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The Monaco circuit has a new look, and so has the Ferrari. An epochal change for the Principality and its Formula 1 Grand Prix: the pitlane, now wider, has been modified, real pits have been built; they are fifteen meters long and completely removable. The asphalt is new, dark and uneven. It could also create surprises. All these innovations will play an important role in the race, as strategies may need to be reviewed. In the past, in Monte Carlo it was better to stop at the pits only once, now there will be the opportunity to make more stops. The speed limit in the pitlane has been changed from 60 km/h to 80 km/h. Scuderia Ferrari has prepared well, as usual. The F2004 has a very special aerodynamic livery. Apart from the adaptations of the wings to the slow track and the reinforced suspensions to face the jumps on the kerbs, the technicians of the Maranello team have been studying many solutions. One of these is the so-called chimney; chimneys are used to dispose of the air that enters the car’s sidepods. They are oblique, with a considerable size and have a double purpose: to improve cooling, acting as well as wings, so as to increase the air pressure and therefore the grip. Michael Schumacher, at the eve of the Monaco Grand Prix, says:
"The pitlane is much improved, a step forward has been made to review the racing strategies. The new car is the result of a fantastic work we have been doing since the beginning of the year. I am very confident but I am also aware that Sunday will be the most difficult race of the championship".
In fact, there are many opponents who aim to interrupt the positive series of the World Champion, from the BAR drivers, to those of Renault and Williams. Even McLaren, which has done a good test at Paul Ricard, seems to be a bit more optimistic. Rubens Barrichello, for himself, is confident.
"On Sunday, I’ll be 32. I have the whole family here, I hope to toast for my birthday and maybe for a victory. I don’t feel pressure: it’s all on Michael, also because someone says he has to win eighteen out of eighteen races. I think it will be impossible".
Of course, especially here, it will not be easy for Schumi to win for the sixth time. Luca Montezemolo is cautious:
"As always, I see the Monaco Grand Prix as a roulette wheel, anything can happen. It is a race full of charm but the difficulties to overtake make any prediction unpredictable".
The only thing certain is the presence of a large number of VIPs: the Jaguar will have the front bonnet red to promote the film Ocean 12. From Cannes there will be Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Andy Garcia, Julia Roberts and other movie stars. Cars and circuits change, but finding one that beats Michael Schumacher is more difficult than saving money in Monte Carlo. To see the expected victory of the German Scuderia Ferrari driver, an average of 200 euros is paid for the ticket and 1500 for a night at the hotel. It is the charm of the Principality and of the only Grand Prix in the world where, in the evening, after the test or qualifying sessions, any person can drive on the racetrack. Where there are no escape routes but guardrails that are mounted for Formula 1 and disassembled the next day. Where only motoring historians remember the last overtaking. Where every year the organizers of the French Automobile Club manage to find spaces and the masterpiece is the new pitlane, which looks real. Where, perhaps, they will show us the most difficult race for the Invincible. In fact there is a little problem at Ferrari. However, given Michael Schumacher’s fastest time and Rubens Barrichello’s third, set Thursday, May 20, 2004, these are details compared to the gap that the competitors have.
The BAR is confirmed as the best challenger: too bad that his fittest driver is a test driver, Anthony Davidson, who with the second half concludes the work of the weekend. Jarno Trulli, fourth, confirms his love for the Monaco track, but the gap from Michael Schumacher is 0.7 seconds. Kimi Raikkonen, fifth, seems to be improving, but he covered half of the laps compared to opponents to save the mechanical part that this year has forced him to retire six times. Then there is Jenson Button with the first official BAR, the Williams are behind: tenth Juan Pablo Montoya, only twelfth Ralf Schumacher, who breaks an engine and, despite qualifying, will lose ten places on the grid. The problem of the Maranello cars is related to the durability of the tyres. After a lap, the performance collapses. Michael Schumacher set a time of 1'14"741 on the first lap. Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella notice this and, at the end of the session, say:
"Beware, the Ferrari is very fast but the Bridgestones don’t last. In the race they could cause problems".
Scuderia Ferrari Technical Director Ross Brawn admits:
"Track conditions are constantly changing. The question is whether to mount a more aggressive tyre that degrades quickly or make a conservative choice".
But you can even make three stops, since the speed in the pitlane has been increased from 60 to 80 km/h. Michael Schumacher says:
"Monte Carlo is the most significant challenge for a driver. I am not surprised by our performance, we need to understand where the others are. The tyres? They work great".
The Ferrari of last year was conservative and got a third place with Michael Schumacher, behind Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen, and a seventh with Barrichello. The experience of the 2003 season has taught a lot to the men of the Maranello team. Michael Schumacher pursued the sixth consecutive victory, which would allow him to overtake Nigel Mansell (five wins in a row in early 1992) and Ayrton Senna (five wins in the Principality). Ross Brawn calls him the perfect driver:
"Senna and Prost, with their duels, pushed each other to the limit. Michael had to do it himself, because Rubens stimulates him only from time to time".
