, at an average speed of 228.747 km/h, setting the best time in all three sectors in which the track is divided, driving at the highest top speed, 313.4 km/h. A true red brushstroke through the woods of Styria. And while the German unnecessarily struggles to catch up, his brother Ralf also gets in the way, a bit surprisingly, because no one expected a Williams-Bmw to be this competitive. The only advantage for the leader of the standings, starting in third position on the grid, comes from the fact that he will stand on the left side of the track, behind Rubens Barrichello, in the area of the trajectory, with clean asphalt. However, Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, who will start from fourth position, will be on the dirty side. So better not to think about what will or could happen in the first corner (the Castrol Kurve, where David Coulthard and Mika Häkkinen crashed into each other with their McLarens some years ago), a narrow bend to the right, or in the following one which requires to go from the highest gear (sixth or seventh gear, depending on the cars) to the first one in a few metres. Implementing team games is at risk because Williams-Bmw is lurking. So, each of the two Ferrari drivers will have to look after themselves. If anyone complained about the Ferrari supremacy and boring races, there you go.
In fact, it is not possible that Jean Todt could ask Rubens Barrichello to let Michael Schumacher pass, if they are first and second at the end of the race. In 2001 he succeeded, Rubens gave up his second place to his teammate, but David Coulthard was ahead and the world title was at stake. Perhaps it is the first actual opportunity for the Brazilian to aim for his second win with Scuderia Ferrari, after the splendid one of Hockenheim during the 2000 World Championship. However, knowing Michael Schumacher, it is easy to predict that he will do everything not to be beaten. A matter of pride and of standings because each point lost could be regretted. In addition, even if he does not admit it, Michael has a score to settle with the A1-Ring. On this circuit, not only he has never won, but it is also the one on which he has been outqualified the most by his teammate, since he is at Ferrari. It happened with Eddie Irvine in 1997, with Rubens Barrichello in 2000 and again this year. Out of 98 races at the wheel of a Ferrari, Michael Schumacher ended up slower than his teammate on nine occasions. In any case, the win should not escape Ferrari as it happened in the last season when David Coulthard imposed himself, thanks to a perfect strategy with a delayed stop at the pits, while Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello battled with Juan Pablo Montoya. On Sunday, there should be no problems with the tyres, thus Rubens and Michael will have great chances to lead the race. Attention to Williams-Bmw, still, and keep an eye on Sauber-Petronas for a place on the podium, given that Nick Heidfeld will start from the fifth position and Felipe Massa from the seventh position (four engines from Maranello in the first seven places...). However, McLaren-Mercedes seems to sink into their crisis: sixth Kimi Räikkönen, eighth David Coulthard. In qualifying, both MP4/17 showed the same top speed as Minardi, with all due respect to the team from Faenza. To run for cover, Ron Dennis, owner of the team, starts his revolution, stealing the Technical Director Mike Coughlan from Arrows. Rubens Barrichello proved to have great capacity and desire to win, but some fear that they want to take the win away from him. A year ago, he arrived at the very last corner in second position and gave way to his teammate Michael Schumacher, obeying to the team orders. What if this time in the final metres he is in the lead?
"Our rule is the good of Ferrari. Force the one who is ahead to let himself be overtaken would still be very difficult".
A reassuring news for the fans of the Brazilian who bet on the win. Happy for the pole position, Rubens Barrichello avoids the matter:
"What an effort".
And he goes on with the story of a dangerous, difficult and troubled qualifying, for him as for his colleagues, who almost all ended up off track at least once:
"I went off track twice. The first time, I didn't manage to avoid an oil trail on track [left by Trulli's Renault who had an engine failure and made the test session stop, ndr]; the second time, I found myself ahead of Satō's Toyota who changed trajectory at the last moment".
At that moment, the Brazilian driver had the best time, but his memory waved under his nose the Saturdays in Imola and Barcelona.
"Despite the 0.6-second lead, I knew what Michael is capable of: he is a legend, he's always capable of coming up with something. He stole the pole from me twice and so, when Satō cut me off, I thought: no, not today. I knew I had a huge opportunity because the car was well balanced. I decided to do another lap given that the tyres allowed it. I was highly concentrated and it went really well".
