Reigning Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher drove the new 2002 Ferrari to victory in its debut race, outduelling his younger brother Ralf over the final 55 laps to capture the Brazilian Grand Prix today.
Reigning Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher drove the new 2002 Ferrari to victory in its debut race, outduelling his younger brother Ralf over the final 55 laps to capture the Brazilian Grand Prix today.
The elder Schumacher completed the 71 laps over the 4.309km Interlagos circuit in 1hr, 31mins, 43.663secs to defeat his brother in a Williams by half a second with British duo David Coulthard third in a McLaren, and Jenson Button, in a Renault, fourth.
Michael Schumacher, whose winning speed was 200.098 k/hr, stretched his lead in the drivers championship to 24-16 over his brother after the third of 17 races.
Schumacher senior won a battle for the lead at the start with Williams pole-sitter Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia and also fended off a brief early challenge from Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello in a 2001 Ferrari.
Michael never made a mistake and Ralf never got within reach of a passing move as one legend, retired Brazilian football star Pele, waved the chequered flag for another, four-time Formula One world champion Schumacher.