Jarno Trulli is running for the role of troublemaker:
"Pole position is on the line too. Then, I want to see who can overtake me. My Renault? I managed to set it up well, I’m satisfied. At first I felt like riding a horse and I touched a wall".
At Williams they think above all about the future. With the two drivers leaving the team (Juan Pablo Montoya at McLaren, Ralf Schumacher probably at Toyota), the race for the next ones is open. The last rumour announces the return of Jacques Villeneuve to Formula 1. But technical director Patrick Head dismisses the media hypothesis with a joke:
"We could take Mansell, after all he never announced his retirement".
While in private he says that Ralf Schumacher is no longer the same since September last year, when he went off track during a test session in Monza due to a suspension failure.
"Some of our past drivers like Piquet and Boutsen have taken six to nine months to recover from serious accidents".
There is also talk of Formula boredom but the revolution, according to Max Mosley, which will have to bring back the show, will be about engines, chassis and rules. The President of the Federation shows up on Friday, May 21, 2004 in the Principality to present his plan. On the Friday of the Monaco Grand Prix the engines are silent. The free practice is brought forward to Thursday, a trick that holds one more day thousands of people enjoying the sun, the sea, the view of sumptuous yachts, two steps between the shameless wealth to which they contribute the bills of restaurants, hotels, shops. Mosley explains that Formula 1 must spend less and have more fun:
"But if Ferrari left motorsport, it would be a tragedy for us".
The British lawyer proposes to abolish aerospace materials, to build engines that last six races, to abolish tests that cost 1,000 euros per kilometer, to adopt a single brand of tyres: this way, some money can be saved. Then, he asks to reduce the importance of aerodynamics, to abolish electronics and to change this format of qualifying that nobody likes: so we will find the excitement of pole position and overtaking in the race. When? It depends on the protagonists: if everyone agrees, it can be done immediately; if nobody agrees, they will proceed in 2008 when the Concorde Agreement expires; if only the majority says yes, they will start in 2006. Of course some changes will be easy, while others will require complex negotiations. For example, the only tyre supplier: Michelin and Bridgestone don’t even want to hear about it. About the qualifying mechanism, on the contrary, it seems easier to reach unanimity. Mosley is liberal: an hour on the track, everyone against everyone.
"And those who are on a flying lap should turn on a light, so drivers understand that he is pushing to the maximum, while others maybe at that time are slowing down to return to the pits".
But, Mosley adds:
"This is just my point of view, I don’t think it’s easy to convince the teams".
In the last few days, there is another proposal inspired by the Grand Prix motorcycle racing: two sessions of practice, but summing the lap times. Waiting for an agreement, they proceed with the usual system. On Saturday, Michael Schumacher starts and so do the others, one at a time according to the order of arrival of the Spanish Grand Prix. The fastest will start last in the session that counts, the one that starts at 2:00 p.m. and assigns the pole position. Extreme strategies are announced to start as far ahead as possible, as there is no room for overtaking in this street circuit. The tyre choice will be decisive: the very soft tyres that allowed Ferrari to fly degrade very quickly. Hence the prudence of Michael Schumacher, who still pursues new records. The German driver is still far from the record of races of Riccardo Patrese: the Paduan driver raced 256 Grands Prix, Michael Schumacher only 200. If the World Champion were to retire at the end of 2006, he would be able to overtake Alesi (201), Piquet (204), De Cesaris (208) and Berger (210). But not Riccardo Patrese, who jokes about it:
"I am willing to rent a Formula 1 car to defend my record".
In the meantime, the drivers take advantage of the free day to relax at the sea or stress with the sponsors. Abandoned for a day his duties as general manager of Ferrari, Jean Todt meets, as ambassador of San Marino, three associations that deal with childcare and disabled people. At the end of the day of relaxation, Saturday, May 22, 2004, surprisingly, Michael Schumacher struggles like a normal driver. This time the Martian is Jarno Trulli: in Monte Carlo, on the most complicated, absurd and fascinating circuit of Formula 1, no Italian had ever conquered pole position. Moreover, he had never been the fastest on Saturday. He manages to do it today, with a perfect lap. Track records and distant opponents: Ralf Schumacher at 0.3 seconds, but relegated to twelfth position because on Friday he broke the engine; Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso at 0.4 seconds; Michael Schumacher at 0.5 seconds. Only a miracle could allow the German Scuderia Ferrari driver to recover and lengthen his series of consecutive wins. Jarno Trulli at the start is unbeatable. In Barcelona it seemed that the traffic light had turned him off by letting go of the clutch so fast that the shot allowed him to take the lead.
"He will not dare to risk a false start".
Schumacher says.
"I don't need to do it. I have no one in front".