Seeing Michael Schumacher third is already strange, if then the gap from his teammate is 0.6 seconds one wonders whether Rubens Barrichello went mad after the signing of the contract, the birth of his son Edoardo or the debut of the new Ferrari. Or all three things together. The Brazilian driver keeps a low profile:
"I changed my mentality half through the past season, in order not to burn precious energies in the small adversities. As for the qualifying results, I know Michael's worth, if he's that far it means that he hasn't managed to do a perfect lap. I did it and I'm very happy. I'm over the moon".
The bad luck is gone, they point out, and he replies saying:
"Bad luck doesn't exist here, it only concerns the bad things of life".
Having Ralf Schumacher by his side does not worry him:
"Better there than behind".
Like in Melbourne, where Ralf Schumacher drove his car over Rubens' car. For once, Michael Schumacher was the one having problems.
"I don't know exactly what happened to my car. It was slower compared to this morning. I tried to climb in the spare car that, however, had never been used during the weekend and thus it wasn't perfectly right. I'm not worried because I'm convinced that we will find the problem and we'll manage to catch up during the race".
The result of Rubens?
"I'm happy for him. If someone beats me, I prefer it to be someone at the wheel of a Ferrari. Copy his set-up? No, it would be useless: the problems are elsewhere".
On the starting position, Ralf Schumacher is not worried:
"I'm already happy to have inserted myself between the two Ferraris. I'd settle for second place".
And Juan Pablo Montoya promises not to interfere:
"The starting electronic systems work well and the fact of being on the worst side will avoid a gathering at the first corner".
On Sunday, May 12, 2002, at the start of the Austrian Grand Prix, Rubens Barrichello keeps the lead of the race, while Michael Schumacher and Nick Heidfeld overtake both Williams-Bmw, bringing themselves to the second and third positions ahead of Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya. However, the German of Sauber-Petronas commits a mistake over the course of the second lap, coming back in fifth position. Further back, Enrique Bernoldi crashes into his teammate, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, retiring a little later because of the damage suffered during the contact. Shortly after, the car of the German Arrows driver gets hit with wheel-to-wheel contact by Jacques Villeneuve, a manoeuvre that will result in a penalty imposed on the Canadian driver.
Leading the race, the Ferrari drivers keep an unapproachable pace for the rivals, so much so that on lap ten, the gap between Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher is already 17 seconds. In the meantime, Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa retire because of an engine failure and a suspension failure on lap 5 and on lap 7 respectively. Over the course of lap 22, Olivier Panis stops on the main straight with a broken engine and the race direction decides to make the safety car enter the track to allow the commissioners to move the car of the French driver. The Ferrari drivers, who started with a two-stop strategy (thought to immediately build up a huge lead on the chasers), take advantage of the neutralisation of the race to come back together into the pits again. Rubens Barrichello keeps the first position, while Michael Schumacher loses just one position to Ralf Schumacher. The race restarts on lap 27, but at the first braking Nick Heidfeld, who did not warm up the brakes of his Sauber-Petronas enough, loses control of his car. The German's Sauber spins at full speed and runs over the Jordan-Honda of the lapped Takuma Satō, hitting it on the right side near the cockpit. Despite the violence of the impact, the seat belt resists, only cracking in the top part. This makes the rescue operations for the Japanese driver more difficult, who however does not sustain injuries. The race only restarts nine laps later, with Rubens Barrichello leading it, ahead of Ralf and Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Coulthard, Giancarlo Fisichella and Jacques Villeneuve, the latter is the author of a great comeback despite the drive-through penalty served on lap 24. Right after the restart, the Canadian driver overtakes Giancarlo Fisichella, also overtaking David Coulthard then, over the course of lap 40. A few laps later, the Scottish is also overtaken by Giancarlo Fisichella. Over the course of lap 47, Ralf Schumacher makes his pit stop and the same operation is done by Juan Pablo Montoya four laps later. Jacques Villeneuve climbs into third position, but the Canadian driver is forced to slow down because of hydraulic problems on his car. Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher make their second stop on lap 61 and on lap 62 respectively, coming back on track in first and second position. Behind them there are, in order, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella and David Coulthard. Over the course of lap 63, the Scuderia Ferrari Technical Director, Ross Brawn, asks Rubens Barrichello to let Michael Schumacher pass. But the Brazilian answers:
"Don't make me do it. It's my big chance to win: you can't make me do this".
