THE split second that Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari sat down hard on to the searing Hockenheim track may yet prove to be the defining moment of a thrilling Formula One season. He had done enough to salvage his German Grand Prix and his championship aspirations until the left rear tyre of his car burst just three laps from the sanctuary of the chequered flag.
The huge Hockenheim crowd had roared for their home favourite as he plundered second place from the Renault of Jarno Trulli with a daring piece of overtaking. But the sharp intake of breath from the 110,000 spectators around this impressive circuit was just as audible, as the air hissed from Schumacher’s Bridgestone tyre and his car lurched back on to the tarmac. He limped home, but the chance to stay in control of the Formula One World Championship was as badly punctured as his flat tyre as second place turned into seventh.
The fight for the World Championship is now so close that every tiny shred of luck is going to be important and yesterday Schumacher’s luck deserted him. Juan Pablo Montoya’s victory for BMW-Williams was never in doubt, but Schumacher was at his defiant best as he dragged his Ferrari with its recalcitrant Bridgestones into a second place that, at the start of this wonderful race, had looked impossible. That would have been crucial points on the board with three of his championship rivals in the garages after a dramatic first-lap shunt.
That incident could be critical enough to the ultimate destiny of the world title as Kimi Räikkönen, second in the championship before the race, Ralf Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello were removed in the space of 50 spectacular metres as they rushed towards the first corner. Räikkönen’s roaring start brought him alongside Barrichello’s Ferrari, chasing the BMW-Williams of Schumacher. But Schumacher jinked inches to the left and that was enough to nudge Barrichello into Räikkönen. The result of this 120mph domino effect was that Räikkönen spun away into the tyre barrier and the Ferrari and Williams were damaged beyond repair.
Räikkönen had no chance to take avoiding action and the sore neck and knee he suffered only added to his bruised title hopes. But there was some pleasure for the Finn in such a desperate afternoon. “I don’t know why Ralf did what he did. I just know I wasn’t to blame,” he said and then added: “The only good news is that Michael had a puncture and didn’t get many points.”
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Strange how that was a recurring theme, for minutes earlier Montoya had basked in his domination of Hockenheim and then recounted how his Williams team had radioed to tell him that Schumacher’s tyre had blown, along with second place. “I thought he is lucky because he is always getting second places even when he has his troubles,” Montoya said. “But his luck ran out — and that’s good.”
Second place would have given Schumacher a nice 12-point cushion against Montoya, but now it is a meagre six with four races to go.
There were other reasons to be grateful for Schumacher’s setback, not least at McLaren Mercedes, where David Coulthard revived his flagging career in an afternoon. His job is allegedly on offer to Montoya and tenth on the grid after another lacklustre qualifying session seemed to confirm that another year at the team he joined in 1996 was in doubt.
But Coulthard displayed his trademark doggedness. He capitalised on the first-lap crash by sneaking through to join the leaders and then pushed hard to get on terms. He chased Schumacher for all he was worth and perhaps it was the German’s desperate defence that caused the puncture that ruined his race. Either way, it handed second to Coulthard, his first podium place since he won the season’s first grand prix, in Australia in March, with Trulli third.
So the Scot left with his spirits restored, as did the rest of Formula One. The only grimace was on the face of the champion, who realised, for once, that his luck had run out.