Jarno Trulli answers. The challenge will be played on the edge of strategies. The Monaco Grand Prix will not be the usual red Ferrari monochrome. Michael Schumacher’s car suffers from a dirty track during pre-qualifying and a slippery track in the qualifying lap.
"A comeback? It will be hard, but I will try to do it".
Otherwise he will settle for five or six points, which in his standings position would allow him to continue the race towards the seventh world title. The only chance to gain positions is to stick to the first and make the refueling later. Rubens Barrichello, sixth, believes that he can win:
"Our tyres are amazing in the race. If I have a clear track ahead for a few laps, I can win".
Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso want to win, too. Italian cheering is divided: is it right to support the single driver or the team? Ferrari usually prevails. In 1983 at Imola, Riccardo Patrese was applauded after an accident that gave the victory to Ferrari driver Patrick Tambay. Now the abundance of victories leads to cheering against him at least for a day. The last Italian in pole position was Giancarlo Fisichella in the 1998 Austrian Grand Prix with Benetton, while Riccardo Patrese (with Brabham) in 1982 was the only driver to play Mameli’s anthem in the Principality. Jarno Trulli has the chance of life. In Monte Carlo you can't overtake, but beware: a mistake is fatal. For the last four years, the driver in pole position has failed to win. It’s a matter of centimeters and the guardrail can break a suspension. Then there are the famous strategies: how much fuel does Renault have?
"Much. I never thought I’d go so fast anyway".
Jarno Trulli, who has always had little luck in his career, swears. So much so that at the end of qualifying the Italian driver risks losing his life in an accident: the minivan that accompanies him to the press center collides with a car of the organizers at the Rascasse curve. In Monte Carlo there’s dad Enzo rooting for him, while mum Franca and girlfriend Barbara stayed in Pescara. He was the one who gave him the passion for engines. Among the many variables that count in Formula 1 (chassis, engine, aerodynamics, electronics, tyres), in the Principality two fundamental ones are added: some factors that are more important here than elsewhere. The first is the ability of the cars to pass on the kerbs without skidding too much and without breaking anything, the second is linked to the courage and skill of the driver. Jarno Trulli had everything on his side and was the best. Those who tried to beat him had to settle for a placement behind the Italian driver, including his teammate, Fernando Alonso, who does not always manage to be a phenomenon, as many claim. In fact, the Spaniard is not only on equal points with the Italian, but out of six qualifying sessions he was four times slower. The street circuit of Monaco, although always improved over the years, is very demanding in terms of traction and suspension. The motorists do everything they can to get the most elasticity out of the engines, the technicians reinforce the arms that hold the wheels and ensure grip. The focus is on springs and shock absorbers, trying to soften the response when the car cuts straight on the bumps of the asphalt. The secret of an excellent performance can also be this. Having spoken of Michael Schumacher, it must also be said that Rubens Barrichello confirms that he does not love this kind of track too much and that from the beginning of the season he has often suffered quite a gap from his teammate. One thing certain is that Jarno Trulli’s Renault, which the French team technicians have once again modified by taking a step back (reinforcement between chassis and engine as last year and front wing very similar to that of 2003), has proved to be at ease on kerbs, manholes and bumps. A remarkable grip, accompanied by the skill of the driver who never forgets his origins with karts.
The first step is done. But let’s get to the race. Considering the fast starts of Jarno (who, however, will have to deal with Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso), it is possible to predict that the first three will try to detach the Ferraris. So everything will be played on the strategies: who has guessed the right tyres, how much fuel the cars of the first rows have in the tanks, how many laps they will do before the pit stop. The game is all here. Except surprises, such as rain, which was not announced but not even denied. If everything happens as usual, since overtaking is almost always difficult, pit stops will be crucial. Sunday, May 23, 2004, the start of the Monaco Grand Prix must be repeated due to Olivier Panis' Toyota, who doesn't move at the start of the formation lap. The French driver is able to start the car again only thanks to the help of the mechanics, then starting from the pitlane. As a result, the race is shortened by a lap. Jarno Trulli has a good start, maintaining the first position. Behind him there is his teammate Fernando Alonso, followed by Jenson Button, Takuma Sato, author of a good start from the seventh position, Kimi Räikkönen, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. Already during the first lap, from the rear of the car of Takuma Sato some smoke begins to come out and gradually becomes more evident: the Japanese driver continues his race and during the third lap the Honda engine of his BAR breaks, flooding the track with oil and creating a huge cloud of smoke. Takuma Sato moves away from the trajectory, but the visibility in that part of the track is definitely compromised; in the general slowdown that follows, Giancarlo Fisichella hits the McLaren-Mercedes of David Coulthard. The Italian driver’s Sauber-Petronas turns upside down, but luckily Giancarlo Fisichella remains unharmed. To clear the track of the debris and the damaged cars, the race direction decides to deploy the safety car, which returns to the pits at the end of lap 7. Juan Pablo Montoya takes advantage of the restart to overtake Rubens Barrichello at the first corner. In the lead of the race there are the two Renault drivers, Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso, who increase their lead over the pursuers. The first to make his own pit stop, during lap 13, is Juan Pablo Montoya. Jenson Button returns to the pits to refuel on lap 18, while Kimi Räikkönen stops on lap 24.
