Bahrain: Lap by lap as Schumacher turns Sandman

Jenson goes 3rd
By pitpass.com (04/04/2004)
April 4 2004

04-04-04, it's finally here. After all the months of waiting, Bahrain is about to enter Formula One's history books, as the first middle east Grand Prix takes place.

We already thought we'd seen it all. Ferrari dominated on Friday only for BAR and WilliamsF1 to appear to turn the tables on Saturday in free practice and then pre-qualifying. However, as the cars prepare for the formation lap it's business as usual with Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello giving Ferrari another front row lock-out.

McLaren's woes continue with David Coulthard only just making it into the top ten while teammate Kimi Raikkonen starts from the back row of the grid, alongside Jordan's Nick Heidfeld, having failed to post a time in qualifying.

The big question mark over today's race is the weather. Overnight we've had rain and sandstorms, which have left the track dirty and greasy. With less than half an hour to go the rain has stopped, indeed the track is dry, while the winds seem to have abated. But will it last? At present conditions would appear to favour the Michelin-shod runners.

The other question mark concerns brakes with several team concerned that brake wear, and indeed tyres, could be the deciding factor today.

So, we've got sand, the possibility of more rain, high winds, tyres, brakes, what more could you ask for? Welcome to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

As the cars assemble on the grid, there appears to be oil on the track at the precise spot on the grid where David Coulthard is starting from. As the McLaren crew work to remove the oil from the tarmac, a few small spots of rain begin to fall, adding to the tension.

Air temperature is 30 degrees while track temperature is 30. Humidity is 34%, while the wind speed is 1.1 mps.

In a last minute move, Minardi's Zsolt Baumgartner will start from the pitlane, as will Raikkonen.

As the cars pull away for the formation lap Raikkonen appears to have a problem, however he finally gets away. Gianmaria Bruni also seems to have a problem leaving his crew with no option but to push the hapless Italian back to the pits.

Schumacher leads the field back to the grid, the German really working heat into his Bridgestones.

It's a good clean start with the entire field getting around the first corner intact. At the third corner da Matta goes wide as Raikkonen is already up to fourteenth.

Schumacher leads Barrichello with Montoya third followed by Sato, Ralf, Trulli, Button, Panis, Coulthard and Webber. Alonso pits at the end of the first lap, he replaces a front wing following a coming together at the start.

Trulli and Schumacher are both setting a tremendous pace, the Italian chasing Ralf Schumacher whilst holding off Button. Klien is fighting Raikkonen for fourteenth, the Austrian passes the Finn only for the McLaren driver to strike straight back.

Panis is all over Button while teammate da Matta is all over Fisichella while trying to fend off Massa.

Three laps completed and Schumacher leads by 3.3s, Barrichello is a further 3.9s second ahead of Montoya who is followed by Sato, Ralf, Trulli, Button, Panis, Webber and Coulthard.

Klien continues to haunt Raikkonen, but once again the Finn sees off the Jaguar driver.

Schumacher is setting a blistering pace, fastest lap after fastest lap, it's now down to 1:30.669. Meanwhile brother Ralf is climbing all over Sato, trying to force the Japanese driver into a mistake.

By the end of lap 5, Schumacher is 9s ahead of Montoya, an incredible pace.

Some great scraps going on, particularly Sato and Ralf for fourth, Webber, Coulthard and Fisichella for eighth and da Matta and Panis for twelfth, not forgetting Raikkonen and Klien.

Ralf makes a move on Sato but the BAR driver shuts the door firmly, the WilliamsF1 goes off necessitating a pitstop to have the nose and rear suspension checked. Meanwhile flames are pouring out of the back of Kimi Raikkonen's McLaren, his third DNF in as many races.

Eight laps completed, Schumacher leads Barrichello by 5.3s with Montoya a further 7.8s behind.

At the end of lap nine Schumacher pits, 7.2s later he's back on track behind Button, Coulthard and Webber also pit. The Australian and the Scot exit the pits side by side but it's the McLaren driver that has the advantage.

Next time around Barrichello pits as does Montoya. The Brazilian appears to stall as Trulli, Fisichella and Klien also pit.

It's a BAR whitewash as Takuma Sato leads the Bahrain GP with teammate Jenson Button second and Michael Schumacher third. Sato pits at the end of lap eleven, handing the lead to Button, who has yet to stop.

Next time around the Englishman pits, promoting Michael Schumacher back to the top of the leaderboard. It's a long stop for the BAR driver who rejoins behind his teammate.

Klien continues his charge, forcing his way past Massa to take thirteenth.

Schumacher leads from Barrichello, Montoya, Trulli, Sato, Button, Coulthard, Webber, Fisichella and Panis. The German now leads his teammate by 11.7s with Montoya a further 3.3s behind. Ralf is running in sixteenth behind Alonso.

After the first round of pitstops the action is a little less frantic, other than for Klien who is pushing da Matta, and Heidfeld who is chasing his Jordan teammate Giorgio Pantano.

It's revealed that race stewards are investigating two incidents, one involving Barrichello and Trulli, the other Sato and Ralf Schumacher.

A blot on Klien's copybook when the Austrian loses it and spins off allowing Ralf Schumacher through to take fourteenth. The Austrian is able to get going again though. Moments later Sato also makes a mistake, which allows Button through to take fifth.

Eighteen laps completed and Schumacher leads by 13.6s, with Montoya 6.9s behind Barrichello. Sato pits for a new nose and front wing after his mishap, he exits behind Ralf Schumacher.

Trulli is running fourth, 4.2s behind Montoya, while teammate Alonso is enjoying a tremendous scrap with Massa, with Ralf Schumacher keeping a watching eye on proceedings. Klien pits, it's unclear whether he has a problem following his 'off'.

