Friday drivers
The bottom 6 teams in the 2003 Constructors' Championship were entitled to run a third car in free practice on Friday. These drivers drove on Friday but did not compete in qualifying or the race.
Background
Michael Schumacher and Ferrari were already the drivers' and constructors' world champions. After the 2004 Italian Grand Prix , Schumacher unassailably led the drivers' standings with 38 points ahead of Rubens Barrichello and 65 points ahead of Jenson Button. Ferrari led the constructors' championship with 140 points, unassailable ahead of BAR and 143 points ahead of Renault. Renault fired Jarno Trulli after the Italian Grand Prix and was replaced by Jacques Villeneuve, who returned to driving a single-seater after almost a year of inactivity. The dismissal of the Italian driver was due to disagreements with team manager Flavio Briatore , who also dominated the Italian driver's career and who the previous week had signed a contract with Toyota for 2005. This was the first race back for Ralf Schumacher after injuries in the 2004 United States Grand Prix three mo...
Qualifying
Barrichello set the fastest lap and took pole position ahead of Räikkönen and Button. The Bridgestone tyres worked particularly well in this section and Sauber driver Massa managed to achieve the best starting position of his career up to that point with fourth place.
Race
After changing the engine during the night, Michael Schumacher started from the pit lane and started the race with a full tank. Barrichello maintained his lead at the start ahead of Räikkönen. Alonso took third place ahead of Massa and Button. The Briton regained position from the Sauber driver on the third lap after an intense duel. A lap later, Massa was also overtaken by Fisichella and Ralf Schumacher. Meanwhile, Michael Schumacher was struggling to get himself back together and was stuck in ... Barrichello and Räikkönen refuelled together on lap 12. The Brazilian kept the Finn behind him. Alonso and Button stayed on the track one and two laps longer respectively and retained fourth and third place. Further back in the field Michael Schumacher spun, losing further time. The German driver was the last to refuel on the 20th lap after overtaking both Fisichella and his brother. On lap 36, Räikkönen made his third and final pit stop, anticipating it in an attempt to overtake Barrichello; However, the Finn returned to the track behind Button, in third place. One lap later, Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher came into contact while fighting for seventh place; the Briton rammed the Williams driver and both were forced into the pits, Coulthard to replace a punctured tyre and Ralf Schumacher to carry out checks. However, the German driver returned to the pits just as his team was... Meanwhile, Barrichello pushed hard to increase his lead over Button as much as possible; when the Brazilian refuelled during the 42nd lap, the BAR driver remained behind him. In the final laps Barrichello managed his advantage over his pursuers, who approached the Ferrari driver but never seriously threatened him. Barrichello then obtained his second consecutive victory, ahead of Button, Räikkönen, Alonso, Montoya, Sato, Fisichella and Massa; Villeneuve, returning after a year of inactivity, took only eleventh place, finishing ahead of Michael Schumacher. In the fight for second place in the Constructors' Championship, BAR gained further points over Renault, having overtaken it in the standings in the previous Grand Prix.
External links
31°20′20″N 121°13′11″E / 31.33889°N 121.21972°E / 31.33889; 121.21972
Race Result
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Q1 Time | Q2 Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Rubens Barrichello | Ferrari | 1:33.787 | 1:34.012 |
| 2 | 6 | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:33.499 | 1:34.178 |
| 3 | 9 | Jenson Button | BAR-Honda | 1:34.273 | 1:34.295 |
| 4 | 12 | Felipe Massa | Sauber-Petronas | 1:33.816 | 1:34.759 |
| 5 | 4 | Ralf Schumacher | Williams-BMW | 1:33.849 | 1:34.891 |
| 6 | 8 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 1:34.599 | 1:34.917 |
| 7 | 11 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Sauber-Petronas | 1:33.738 | 1:34.951 |
| 8 | 17 | Olivier Panis | Toyota | 1:34.153 | 1:34.975 |
| 9 | 10 | Takuma Sato | BAR-Honda | 1:34.051 | 1:34.993 |
| 10 | 5 | David Coulthard | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:34.355 | 1:35.029 |
The Paddock Breakdown
Barry · Gary · KatGary — 33 · Three Fantasy F1 leagues
The air hung thick with anticipation, a palpable hum vibrating through the Shanghai International Circuit – a first, a promise. Barrichello's Ferrari, a symphony of 840 horsepower courtesy of the 3. 0-liter V10, sliced through the shadows, exploiting the McLaren's tire degradation with ruthless precision. A curious detail: BAR-Honda's Arrows, running a third chassis for Friday practice, struggled with a reported 1. 5-second deficit to the leading teams, a stark reminder of the relentless gulf separating the giants. This wasn't merely a victory; it was the genesis of a racing legend.
The air hangs thick with the scent of damp asphalt and anticipation—a tangible thing, this first Chinese Grand Prix. A hush falls over the stands as Barrichello, a veteran sculpted by countless battles, crosses the line, securing victory from the very spot where the legend began. Observe, if you will, that of the fifteen pole positions awarded in 2004, Schumacher claimed a staggering nine, a testament to Ferrari's dominance and a numerical echo of the years preceding. It's a curious pattern, isn't it – a solitary, almost defiant, bloom of scarlet amidst a season largely defined by McLaren's blue.
Kat — 30 · Technical journalist
The rain, a venomous serpent, coiled around the McLaren, spitting water onto the asphalt. Räikkönen wrestled, a desperate ballet of throttle and wheel, attempting to exorcise the BAR's persistent shadow. A brief flash of scarlet – Barrichello, a stoic sentinel, held his ground, the Ferrari's composure a stark contrast to the tempestuous track. The scent of wet rubber and ozone hung heavy, a primal perfume of speed and risk. This was Shanghai's baptism by storm, a brutal initiation for a race that would etch itself into the annals of a changing era. A testament to raw talent battling against the elements, and the relentless pursuit of victory.
The rain, a sullen grey smear across the Shanghai tarmac – it always seemed to find a way, didn't it? Young Jenson Button, face tight with a concentration that bordered on desperation, adjusted his helmet, a small, almost imperceptible tremor in his hands. He'd spent the entire Friday session chasing a ghost, a fleeting glimpse of pace, a whisper of possibility. The Friday drivers, a curious procession of hopefuls, circulated quietly, their efforts largely ignored, a necessary evil in the relentless pursuit of speed. A turning point, perhaps, in the evolving narrative of this sport.