In the following laps all the other leading drivers return to the pits, too: at the end of the first series of stops, Jarno Trulli continues to lead the race ahead of Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher (who also sets the fastest lap in the race in a successful attempt to overtake Button and Räikkönen), Jenson Button and Kimi Räikkönen. The Finn is, however, forced to retire during lap 27, when on his McLaren there is a failure of the Mercedes engine that forces the team to stop him precautionarily. At the same time, Juan Pablo Montoya overtakes Nick Heidfeld, taking seventh position: the Colombian had, however, lost positions due to early refueling, which had driven him back behind Rubens Barrichello and Cristiano Da Matta. There will be no further changes of position until lap 40, when Fernando Alonso, during a lapping attempt on Ralf Schumacher, slowed down by gearbox problems, exits the trajectory under the tunnel, losing control of the car and crashing violently against the barriers. The accident scatters the track of debris, to the point of requiring a new intervention of the safety car. All drivers except the two of Ferrari take advantage to make the second refueling. Michael Schumacher leads the race, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya (fourth and lapped), Jarno Trulli and Jenson Button. During lap 45 the safety Car is getting ready to return to the pits: to warm up the tyres, Michael Schumacher brakes abruptly at the exit of the tunnel. Juan Pablo Montoya is caught by surprise and crashes into the Ferrari. The car of the German spins, crashes against the barriers and gets irreparably damaged, while that of Juan Pablo Montoya comes out unscathed from the accident and continues his race. The safety car is back in the pits: at the restart, Jarno Trulli leads the race ahead of Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya, Cristiano Da Matta, Felipe Massa, Nick Heidfeld, Ralf Schumacher, Olivier Panis and Zsolt Baumgartner. The Italian driver immediately increases his advantage over the pursuers, while Rubens Barrichello, with a refueling less, cannot undermine Jenson Button that precedes him. During lap 52, Cristiano Da Matta is forced to drive through for having exceeded the speed limit in the pitlane, losing the fifth position to Felipe Massa. With four laps to go, Ralf Schumacher also retires, due to a gearbox problem. In the last laps Jenson Button gets near Jarno Trulli, being a second behind him.
The Italian driver, however, makes no mistakes and wins the Monaco Grand Prix, taking the first and only victory in his career ahead of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, the last driver who has completed all the laps. Following with one or more laps of delay there are Juan Pablo Montoya, Felipe Massa, Cristiano Da Matta, Nick Heidfeld (two laps) and Olivier Panis (three laps). In Monte Carlo anything can happen. Even that Jarno Trulli wins - he who has never won -, that Michael Schumacher loses - he who has never lost -, that there are overtaking - that here are rare -, that diamonds are lost on the track (the one on the Jaguar’s nose, worth 200,000 euros, has to be found yet), even if here they are common. A show with surprises (by Michael Schumacher himself, Fernando Alonso, Giancarlo Fisichella), the safety car, the comeback. Jarno Trulli was great. In a weekend he crowned his two career dreams, pole position and victory, in the most fascinating Grand Prix. He led the race from the beginning, with determination, courage and intelligence, he imposed his pace, fast at the start and in crucial moments, when he needed a margin of safety over his opponents, mixed at the end, when it was only necessary to manage the gap. For once, bad luck has gone elsewhere. He would have probably won anyway, but seeing Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso disappear from the mirrors was a great relief. In the last laps, Jenson Button was behind him, closer and closer: 1.5 seconds behind, 0.9, 0.7, 0.64 on the last lap with the unknown of lapped drivers, who were particularly unfair. Then the party. The enthusiastic French cheering for Renault and the Italian cheering for Ferrari’s half-false step. Chorus of sirens among the yachts at anchor in the Monegasque port, the delirium in Pescara, the city of Jarno Trulli's family. It is the second success of an Italian in Monte Carlo, after the feat of Riccardo Patrese with Brabham in 1982. The series of Michael Schumacher, winner of the first five Grands Prix of the season and the last five Grands Prix of Monaco, stops, while Jarno Trulli takes a good step forward in the standings: Michael Schumacher aside, however unreachable (without the collision he would have ended on the podium), the challenge for the second place in the World Championship is tight. Rubens Barrichello, third after a colourless race, leads the group with 38 points ahead of Jenson Button (32) and Jarno Trulli (31).
The emotions of the Monaco Grand Prix began after three laps. Takuma Sato’s BAR-Honda smoked every time he changed gears. It was the sign of an imminent failure. The engine breaks permanently on the third lap with a dense cloud of white smoke. All drivers slow down and pass him. David Coulthard slows down more than the others and is hit by Giancarlo Fisichella. The Italian driver’s Sauber-Petronas turns upside down and leans against the guardrail. First thrill: Fisichella comes out from the cockpit and runs to his boat anchored nearby to reassure his mum, partner and children.