Alonso gets past Massa as the Brazilian appears flustered, Ralf also slips through, the Sauber driver losing two places in one move.

Panis and da Matta pit on consecutive laps, the Toyota drivers having a quiet Sunday afternoon drive in the midfield.

Button and Trulli are the fastest men on track but it's Michael Schumacher that leads by 14s, while Barrichello enjoys an 8.3s advantage over Montoya.

Sato is running in twelfth and all over Massa, who looks unlikely to hold off the BAR driver for much longer.

Once again Coulthard and Webber pit together, once again the Scot holds position. Michael Schumacher also pits exiting almost alongside Trulli, who allows the German through. Ralf Schumacher (eighth) also pits. There's a problem which results in the German knocking over a couple of his mechanics.

Alonso posts the fastest time in the second sector as teammate Trulli pits. Meanwhile Webber goes off but is able to continue.

At the end of lap twenty-six Montoya pits, as does Button, while race leader Barrichello stays out. Next time around the Brazilian pits handing the lead back to his teammate.

At the end of lap twenty-eight, virtually half-distance, Schumacher leads Barrichello by 12.1s with Montoya 7.2s behind. Trulli is fourth ahead of Button, Coulthard, Sato, Webber, Alonso and Panis. Webber is enjoying a tremendous scrap with Alonso, both drivers trying every trick in the book, and then some!

Only one retirement thus far, inevitably it's Raikkonen.

Ralf Schumacher is harassing Fisichella as Alonso is clearly tiring of Webber's tactics, the Spaniard gesticulating. This is sure to end in a chastising from the race stewards, it's great to watch, but a little irresponsible. Finally Alonso gets by and leave the Jaguar for dust.

Further down the road Sato is pushing Coulthard hard, just 0.9s separates the McLaren and the BAR. Meanwhile Fisichella spins which allows Ralf and da Matta through.

Sato makes his move and despite Coulthard's best efforts the Scot is unable to resist, the BAR driver takes sixth.

Thirty-three laps completed and Schumacher leads his teammate by 11.3s with Montoya 11.1s behind followed by Trulli, Button, Sato, Coulthard, Alonso, Webber and Panis.

The only battle at present is Ralf Schumacher's fight with Olivier Panis for tenth. The German is all over the Frenchman.

Trulli is 2.3s behind Montoya while Button is 3s behind the Italian, with one round of pitstops still to go. It's also worth watching Alonso who is closing on Coulthard.

Sato is the first driver to make a third stop, followed by Jarno Trulli and David Coulthard. Webber also stops, but no pitlane fights with the Scot this time around. Next time around (lap 39) Montoya pits, promoting Button to third.

Trulli is setting a blistering pace, he needs to make up ground while Button stops, which he does at the end of lap forty. The English youngster exits ahead of the Renault driver.

Next time around it's Schumacher that stops allowing teammate Rubens to take the lead, albeit temporarily. Klien has a problem during his stop, losing the Austrian valuable places.

At the end of lap forty-three Barrichello is the last of the leaders to pit, the Brazilian re-joining behind his teammate.

With thirteen laps to go, Coulthard is in ninth, it looks as if McLaren might not even pick up a consolation point here.

Alonso is all over Sato, the Spaniard determined to take seventh from the BAR driver, what a crazy afternoon the Renault driver has had. The BAR looks a real handful under braking, Alonso bides his time. Further back Fisichella is all over da Matta for twelfth, while Ralf (sixth) makes his final stop of the race.

Schumacher leads Barrichello by 9.9s with Montoya 14.2s behind. Button third ahead of Trulli, Sato, Alonso, Coulthard, Ralf and Webber.

Meanwhile Baumgartner is the second retirement this afternoon, the Minardi's engine has clearly had enough.

Just as it seems that Montoya has third place sewn up, the Colombian is under pressure from Button, the BAR driver piling on tremendous pressure as Ralf goes quickest in sector one.

Button is all over Montoya and finally passes him, however the Colombian fights back nut it's in vain, he clearly has a problem.

Button looks set for his second consecutive podium as Trulli prepares to snatch fourth from the williamsF1 driver.

Alonso is still continuing to harry Sato, but the Japanese driver refuses to surrender position.

Further misery for McLaren as Coulthard returns to his pit, much to the surprise of his crew and indeed boss Ron Dennis. The Scot continues but then stops at the end of the pitlane. Game over.

At the end of lap fifty-one Michael leads Rubens by 10.7s with Button 22s down the road. Trulli is fourth ahead of Montoya, who it is now known has a brake problem. Sato retains sixth despite pressure from Alonso, with Ralf in the last position that carries points.

Sato and Alonso both pass Montoya to take fifth and sixth respectively. A bad day for WilliamsF1, who (quite rightly) thought they were in with a chance of outright victory this weekend.

Fisichella closes in on da Matta as Ralf prepares to put one over on Montoya. The German passes the hapless Colombian, who looks set to retain ninth since Webber is almost 20s down the road.

The bad news for Montoya is that next year he's joining McLaren!

As Schumacher begins the final lap of this historic race, the German enjoys a 10s advantage over his teammate, another 1-2 for the Maranello men. The German cruises to another win as Montoya loses out to Webber, Panis, da Matta, Fisichella and Massa to finish thirteenth.

The 1-2 result for Ferrari doesn't tell the full story, nothing like it. Today's race has provided us with some great moments, giving several drivers the opportunity to shine.

Despite the negativity we've seen in recent weeks Bahrain has provided us with a great circuit, certainly something to build on in the years to come, and a race filled with incidents and magical moments.

Hats off to Michael, Rubens and Jenson, commiserations to Juan Pablo and McLaren.

As we said, the result doesn't tell the full story, far from it.

This article was written by pitpass.com and is used with permission.