2004 Chinese Grand Prix
The Chinese Grand Prix 2004 took place on 26 September at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, and was the 16th race of the Formula 1 2004 season. It was the first to host a Formula 1 race in China.
- 3.1 qualifying
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
After the Italian Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher led the drivers' championship with 38 points unassailable before Rubens Barrichello and 65 points ahead of Jenson Button. Ferrari resulted in the constructors' championship with 140 points unassailable before BAR- Honda and with 143 points, ahead of Renault.
Ralf Schumacher returned after an injury break back into his cockpit Williams and Antonio Pizzonia sparked from. At Renault, Jarno Trulli was replaced by Jacques Villeneuve. At Jordan Giorgio Pantano was replaced by Timo Glock.
Training
At Friday's practice, several teams were allowed to use a third driver. Anthony Davidson (BAR - Honda), Bjorn Home (Jaguar -Cosworth ), Ryan Briscoe (Toyota ), Robert Doornbos ( Jordan -Cosworth ) and Bas Leinders ( Minardi -Cosworth ) participated in this function on the Friday practice. In the first free practice session Davidson scored the fastest lap ahead of Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya. In the second free practice session Davidson retained the top spot ahead of his teammate Button and Kimi Raikkonen. From the third free practice session the team drivers were only allowed to be used. Ralf Schumacher achieved the fastest time ahead of his teammate Montoya and his brother Michael Schumacher. In the fourth free practice Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher took the lead from his team mate Barrichello and Raikkonen.
Qualifying
In the first qualifying session, in which the starting positions for the second qualifying session were determined, Michael Schumacher posted the fastest lap in front of Raikkonen and Giancarlo Fisichella. In qualifying, Barrichello posted the fastest lap and took the pole position ahead of Raikkonen and Button. Michael Schumacher turned in his fastest lap and gave no time to the box. The Bridgestone tires worked particularly well in this section and so succeeded Sauber driver Felipe Massa to achieve the best ever start placing his career with a fourth place.
Race
Michael Schumacher started after an engine change at night from the pit lane and took the race on a full gas tank. Barrichello claimed his lead at the start of the race in front of Raikkonen. Fernando Alonso took third place. In the twelfth round, there was a collision between Michael Schumacher and Christian Klien. While Schumacher was able to continue the race for Klien had ended.
After Toyota driver Ricardo Zonta was failed with a gearbox failure, Ralf Schumacher had to abandon the race after a collision with David Coulthard. A little later resigned and Minardi driver Gianmaria Bruni, who had lost a wheel off.
At the top there was a tactical duel between Barrichello, Button and Raikkonen. While Button stopped twice, had his two opponents three times on the box. Shortly before the end of the race there was a duel between Michael Schumacher and Villeneuve about the eleventh position in which the German vorbeizog on Canadians. However, he finally could not benefit from it, as he had to attend another pit stop. Michael Schumacher, however, managed to achieve the fastest lap.
Finally, Barrichello won the race for himself and won for the second time this season. Was second button in front of Raikkonen. The other points went to Alonso, Montoya, Takuma Satō, Fisichella and Massa.
By winning the World Championship Barrichello secured for the second time in his career behind Schumacher. Also, the third-placed Button was no longer obtain. When the designers BAR- Honda increased the distance to Renault in the duel for second place behind Ferrari.
Message list
Classifications
Qualifying
Race
WM stands after the race
The first eight of each race received 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point (s).