"I heard the noise of the other cars. I waited for everyone to pass, I untied my belts and went out".
It’s the first controversy of the day:
"I think David slowed down too much, because I hit him at 50 km/h. Maybe he even moved. I’m not angry about the accident but about the missed opportunity. I could take a great fourth place. I was driving in absolute calm, also to save the tyres, when the accident happened. I couldn’t do anything because I couldn’t see anything. From the data of the telemetry our technicians found that at the moment of the impact I was still traveling at 55 km/h. And I had braked considerably. Barrichello and Montoya were in front of me, I had a good start. They could pass, I couldn’t. Anyway, I’m very happy for Jarno, he deserved it. I hope to have other opportunities to get good results, with the car I have available".
At Sauber, they settled with the fifth place of the young Brazilian Felipe Massa, for the second time in points since the beginning of the season. Massa has already done a test with Ferrari, Giancarlo Fisichella already has the red suit at home, but is waiting to be called. However, his car is improving after a not too brilliant debut and the Italian driver hopes to be able to demonstrate his skills in the next races.
"With great desire for revenge, because Sato had to be stopped before the engine failure and they made me take an absurd risk".
The safety car is deployed to allow the efficient organizational machine to remove debris. At the restart, Juan Pablo Montoya manages to prove that overtaking is possible everywhere. Rubens Barrichello pays for it. Jarno Trulli continues to lead in front of Jenson Button, Michael Schumacher shortens the distance when the others make their pit stop. On lap 42, Fernando Alonso crashes against the wall inside the tunnel in an attempt to lap Ralf Schumacher. It is the second controversy.
"Ralf ignored the blue flags for seven corners, then he let me through the tunnel and accelerated as I passed him, pushing me out of the way".
The German replies:
"He’s young, calm down. I drove slowly because I could enter fourth gear at maximum. I gave him all the space he wanted, he’s the one who has widened his trajectory too much".
The stewards do not take any action, but the entry of the safety car is decisive: to keep the brakes and tyres warm, Michael Schumacher brakes in the tunnel, and his car is touched by that of Juan Pablo Montoya and ends up against the wall.
Race over for him and so the myth of eighteen victories in a season. Third controversy, no penalty. The Colombian can continue the race and, although lapped, ends in fourth place.
"He could and should have avoided me. Anyone else would have".
Michael Schumacher does not seek controversy, but sends a message to Juan Pablo Montoya. The head to head between the World Champion and the Colombian is becoming a repeated case, reminiscent of the great duels of the past, when Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost exchanged mutual irregularities. Even when they were teammates. The stewards at the end of the race listen to the versions of the two protagonists and in the late afternoon conclude with a judgment that leaves everyone surprised:
"Having also examined the telemetry of the two cars, it is decided not to take disciplinary action".
Normal race accident. But it wasn’t like that. For Michael Schumacher it is the first retirement from eighteen races, it seems that many are happy to have blocked his race at the top of the standings, after five consecutive victories. Nobody said anything when the impetuous and at times reckless Takuma Sato with his BAR at the start touched the wheel of the German Ferrari to overtake him. The same happened when the same Japanese driver, with the engine that smoked conspicuously behind his teammate Jenson Button and the two Renault cars of Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli, slowed down everyone for three laps, causing Michael Schumacher to lose contact: there were no protests. It is true that Michael Schumacher suddenly braked in the tunnel, a sharp slowdown. But Juan Pablo Montoya - also Jarno Trulli who was behind at that moment - had already touched the Ferrari two corners before avoiding the collision for a few millimeters. Juan Pablo Montoya was lapped, why should he have approached Michael Schumacher waiting for the restart when the safety car was returning to the pits and the race would resume normally? Williams driver’s explanations are laconic:
"Michael slowed down abruptly because he was warming up the brakes. I moved to the right. To avoid him I would have had to end up against the wall. The stewards? I don’t care what they think. And I don’t even care about the protests of the fans and the fact that the next race will be at the Nurburgring. I only hope to have a good race, to have fun".
The German driver had no fun at all, and he repeated his version of the accident:
"It is normal that at low speeds, at 100 km/h, when travelling behind the safety car, a wheel can lock up, especially the front ones that require more time to warm up. That’s why you saw the front left tyre leave a mark on the asphalt. I was warned that the race would resume, I was taking the necessary measures. I am very sorry. I don’t know if I could have won with the strategy we had adopted, but the 8 points of second place were secured and they would have been great. A stupid accident and in my opinion Montoya made a mistake. If he wanted - I say it again - he could have avoided me. However, I accept the decision of the stewards, the race cannot be run again".