From this moment onwards, Michael Schumacher starts asking via radio why Rubens Barrichello backs off and asks how far the Brazilian would have backed off, respecting the agreements made. Ross Brawn will then say:
"How could we all agree if we did not implement what we had planned before the Grand Prix? Precisely to enforce our agreements, we ordered Barrichello to back off. And he did it, but he wanted to do it in a dramatic way".
In fact, during the last laps, because of a team order already discussed in the previous days before the race, Rubens Barrichello slows down, letting Michael Schumacher come close and making him pass almost on the finish line. Michael Schumacher wins, followed by Rubens Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella and David Coulthard. Winning and suffering. Making a largely unpopular decision, Ferrari above all and everyone. It is an ungrateful task that has fallen to Jean Todt. A few laps from the end, he told Ross Brawn to give Rubens Barrichello an order via radio to let Michael Schumacher pass. Reason of State: The German is at the top of the standings in the Formula 1 World Championship and, to win the title, he cannot lose valuable points in favour of his teammate. In the very last corner, the Brazilian took his foot off the throttle and opened the door to the success of the German. Like this, Michael Schumacher broke the unfavourable tradition which prevented him from winning on the A1-Ring circuit until now. But, perhaps, in his heart, that same World Champion is well aware that, if he wants to fill the gap, he will have to really win, by his own means, the Austrian Grand Prix, next year maybe. This story enrages the Tifosi and causes a lot of controversy. Inside and outside Formula 1.
But what is the sport in which team games are not done on some occasion? Does it not happen in cycling that a wingman leading a race is forced to give way to his captain? And then the latter gracefully repays the favour in another race? One thing is certain, though: many teams, even the most critical, would have wanted to find themselves in the place of the Maranello team. The sports regulations of the FIA do not prohibit this kind of manoeuvres. However, it is possible to pick holes regarding this story for two reasons. On the one hand, the superiority of Scuderia Ferrari in the beginning of this championship is so striking that, perhaps, it might not have been necessary to impose the swapping of positions. On the other hand: in spite of the love that binds Jean Todt to his drivers, perhaps he did not consider that for Michael Schumacher it was, in a sense, a humiliation. Beaten in qualifying, beaten in the race, for once Michael would have preferred to do without the help. His frustration is almost certainly not only caused by the intervention of the team, but by the fact of not having managed to be ahead of the Brazilian in a race during which he did not have a single problem. In 2001, the same thing happened precisely here in Austria, but it was about the second and third place and McLaren, with Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard, was more threatening than Williams-Bmw is at the moment. In any case, Jean Todt, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello always repeat that Ferrari is a second family and within families, normally, you help each other. There is a bright side that concerns Barrichello regarding this affair. Rubens comes out of the A1-Ring as a hero, a victim who has been able to sacrifice himself, while proving to be innocent. The Brazilian made it clear that he was in perfect harmony with the F2002, that he reached a degree of maturity and courage that he had never had up to now and, in the not-too-distant future, he will certainly have the opportunity to do so again.
It will take some time for the bewilderment caused by Ferrari's decision to be overcome. But we cannot forget either that the Maranello team achieved yet another en-plein, the second of the season, the eighth of the Schumi-Rubinho pair, the number 54 of the history of Scuderia Ferrari. It was also the win number 58 of the German and the 149th of Scuderia Ferrari. A historic win number 150 could also happen at Monte Carlo. And Michael flies away in the standings (27 points more than Juan Pablo Montoya, who finished third in the race, ahead of Ralf Schumacher) and Williams-BMW sits 16 points away. It is better to have problems of abundance than those of McLaren, now beaten also by the Jordan-Honda of Giancarlo Fisichella, who has been able to claim a fifth place that is worth at least the podium for him. And Williams-BMW does not smile either: if there would not have been both interruptions with the safety car on track which brought the cars together, the gaps would have been abysmal. In fact, if Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher had been closer, Ferrari would probably not have been able to afford the team game. The booing of the audience covers the German anthem. After 53 years of history, Formula 1 gets to know the protest of the audience. Michael Schumacher leaves the top step to Rubens Barrichello, gives him the trophy of the winner, refrains from exulting, but it is all useless. Two minutes later, in the press room, a long buzz welcomes the World Champion who, again, leaves the middle seat, reserved for him, to his teammate. The German tries to justify the dramatic mistake made by his team, goes on self-criticism, praises his teammate and criticises the orders received.
