Chinese Grand Prix – Shanghai,
Michael Schumacher: 1st 1:14.51.975 53 laps chassis 255
Felipe Massa: R lap 45 44 laps chassis 256
Temperatures: air 22 °C, track 23 °C
Eighth win of the season for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, the
seventh courtesy of Michael Schumacher. This is winnumber
191 from 739 races entered by Ferrari, the second in the Chinese
Grand Prix. Michael Schumacherrecorded his ninety first victory
from 248 Grand Prix starts and his first at this track.
Jean Todt: “This was an incredibly intense race in which
Michael’s genius, the team’s talent and the exceptionalBridgestone
tyres all made this extraordinary result possible. It was
a shame for Felipe who was staging anexceptional climb up
the order from the penultimate row of the grid. A collision
with Coulthard put him out of therace, which prevented him
from picking up any points that would have been so important
for the Constructors’championship. However, this can
do nothing to detract from the joy of such a fantastic victory,
obtained here inShanghai in the face of very stiff opposition.
Now, both the titles will be decided in the space of two races.
If we lookback to where we were after Montreal and to the
fact that Michael has now caught up his closest rival and
that weare only one point down in the Constructors’
classification, it is further confirmation that one should
never ever giveup!”
Michael Schumacher: “I am so happy!
I want to thank the team for this result, as they did a fantastic
job. After thestart, I was surprised to find that I could
match the pace of those ahead of me, which was better than
I had expected. After a while, I was able to close up on Fisichella.
I thought that if I could pass him, even if I could not win,then
at least I would only lose two points to Fernando and given
where I started that would have been a good result.It was
very important to reduce the gap to the Renaults when the
track began to dry. The crucial moment came withthe switch
to dry tyres. I knew that even if Fisichella managed to stay
ahead of me after his stop, I would have thechance to pass
him going into the first corner as he would be in trouble
with the temperature of his tyres and that iswhat happened.
In the final laps, I drove very carefully. I had a good gap
but the track conditions were gettingdifficult, however, I
was never worried about getting caught. Now we go to Suzuka,
a track that I love. But it isdifficult to make any predictions
and as usual, tyre performance will be crucial.”
Felipe Massa: “I was very quick all
through the race, both on the wet track and when it was drying
out. Maybe it wasa bit of risk fitting the dry tyres a bit
early, but once they reached the right temperature, I was
one of the quickest ontrack. It’s a shame what happened
with Coulthard. We were right in the middle of a fight and
at the end of thestraight, I went a bit long because the track
was slippery and we ended up touching. Unfortunately, I damaged
thefront left suspension and had to retire. I could have finished
in the points, helping the team in the fight for theConstructors’
and to defend my third place in the Drivers’ classification.
I have to say I plan to make up for it and domy best in Suzuka.”
Ross Brawn: “It was a fantastic race
in which Michael performed exceptionally well. On the rain
tyres we werestruggling when there was still a lot of water
on the track, but we were still able to keep up with the lead
group. Then,as the track began to dry, the situation changed
in the way we had been expecting, namely in our favour, thanks
tothe performance of the Bridgestone tyres, which worked very
well in these conditions. The team also did anincredible job
and all the pit-stops were impeccable. A shame for Felipe:
starting from the back of the grid becauseof the engine change,
he was having a great race and could have brought home some
important points for theConstructors’ classification.
All the same, we are very happy and we can be reasonably optimistic
as we prepare totackle the final two races, but we will have
to remain concentrated and not leave the slightest detail
to chance.”
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