European GP produces only 4th for WilliamsF1

The European Grand Prix, as was the case in the previous two Grand Prix, was a race that promised so much for the BMW WilliamsF1 team. The race saw the WilliamsF1 drivers start from the front row but by the end of the race Montoya had retired after a collision with David Coulthard and Ralf simply could not match the pace of the Ferrari's and came home a distant fourth. A race that delivered so little for the WilliamsF1 team. Qualifying well is one thing but performing well in the race is where it all matters and WilliamsF1 are finding this part of a race weekend hard to deliver.

Both Williams would start the formation lap on a worn set of tyres whereas Michael Schumacher was running used fronts, but new rears. At the race start Ralf Schumacher would lead, Barrichello second, then Montoya, Michael Schumacher, Coulthard, Raikkonen and the Renault's. But Rubens would take the lead at the Dunlop corner, with Michael pushing Montoya. Michael would move into third.

The Jordan's were involved in another collision at the start as Fisichella was seen in the gravel. He would get back to the pits where he would be joined by Sato. Michael Schumacher would move into second as he passed his brother. Both Ferraris were quicker at the beginning of the race. The order after two laps was Barrichello, Michael Schumacher (3.5), Ralf Schumacher (4.6), Montoya (6.4), Coulthard (7.7), Raikkonen (8.7), Button, Trulli, Massa, Heidfeld (12.1).

With a lap of 1m:33.565 Michael Schumacher was the quickest man on the circuit at this early stage of the race. Both Ferrari's were pulling away from the following WilliamsF1 drivers quite easily. Michael Schumacher was only 1.8 behind Barrichello, but Ralf, in third, was already 11 secs behind them. The BMW WilliamsF1 Team drivers were not able to use their good starting positions. Yoong would receive a drive through penalty for a jumped start.

Behind Montoya was McLaren's David Coulthard in fifth, with just 1.0 second between the two drivers. WilliamsF1 and McLaren are on what seems to be about the same pace at this stage of the race. Renault's Jarno Trulli would move up to tenth after he managed to get past McNish in the hairpin. So after twelve laps the order was Barrichello, Michael Schumacher (0.7), Ralf Schumacher (20), Montoya (22), Coulthard (24), Raikkonen (26), Button (27), Trulli (34), Massa (36), Heidfeld (37).

Raikkonen would make a mistake, going into the gravel at the hairpin, and would let Jenson Button pass and into sixth. It was expected that the first pit stops would get underway within the next five laps. Webber and Villeneuve would be the first to stop. The gap between Ralf and the Ferraris was fairly stable. Barrichello leads a second ahead of Michael Schumacher, Ralf was in third, already 33 secs behind. Trulli would pit also. Jenson Button was increasing the pressure on David Coulthard with Coulthard looking for a way past Montoya.

In a surprise Michael Schumacher would spin after making a mistake. He would still be in second, but now eleven seconds behind Barrichello. Ferrari would take the opportunity to get Michael into the pits. He would get fuel and new tyres in 8.6 secs. He would come back onto the track in second position. Next would be Barrichello, stationary for 8.6 seconds. The BMW WilliamsF1 Team was not seen preparing for a stop by their drivers.

Their early pit stops explain why Barrichello and Michael Schumacher were able to gain such a clear gap from the BMW WilliamsF1 Team in the early stages of the race. Raikkonen was close behind Coulthard again pressuring him.

Michael would set the fastest lap, 8.3 secs behind Barrichello. Coulthard would try to overtake Montoya resulting in a collision between the two at the hairpin. Both drivers spin off the track and would retire from the race. It appears that Coulthard is furious with Montoya, as Juan Pablo lost his rear in the corner and therefore they collided. Another retirement for Juan Pablo.

The top ten after 28 laps was Barrichello, Michael Schumacher (7.1), Ralf Schumacher (23.4), Raikkonen (26.7), Massa (41.9), Heidfeld (43), Panis, Button, Trulli, de la Rosa (75.0). Ralf would have a very slow lap allowing Raikkonen to close in on him. Ralf would pit, stationary for 11.5 secs, which is okay for a one stop strategy. Heidfeld would also pit. R Schumacher would come back on the circuit just ahead of Trulli in sixth position.

Massa would also pit, 12.2 secs and he was back on the track ahead of team-mate Heidfeld. This would allow Ralf to gain one extra place. It was an interesting battle between the Ferraris, with Barrichello leading by 4.6 secs. The Ferraris and Renaults still have to come in for their second stops whereas Ralf was finished with pit stops for today.

Raikkonen would pit, stopping for 11.2 secs, and he would keep his third place ahead of Button and Ralf. The order was Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, Raikkonen, Button, Ralf Schumacher, Trulli, Massa, Heidfeld, Panis, and McNish.

Michael Schumacher would start to close in on Barrichello, with less than 3 secs between them. With nineteen laps remaining Michael Schumacher was 2.5 secs behind Barrichello. Kimi Raikkonen looked set for third and Ralf fourth. Michael Schumacher would make his second stop exiting without any problems. Barrichello would stop for 7.6 secs, coming back out still in the lead. But Michael would start to attack, now only 1.9 secs behind Barrichello.

With thirteen laps remaining the order was Barrichello, Michael Schumacher (1.4), Raikkonen (54), Ralf Schumacher (68), Button (79), Massa (1 lap), Heidfeld, Trulli, Panis, de la Rosa, Bernoldi, Villeneuve, Frentzen, McNish, Salo, Webber, Yoong, and Sato. Trulli was only 0.6 secs between the two Saubers, all fighting for sixth and the last point. With twelve laps to go there was only one second between the two Ferrari's.

As the race moved into its final laps both Ferraris would go for a safe race as their times were slower than before. Mika Salo would spin, running in fifteenth. He would retire soon after. With six laps to go Massa was in a comfortable sixth, 2 secs ahead of Heidfeld. Frentzen would spin while trying to overtake Villeneuve at the hairpin. The issue of team orders been applied by Ferrari certainly would have everyone interested in the race result.

As the Ferrari pair went into the final lap Barrichello was still in the lead. This would be the way the race would finish with Barrichello winning ahead of Michael Schumacher second, Raikkonen third, Ralf fourth, Button fifth, and Massa sixth.

Another good result goes begging for the BMW WilliamsF1 team. If they are to maintain their second place in both the drivers and constructors championships good qualifying results have to be turned into good race results.