"It was a decision made by the team, I had to obey even if I wasn't okay with it. I don't like winning like that".
Could you disobey?
"I was hoping they wouldn't give the order. I even slowed down during the last few corners, but Rubens slowed down more than me".
The German tries to save the honour of Ferrari, but it is discovered that the order was communicated via radio on lap 63, ten minutes before the end of the race, when there was all the time to object. The questions put Michael Schumacher in difficulty. Where does the credibility of the sport go?
"They'll tell you a lot. Someone will understand, someone else won't. Unfortunately for him, Rubens is too far away in the standings and is not able to fight for the title. I don't like what happened, especially considering the direction of the season, but I ask everyone to respect the team, which is focused on winning the World Championship".
Did you talk about that before the race?
"No, so I didn't expect it. There are no winners today, only losers".
When will he be repaid?
"There's no need to do it: Barrichello is very fast and will win by himself".
At Monte Carlo, in two weeks, the same situation could happen again: how will you behave?
"The decision isn't in our hands, the drivers. I admit that this choice will be controversial, considering our current superiority, but try to see things from the team's point of view".
But will the sponsors like that?
"I don't think that they will be displeased if we become champions. One year ago at Budapest, when we won the title two months in advance, nobody asked me about the last Austrian Grand Prix, when Rubens gave me the second position. Everybody was talking about a super Ferrari".
Do the rules of the Federation allow certain agreements?
"Formula 1 is a team sport. We're not the first ones to have done that".
Do you think you will become World Champion because you are the best driver or because you have the best contract? Michael Schumacher does not answer. If the championship is a team game why is there an individual standings? Michael Schumacher continues to stay silent, but the loyal Rubens Barrichello helps him by putting an arm on his shoulders and taking him away. Admirable. After the Austrian exploit, no one will be able to tell him that he is slow anymore, given that he left his teammate behind during the whole weekend; no one will be able to reproach him that he is whiny because he accepted with fair play his team's decisions and nothing blamed on fate or whatever. It will be Calimero and a butler, but Rubens Barrichello comes out in style from that Austrian Sunday.
"If I hadn't obeyed, I would have compromised the relationship with the team, not the one with Michael. Between him and I, the cooperation is excellent".
He cried on the podium, on that top step which he deserved but which did not belong to him by regulation. He cried while the Tifosi were screaming. An infinite and suffocated bitterness can be seen on the Brazilian's face.
"I already have an experience in terms of being overtaken a few metres away from the finish line. I've just renewed my contract for two years, you'd better respect it. I'm going through a great period. I've become a better person and a much faster driver. I think that my determination will bring me many wins. I have no reason to complain".
The future?
"I'll have to try to be ahead of Michael at the right moment, but I swear from the bottom of my heart that I’ll never wish him to have problems".
He then goes on to praise the car ("Amazing engine, chassis and tyres"), the team ("They're all really great, from the engineers for how they developed this F2002 to the mechanics, skillful to do two pit stops almost simultaneously"), and the world in general.
"The only critical moment was when the safety car went back to the pits: I was afraid that the cooling of the tyres and the brakes could give me some problems".
In the end, a little bitterness will forgive everyone:
"I think that I won't win a race until the championship is won".
Later, over the years, Rubens Barrichello will say:
"Until the end, I was determined to stay ahead, then, in the last corners, the will to respect the team order prevailed. Sometimes, I said to myself that if I could go back, I wouldn't do it again, but at the same time I think about another thing: if today we can openly hear the team radios during the race, it is precisely because of this story, because from now on F1 decided to broadcast the communication between drivers and pit walls".
And the Scuderia Ferrari Technical Director, Ross Brawn, will later say:
"Looking back on it now, what happened at Spielberg in 2002 was clearly a mistake. The circumstances that brought Ferrari to give those team orders are more complex that what people think. We had a discussion before the race about what we should do if Rubens found himself ahead of Michael. We would have found a suitable solution to let him pass. The fuss caused much more damage to the team than if Rubens had stayed ahead of Michael. If we could redo that Grand Prix, I wouldn't accept repeating what happened on that day. The consequences of our decision were much more disastrous than what we had thought. This incident should have only concerned Ferrari and, instead, it took a very political path".
