Michael Schumacher's 55th career Formula One victory extended his 2002 World Drivers' Championship lead and narrowed Williams' constructors' advantage.
Key Facts
- Race winner
- Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
- Victory margin
- 0.588 seconds over Ralf Schumacher
- Schumacher career wins
- 55th career victory
- Race laps
- 71 laps
- Attendance
- 120,000 spectators
- Championship round
- 3rd of 17 in 2002 season
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Juan Pablo Montoya claimed pole position for Williams, with Michael Schumacher starting second. Early in the race, Montoya attempted to retake the lead from Schumacher but struck his front wing against Schumacher's rear wheel, destroying his own car's aerodynamics. Teammate Rubens Barrichello later retired with hydraulic failure, further unraveling Williams' race strategy.
Held on 31 March 2002 at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace before 120,000 spectators, the 71-lap Brazilian Grand Prix saw Michael Schumacher lead for the majority of the race. After Barrichello's retirement handed Schumacher clear track, he held off his brother Ralf Schumacher in the closing laps to win by 0.588 seconds, with David Coulthard finishing third for McLaren.
Schumacher's second win of the season extended his World Drivers' Championship lead to eight points over Ralf Schumacher and ten over Montoya. Ferrari also closed the gap in the World Constructors' Championship, reducing Williams' lead to just six points with fourteen races remaining in the season.