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F1 Revisits 2002 as Ferraris Schumi and Barrichello Sweep Field

Most Are Betting on Michael Schumacher to Stroll Away with 2004 Title

Its been nearly a week since the first F1 race of the season, and the motorsport community is still in shock. Its not so much that Ferrari won, but more disturbingly, just how decisively 6-times champion Michael Schumacher and side-kick Rubens Barrichello went about the job at hand.

They reduced Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumachers radically tusked BMW- Williams FW26 car to an also ran, while completely annihilating one-time grid superpower McLaren-Mercedes to the mid-pack. While the second of these teams seems to be responsible for their own undoing, BMW-Williams have been strong in pre-season tests.

But of course, in F1 theres more to the results of a GP than the cars and drivers, there are other critically important elements. For instance, was it Ferrari that stole the Australian GP or the cars Bridgestone tires? The Japanese tire manufacturer creates its custom rubber primarily for Ferrari, despite what its PR staff would like you to hear, giving the Italian marque a decided advantage over its Michelin shod rivals. This point was driven home by the fact that there was no Bridgestone clad team that made it

F1 fans are still in shock at how team Ferrari completely dominated the rest of the pack in the first race of the season. (Photo: Plantet-F1.com)

into the top 10 other than Ferrari. Still, it makes a person wonder just how well 6th place finisher Jensen Button could have done had his BAR-Honda car stayed with Bridgestone for 2004 rather than switching to Michelin.

"Its good to finish in the points in the first race and have three points under my belt already, commented the outgoing Brit. "Its the first time Ive finished with points in Australia. My start wasnt particularly great and it was very slippery out there, but I managed to hold on to fourth for some time. Ralf was able to get past me in the pit stop when we had a delay with the refueling nozzle. Then Montoya got by on the circuit. I think we need a little more in the way of race pace but its a solid start to the season."

BMW-Williams, McLaren-Mercedes and Renault, last years top teams in F1, run on Michelins, and BMW is well

Was the Ferrari sweep due in part to the custom Bridgestone tires on their cars? (Photo: Planet-F1.com)

known as the maker of the series most powerful engine. Renault has been respected for superior aerodynamics and handling, or at least last year they were. How then, can the less powerful Ferrari outpace its fastest competitor by more than a second per lap? To many analysts it comes down only to the tires.

Still Michelin motorsport director Pierre Dupasquier, was outwardly positive in stating, "We might not have won today but the season is in its formative stages and it will take a few races for the full picture to become clear. The next few grands prix will be very important and we are working flat out with our partner teams in the never-ending quest for greater performance. I was encouraged by Fernando Alonsos performance today - he was fast and consistent once again and Renault has promised that there are significant developments to come, which bodes well for the future."

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