Under the podium, Patrick Head, Williams Technical Director, makes his way through the crowd, reaches Jean Todt, touches his shoulder to turn him around, and, waving his index finger in front of his face, shouts to him:
"Shame, in twenty-five years of Formula 1 I've never seen such crap".
And in the motorhome, Head adds:
"I think that there's somebody stupid within Ferrari".
The conscience of Ferrari's rival team is not exactly immaculate (so much so that the boss, Frank Williams, avoids comments and admits that, in certain situations, he could also give orders to the drivers, since they are employees), but the river of accusations flows and gets bigger at every motorhome. Flavio Briatore, General Manager of the Renault team, renounces to use metaphors and irony:
"They do whatever they want, even swap positions on the podium. There's no respect neither for the audience nor for the drivers. Did you hear the booing of the public? This is a joke. Formula 1 doesn't need Ferrari, they can suck it".
The Cuneese manager is irrepressible:
"I hope that the Federation intervenes, even if there are no precise rules on that matter. I've been sanctioned for way less serious affairs. Schumacher didn't win anything, the success belongs to Barrichello. They psychologically kill that man like this".
Flavio Briatore and Gerhard Berger (Director of Bmw Motorsport) join forces against Scuderia Ferrari. The former Austrian driver even reveals an interesting back story:
"With Flavio, we had bet 20,000 dollars on the winner. I bet on Schumacher, he bet on Barrichello. Now, he doesn't want to pay me".
And the other, in turn, says:
"Get your money from Ferrari".
Their minds relax for a moment, then poisons return. Gerhard Berger says:
"We made this bet for fun, but think about those who seriously did it and lost their money. A shame. The audience isn't stupid: did you hear the booing? I've never seen 80,000 spectators protest like that. They are sympathetic to Rubens, the result was manipulated in an unsportsmanlike way".
Flavio Briatore wonders:
"The rules? The sports people make the rules and they're not sports people. They made their second driver sign a contract that prevents him from winning".
Toyota's designer, Gustav Brunner, is one of the only people in favour of Scuderia Ferrari:
"If I were Chairman Montezemolo, I would lecture Barrichello. He should have backed off earlier, in a less dramatic way".
Another one is Eddie Jordan, who says:
"Given that I'd like to have two drivers in the lead, I'm not too surprised".
The others agree: what is the need to lose your head when you are so superior? Ron Dennis, McLaren's boss, says:
"Everyone has their own way to manage a team. This is their way, it doesn't surprise me".
And Giancarlo Minardi adds:
"When I was managing a team of Formula Italia, I gave this kind of order to the drivers only once, but it was the very last race of the championship. If the public with the red flags is booing a 1-2, it's not a good sign".
Peter Sauber prefers not to comment:
"I'm a friend of Todt and I prefer not to comment on that decision, that surprised me though".
The drivers side with Rubens Barrichello. Juan Pablo Montoya chuckles:
"I am so happy to not be driving a Ferrari".
Mika Salo says:
"In 1999, when I replaced Schumacher at Hockenheim, I gave first place to Irvine because the World Championship was at stake. This time, it wasn't the moment to impose the same decision: Ferrari lost their mind".
Jacques Villeneuve, who has never been too nice towards Michael Schumacher, says:
"The rules were the same last year. If the contract stipulates that Barrichello obeys, he certainly cannot fight back".
And consumer associations say:
"Schumacher's win could constitute the crime of sports fraud with the consequent scam at the expense of the bettors who had bet on the success of Barrichello".
With these reasons, Codacons will submit a complaint to the Public Prosecutor of Rome, in Italy.
"If the judiciary were to recognize that there has been fraud, the bettors, scammed, could ask for compensation of damages from Scuderia Ferrari. Might not want to throw away betting coupons".
Jean Todt defends himself. And says:
"I don't know if it was the right choice, but it's our choice. There were pros and cons, but we felt that there were more pros".