Michael Schumacher, celebrating the winner of the day, expresses words of praise for Jarno Trulli:
"He was very good, in qualifying and in the race. He deserves the win. I know him well because we often meet to discuss the problems of the Drivers’ Association. The way things were, if I hadn’t been eliminated, I don’t know if I could have beaten him. Fortunately, in a few days we will be racing in Germany and I will have little time to think about what happened in Monte Carlo".
In the opinion of Scuderia Ferrari’s technical manager Ross Brawn, the German driver would have had a chance to finish first:
"Michael’s car still had a lot of fuel in the tanks and before the stop, being alone in the lead, he might have taken the advantage to not be reached. But we will never have the proof".
Meanwhile, Ferrari renews the contract with Bridgestone for the tyre supply. An agreement that will last several years. Two accidents in the tunnel. Were they due to poor visibility? The drivers say no: they can see very well. If anything, it is the cameras and television that give the wrong impression of total darkness. However, apart from the incidents, there is some discussion about the possibility of putting stop lights on Formula 1 cars. Two years ago, Ross Brawn suggested that a system had to be adopted to allow drivers to understand who was braking in front of them. But many had argued, ironically, that single-seaters are not normal cars built to run on the street and that perhaps the beauty of racing is also to rely on the intuition and skill of competitors. In Monte Carlo, however, this did not happen.
"I took Jarno to Formula 1".
Flavio Briatore boasts. And Jarno Trulli thanks him:
"He took me to Formula 1 and believed in me, it’s right that he takes some credit".
A good boy face and a good soul, in 119 Grands Prix this driver had never managed to win. Despite the talent. Despite a good car. He was close, and yet every time something happened, a component broke, or he made a mistake. In 1997, the year of the debut, at the Nurburgring he was about to make it even with the Prost, but the engine exploded.
"The skills were there, I trusted him".
Flavio Briatore, general manager of Renault, says. He spent the last five minutes of the race suffering:
"A Chinese torture, but it was worth it. We gave Formula 1 what it needed".
Translated: an alternative to the Ferrari-Schumacher supremacy. Jarno Trulli collects everyone’s hugs. The first fan is his dad Enzo, who passed him his passion for motorsport. A love cultivated in the family. At the age of two, the little boy played the pit stop with the tricycle: he went around the table and stopped every now and then to eat the bite that his mother Franca gave him. When he was 3, he was photographed in Niki Lauda’s car. His favorite toy was the kart, which then became the starting point of his career. After two world titles, he switched to German Formula 3, then to Formula 1. He loves all sports (he ran the New York marathon and trains by bike with Danilo Di Luca), produces wine, has been engaged for four years with Barbara, an architect from Teramo who only went to see him race a couple of times. Tuesday, July 13, 2004 he will turn 30: he has time for other satisfactions.
"This victory is a great joy in a sea of disappointments".
Is this a career twist?
"Maybe. I hope to shake off the past".
Are the Ferraris closer?
"They are always very fast and Michael will win the title. But we have improved, we have reduced the gap".
When did you know you won?
"At the start".
How?
"Let me explain: the race was in my hands. I could have won it or lost it. Of course, there are unforeseen events. After the last pit stop, I was convinced that I had made it".
Michael Schumacher was ahead.
"Yes, but he would have to stop once more".
At Ferrari they argue that, if he had not been touched by Juan Pablo Montoya, Michael Schumacher could have accumulated enough margin to stay in the lead after the pit stop.
"Yes, as long as he gained 2.5 seconds per lap. It seems unrealistic. I would have won anyway, because I was able to create a gap behind me. It was a great race, I did what I wanted. Congratulations also to the technicians: they managed to solve some problems of grip by working hard".
About Michel Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, Jarno was the closest witness to the accident between the two:
"When I saw them I laughed: they attracted each other like two magnets. They had already touched at the previous turn".
Did you have any problems with lapping?
"Some drivers behaved shamefully, ignoring the blue flags. Ralf, for example, was incorrect. From now on, we will meet at the end of the race to discuss. We are mature people, it is unthinkable to harm colleagues who are fighting for victory or a podium".
Were you afraid of Jenson Button’s comeback?
"Do you believe me when I say I never looked in the mirrors? In the pits, they were worried, I wanted to reassure them, but I preferred to shut up, concentrate on driving and respond with performance. As soon as I crossed the finish line I thanked the guys. Suddenly, stress and tension had dissolved".
What did Alonso tell you?
"He hugged me. He was as happy as I was for his first win a year ago in Hungary. He wanted to cut my hair. He’s a friend of mine, we’re the best team in Formula 1".
Did you ever fear that this win would never come?
"No. I’m a tough guy, even though I had to go through a lot of hard times. Many people in the environment had little faith in me. This weekend, with pole position and first place, I silenced them all".
Any special dedication?
"To Italy. And to Italians. Because we are an extraordinary, fantastic, beautiful country. We must be proud of this, I am happy to be Italian".
How will you celebrate?