The usual press conference of Sunday evening turns from technical analysis to trial. They all want to know: why? Why should you frustrate a driver who, after a long wait, is winning again? Why should you choose the most unpopular solution when you are dominating to the limit of boredom? According to the General Manager of Scuderia Ferrari the answer is easy:
"The World Championship is still long. There are eleven rounds to go before the end and it is not certain that our superiority will remain unchanged. In 1997, in 1998 and in 1999, the title got away from us at the very last race. In 2000, we won the first three races and someone claimed that it was all decided. And instead, we had a series of problems, so much so that we nearly didn't win it. It wasn't an easy decision, but it was the one that we had to make in the best interest of our team".
Was it worth it to ruin the image of Ferrari? Schumacher also expressed his opposition.
"The image is even more ruined when you lose a World Championship for four points [the win in Austria allowed Schumacher to score 10 points instead of 6, ndr]".
And the booing?
"The booing are clouds passing by and in the end everyone will only remember who arrived first".
Was it your decision?
"It was a decision for the sake of the company of which I am an employee".
Were you in connection with Chairman Montezemolo?
"We don't have a direct connection at the circuit. But we could decide to set it up".
Rubens Barrichello receives a consolation prize, Michael Schumacher receives the recognition of his superiority:
"Rubens has proven to be worth our trust with a beautiful race which tops a fantastic weekend: he is the moral winner and this is why we sent Gabriele Delli Colli, his race engineer, with him on the podium".
If he has so many merits, why did you take away from him the win that he deserved and waited for over a year?
"We believe, rightly or wrongly, that Schumacher has a better chance of winning the World Championship and we have to decide in his favour. It's important to take advantage of our superiority".
On television, Jean Todt was seen handing a note to Technical Director Ross Brawn during the final lap. The French manager denies that it was the order to transmit via radio to the drivers:
"The decision was communicated to both drivers on lap 63 out of 71 laps. We could have gotten the same result by putting 10 extra litres of fuel in Michael's car during his first pit stop, in a way to spare him a second stop, but it wouldn't have been correct towards Rubens".
The day after, there are no regrets within Ferrari. Perhaps, there is the sorrow for criticisms that are considered unfair or too heavy, but there is no complaint about asking Rubens Barrichello to let Michael Schumacher win the Austrian Grand Prix. Chairman Luca Montezemolo, with Jean Todt by his side, as a great communicator, actually, invents a slogan that offers a completely positive view of the story also contested by many Tifosi.
"We have succeeded in a task that no one has ever achieved. A driver won the race and the other took ten points".
Jokes aside, Luca Montezemolo explains what happened and why a decision was made that many considered inappropriate or unpopular. Who gave the order to slow down Barrichello?
"This is a task that is up to Jean Todt and his collaborators at the pits. To be honest, I was in front of the screen of my TV and thirty seconds before the end of the race, I was thinking: how beautiful, Rubens is winning. Right after having seen Michael first, I was happy. I shared the difficult decision. It was the best thing to do for Ferrari".
Why?
"There are so many reasons. We and other people must not forget that we have lost three titles from 1997 to 1999 because of few points and at the very last race. Thus, we know what it means. I don't wish that to our worst enemy. We were able to resist and now we can write World Champion of Formula 1 on our cars. In this sport, we never know what can happen: who remembers when Schumacher had a 24-point lead over Häkkinen, lost them all in three races and was outscored by Häkkinen in the standings at the Hungarian Grand Prix? We arrived in Monza, almost in terror, forced to win, otherwise we would be defeated. Luckily, we put on a series of four consecutive wins".
This time, however, there is a very strong Ferrari, nearly unbeatable.
"It's true. The F2002 is an extraordinary car. Four races and as many pole positions and wins. But it's not enough, as it was also seen on Sunday. We had almost a forty-second lead, when the safety car came on track and brought the group back together. The team was extraordinary in taking action, immediately making both drivers come into the pits. What if they weren't so ready? Then, there was the crash of Heidfeld who hit Satō. In short, they always take risks. One that stops before the restart, the reliability. We have a sixteen-point lead on Williams in the Constructors’ standings. If a race goes wrong, it is enough for them to get close. That's why we wanted Schumacher to collect points. Before the start, Barrichello had six points and Michael forty-four. What were we supposed to do differently? Let us not forget that Montoya, second in the standings, was in third place. We'll do the maths at the end of the season".
But you have raised fierce criticism...