"After the party in the Prince’s palace, I will go to sleep".
Will you sleep well?
"Better than usual".
What about Monday?
"I’m going to visit my friend Dino who is in the hospital in Paris. Then, I’ll start work again".
On the very day that Michael Schumacher interrupted his winning streak, Rubens Barrichello was not in a position to do a winning attack. Third place does not satisfy him. By the way, it was also his birthday, so the Brazilian wanted to celebrate differently. To slow him down, after lap 25, it was a great hit that his Ferrari took in the entrance on the Casino square. It seems that something has broken on the car and the driver thought he could no longer risk it. Then, in the end, when he realized that he could not reach those before him and was in danger of being overtaken by those behind him, he limited himself to bringing the car to the finish line.
"Honestly, I should consider myself lucky because I managed to finish the race. We had a lot of fuel in the tank, and there was also a time when the wheels were starting to lock. So when the safety car entered the track, I also passed at low speed near the pit wall so that the mechanics could check if something had broken in the rear suspension. I felt it touching on the asphalt. Not much could be understood, but I realized that something was wrong. The technicians will now investigate".
Rubens Barrichello saw nothing of Juan Pablo Montoya’s collision with Michael Schumacher:
"I was far away. I realized what had happened only when I saw Michael’s car with a bent suspension and pieces on the asphalt. Instead, I immediately realized that the BAR of Sato smoked conspicuously for a problem with the engine and the gearbox. They should have stopped it before it all exploded. When the Japanese car stopped, I went to zero per hour. Because of the acrid smoke I was ending up against a guardrail".
A not very brilliant qualifying, a difficult start, a result that still allows the Brazilian to keep second place in the overall standings. In fact, his distance from Michael Schumacher has been reduced from 18 to 12 points. Monte Carlo was the land of toys, now it is also the circuit where Renault, unique in the season, beat Ferrari. Flavio Briatore says:
"When I was young, I came from Cuneo with friends. We talked for hours about the cost of the boats and the luxuries on board: we never guessed what we understood, we provincial boys, boats, but in the meantime we dreamed of having something like this one day. It was not envy, it was pure dream".
The fairy tale is rare, but it has become reality. Him and the flirt with Naomi, him and the models that others dream about, him and a little girl that they say is his daughter but he doesn’t recognize, him and a club in Costa Smeralda called Billionaire. But also him and his rare intuition for a world that lives so fast that we don't know where it’s going.
"Maybe it’s because I never cared much about Formula 1: in Cuneo, when I was younger, the main sport was football, we didn't watch racing cars. So I don’t go crazy for a new suspension, I don’t spend hours looking at diagrams, and when I close the door of my office, I think about my own business and look around. I look at people, unlike almost everyone who lives in this world".
Does Formula 1 lack a relationship with reality?
"When I worked at Benetton, we tried to understand what the audience was looking for in a sweater or a skirt. Here we talk for months about what needs to change but always with the belief that what is good for us is good for people. We must go back, bring back the past and our mistakes will force us to do so".
How?
"We need to reduce costs and increase revenue by creating a show that spectators like. We need to change the mechanism of qualifying, lower the prices of tickets, because if they cost 25% less Formula 1 would not be a television phenomenon more than the circuit. You have to redistribute the earnings. We talk about it and never decide anything".
The biggest mistake?
"Taking a direction by following it without understanding that it could not last forever. When we earned a lot, nobody said that Formula 1 was a bubble destined to burst and that it was necessary to take advantage of the abundance for when the earnings would have become less. We did like the new economy, when a company run by four people in one cellar was worth more than another with decades of work. In the end, the cellar remained".
Is it possible to go back?
"We have exaggerated. An example? We looked for increasingly exotic and expensive materials. The beryllium after four days that one had it, everyone had it: so where was the advantage? People don’t give a shit about these things anyway".
Isn’t the technological challenge essential?
"Yes, but it would be better to make an engine that lasts for three weekends and reduces fuel consumption and pollution instead of looking for materials that can be used to go beyond the Moon because we have already experienced them all. I’m only signing checks for $200.000, but I’d like to sign one for $6.000".
Briatore speaks of the crisis in a world that between sponsors and television rakes millions of euros.
"Like football, we thought that television rights would be a variable in continuous growth so a footballer who earned 300,000 euros now earns 700,000. But the televisions that bought the sport quickly realized that they paid too much and they are taking a step back".
Who pays, then?
"As there are entrepreneurs who sell everything for football, here too there are people who sold their house to pay for the privilege of running and finishing last. The adrenaline, the pleasure of being in the spotlight, signing autographs, have created infernal toys. You have to recreate the charm and dream".
Shouldn’t we start with the lost characters?
"It is a generational fact, we have led to young people who cannot have the charisma of Prost, Mansell, Senna. Habits have changed. Piquet was sleeping in the garage when he started. We were all together and having fun. There were VIPs and beautiful women because there was time to look after them. Today we move from one meeting to another and sponsors impose time-consuming obligations".
How are the drivers today?
"They ended up behind a crystal because of us. Why shouldn’t Schumacher be nice to everyone? My drivers earn money to talk to people. There are those who in normal life would take two dollars that instead earn 40,000,000 dollars a year, engineers who receive seven times more than they would at the factory. Our environment has enriched many people but not everyone understands it".
Is Michael Schumacher good or bad?
"His presence is a limit to the growth of his colleagues. He innovated the world of drivers: he was the first to undergo long workouts in the gym. But he also led to the habit of spending all the time with technicians studying telemetry, strategies and the rest. Drivers live more hidden, become less characters. Montoya, without results, has gone quiet. Alonso, if he doesn’t ruin himself, has everything, as Senna had: he is beautiful, has character and is Latin. Maybe Button will make it, even if he is English. With him I lived a difficult year, then we understood each other: it is true that with the first salary he had bought a boat of 20 meters, but after a few days I had made him sell it. He has changed, for the better".
How do you discover a talent?
"I put Trulli in the spotlight, I had an instinct for Schumi, Button, Webber, Alonso, maybe because I’m not from this world and I’m disenchanted. I don’t know how it happens, but at some point you feel that that guy is gonna be good. Lopez, an Argentinian who I am training in Formula 3000, will be next".
Did Jarno Trulli prove that Michael Schumacher is human?
"Michael is formidable, but he also fell at a time when there was little competition. Had he been born five or ten years earlier, he would have founded Senna, Prost and drivers of that caliber in the middle of their prime. Instead, he had to fight Hakkinen and Villeneuve. Even Damon Hill has won a World Championship".
How did it happen that you, a manager, became more of a character than many drivers?
"Because people see me as a normal person, even though they know me from the magazine stories and the engagement with Naomi has brought more than two World Championships with Schumacher. I am normal because I like to dedicate myself to the life that makes people dream. People need to dream. The Billionaire, my club, is seen as something arrogant, even Aldo Grasso said it. But it is a dream that everyone can afford, at least once in their life. As are the beautiful women who accompany me. I represent this for the Italians, although I don’t know if Italy is really ready for Briatore: I haven't lived there for twenty years, it is a nice place to spend the holidays, but I don’t know if I would be ready to work here".
The podium party, the prince party, a quick dinner with his friends and then back to sleep. Jarno Trulli is a quiet guy who, after a good race, loves to relax. No excess, no alcohol (he does not drink, even if he produces wine). But he could not say no to Ranieri of Monaco. The winner of the Monaco Grand Prix, by tradition, is a guest at the Palace.
"It’s too good. I made a dream come true. I’m happy for me, for Renault, for Italian people, for French people, for everyone. I feel lighter. It’s a feeling that I started to feel while crossing the finish line. I took off the weight of many disappointments".
Jarno Trulli had not taken his suit to Monte Carlo. At the appointment on Le Rocher, he presented himself with dark clothes: a derogation from the protocol is necessary to allow him to get in. He didn’t have a tie either, but it wasn’t hard to find him a bow tie. Luckily, he had not picked up his hair in a ponytail, a recent habit that probably brings him luck but that would hardly have been appreciated in that context. The Italian driver stays with Ranieri and his family until 0:30 a.m., receives a watch as a gift, then greets and reaches his relatives. There is his father Enzo who follows him around the world and who saw the race in the Renault motorhome:
"I never got excited, I was sure Jarno would make it".
And there are also his mum Franca and girlfriend Barbara, architect of Teramo, who do not like the circuits but in the afternoon they quickly packed their bags and left by car to reach Monte Carlo. Together they toasted in an Italian restaurant. Monday, May 24, 2004 Jarno Trulli moves to Paris to visit his friend Dino Toso, head of aerodynamic engineers of his team, at the hospital. After visiting the Renault factory. Wednesday, May 26, 2004 he will leave for Germany, because Sunday, May 30, 2004, on the circuit of Nurburgring he will give revenge to his teammate Fernando Alonso, to Michael Schumacher and to Jenson Button, who is another good and fast driver who has never won a Grand Prix.
"I’ve known for a long time that victory was within my reach. But for one reason or another, I’ve never made it. I’ve been through some really bad times. Now that it’s here, I feel like justice has been done".
A bit of bad luck, however, continues to be with him: instead of celebrating him, the German newspapers talk about the controversy unleashed by Michael Schumacher.
"Who will stop this crazy Montoya once and for all?"
Bild headlines with traditional fair play.
"Almost in every race he runs against our super Ferrari champion. And at Imola he offended Schumi calling him blind and stupid".
Berlin tabloid B. Z. goes further:
"Trulli wins because Montoya kicks out Schumi".
But Jarno had built the victory himself: it is true that Michael Schumacher was in the lead when Juan Pablo Montoya hit him, but he would have had to stop once again to make the refueling.