"Unfortunately, you cannot always race for the audience, for the show. On many occasions, you need to think about the team. If we had let the Brazilian win and at the end of the year we had to lose by four points, they would tell us that we were fools. And then, I found someone's lessons of moralism excessive. It would be like taking advice from the cheaters to play a card game. Us, we never talk about the others, about what they do. At 54 years old, I find it difficult to answer Mister Briatore. He's a bit too much. Many people talk because, for quite some time, they only see the exhaust pipes of our cars".
There are those who argue that Enzo Ferrari would never have wanted to see such a story.
"Are you kidding me? In 1974, when I was Sport Director at Ferrari, I myself stopped Regazzoni at Monte Carlo to try to make Lauda win. And Il Commendatore said that I had done really great. Motorsport is full of these stories: in 1999, we tried in every way to help Irvine and so Schumacher lent himself to teamwork. There have been worse stories like the one between Williams and McLaren at Jerez in 1997. Those are situations that repeat themselves. It would have been bad to mystify by pretending to make mistakes during a pit stop or something. Instead, we stopped Barrichello transparently, publicly. Someone wrote that Rubens is paid to lose. It's not true, he takes his salary to make Ferrari win. Moreover: he's in very good shape and will certainly collect wins and will give us much satisfaction in the future".
What if he is going to be even faster than Michael Schumacher?
"Should a situation of this kind occur at the beginning of next year where Michael will be slower, he knows really well that he will have to serve the interests of the team. Within the team, there is solidarity and mutual respect. Never has a group worked together for so long. Among other things, it seems that in 2004 everything will have to be finished, even Ferrari. Todt and I will still be here. In fact, he has a contract for twelve other years…".
Many Tifosi, however, are upset or disappointed.
"I am the first passionate Tifoso of Ferrari. The things of heart are important, but so are those of reason. I'm really sorry for those who didn't understand it and I hope that soon they will get back to the team with the love of always, the one that has accompanied the Scuderia for so many years. I received many phone calls and faxes. Some were critics, others congratulated us for the win. In Formula 1, there are many important teams in difficulty. It's not only hard to be the number one but it's also hard to stay at the top. There are companies like BMW that have invested huge capital and are still chasing. We've won five out of six races since the beginning of the championship and we are happy. But we're not going to party. We'll keep working as always. The first goal? Seeing a Ferrari cross the finish line ahead of everyone at the next Monaco Grand Prix".
In the meantime, however, on Monday, May 13, 2002, the FIA issues a statement:
"Following an incident during the last lap of the Austrian Grand Prix and incidents during the subsequent podium procedure, the FIA has summoned Scuderia Ferrari and the drivers Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello to appear before the World Motor Sports Council at its next meeting in Paris, on June 26, 2002".
According to the regulations, there should be no problems regarding the result, while for the behaviour of the German who has made his teammate climb on the top step, some disciplinary measures are not excluded. Luca Cordero di Montezemolo says:
"We respect the inquiry, after all the statements that have been made, it was inevitable. The team will present itself, but we would like to stress that the result cannot be discussed, as it is clear and clean. If anything, the formal aspect of the procedure will be judged".
The Ferrari Chairman also reiterates that the Constructors keep bringing forward their project of the new World Championship for 2008.
"We are looking at the history of TV rights and we consider every possibility, but we think that there is great confusion. And then, we'll talk about all the Formula 1 revenue".
But the Austrian Grand Prix was not only characterised by the swapping of positions of both Scuderia Ferrari drivers. On Sunday, May 12, 2002, it went very well for Takuma Satō, who risked ending up like Alessandro Zanardi, and for Nick Heidfeld. They solve the problem with great fear, a lot of bruises and maybe no fractures. Fortunately, the Formula 1 single-seaters are very robust. After the crash at the start in Australia, when the Williams-Bmw of Ralf Schumacher violently hit the Ferrari of Barrichello, in Austria, another demonstration of how those cars are almost bulletproof occurred. It happened on lap 28, when the single-seaters had just restarted after five slow laps under safety car following a spin by Olivier Panis, whose BAR remained stationary in the middle of the track right on the main straight. Nick Heidfeld, who had had a swift start at the beginning of the race, when he had overtaken Ralf Schumacher as well as Juan Pablo Montoya, found himself in fifth position. He pushed to the maximum, but still on the straight, his Sauber-Petronas suddenly turned right. Like a crazy bolide, he arrived at the corner where the Japanese driver, lapped with his Jordan-Honda, and Juan Pablo Montoya with his Williams-Bmw were. The car of the German, turning to the back, fully hitted the right side of the yellow car and slashed it open. And, thanks to a miracle, it did not also hit the Williams-Bmw of the Colombian who went by unharmed. Takuma Satō, 25 years old, remained motionless inside the cockpit. The emergency services arrived while the safety car came back on track. Moments of huge tension, of fear, follow. Nick Heidfeld, aching, got out of his Sauber and leaned on the barriers, in a visible state of shock. Doctors scrambled around the Japanese that was extracted after seven minutes of intervention. Someone thought of the worst. Takuma Satō was transported by ambulance to the medical centre, then - by helicopter - to the university hospital in Graz. The driver's manager, Andrew Gilbert-Scott, who had followed him, called and expressed the first information, comforting: a cut to the right thigh, a bump on a knee, a kickback to the back of the neck, but apparently nothing serious. Akiko, the driver's mother, who was present in Formula 1 for the first time and his fiancée Kiaru, who was very nervous, could breathe a sigh of relief. Also good news for Nick Heidfeld, who apart from the fear and the confused state, reported only an ankle contusion and could return home. Satō, however, as a precaution, was kept under observation for the night. The crash was caused by the explosion of a front brake. After the kilometres travelled at slow pace the disk had not heated up enough and got stuck, causing the wheel to lock and the exit from the trajectory. Difficult day for Sauber who, just before, had to also give up the contribution of the aggressive Felipe Massa, who had to retire because of the collapse of his rear left suspension.
Robust vehicles regarding crash tests, but to be obviously reviewed regarding mechanical details. Too many troubles in the last two races: from the lost wings of both Minardis during the tests that had then to abandon the race in Spain to the one that flew away from Kimi Räikkönen's McLaren, still at Barcelona. In order to lighten the cars, perhaps too many risks are taken. Takuma Satō's teammate, however, was the author of an extraordinary race, which was deserving of the congratulations from the team principal of the Irish team:
"One day, he will be World Champion".
Says Eddie Jordan, his eyes shining with joy looking at Giancarlo Fisichella, fifth at the finish line. The Irish constructor had just overcome the fear following the crash of his Japanese rookie Takuma Satō when they were able to celebrate the Italian's good-position finish. The first of the season, two points that are a blessing on the psychological level for the driver and a salvation on the economical one for the team: they are worth millions of euros.
"On a difficult day, it's like climbing on the podium for me. I didn't expect to do such a race. I think I've been quick at the start because I've immediately overtaken many rivals. Then, the team was perfect in making me come back into the pits for the refuelling when the safety car went out on track. I was behind Coulthard. David made a mistake driving on an oil stain and I overtook him. A great race. He was faster in the straights, I defended myself in the slow corners".
A special dedication?
"I don't dedicate this fifth place to Satō. The fact that he is going quite well is more important than our two points. I want to do a symbolic present to my wife Luna, as it's her birthday, and to my mother, since it is Mother's Day".
Fisichella does not want to judge the Ferrari affair.
"You've seen the audience. Still: Barrichello was really great, you got to admire him".
And what would the Italian driver have done if he had been in Ruben's place?
"I don't know, perhaps I would like to find myself in this situation. At Ferrari, obviously".
Fisichella has bright hopes for the next races. Honda, which supplies the engines to Jordan, has promised something better and the manufacturer, despite the economic difficulties and the recent layoffs, is working firsthand to push its technicians to improve the cars both in terms of performance and reliability. Another difficult day, however, for Jarno Trulli. While his teammate, Jenson Button, finished seventh, the Italian driver was forced to retire on lap 45, while he was in eighth position (ahead of Button) because of a power issue. Basically, the fuel did not reach the engine anymore.
"I don't want to comment on the others, I already have enough problems. For now, I'm out: in six races, I've reached the chequered flag twice. I have a ninth and a tenth place under my belt. Too low compared to my commitment and also compared to the performance of the car which is improving race after race. But I'm not giving up. I'll push to the maximum until I get my first win. I'm sure of it".