2002 French Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = France
Grand Prix = French
Date = July 21
Year = 2002

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Official name = Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France
Race_No = 11
Season_No = 17
Location = Magny-Cours, France
Course = Permanent racing facility
Course_mi = 2.74
Course_km = 4.411
Distance_laps = 72
Distance_mi = 197.28
Distance_km = 317.592
Weather = Fine
Pole_Driver = Juan Pablo Montoya
Pole_Team = Williams-BMW
Pole_Time = 1:11.985
Pole_Country = Colombia
Fast_Driver = David Coulthard
Fast_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
Fast_Time = 1:15.045
Fast_L

Fast_Country = UK
First_Driver = Michael Schumacher
First_Team = Ferrari
First_Country = Germany
Second_Driver = Kimi Räikkönen
Second_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
Second_Country= Finland
Third_Driver = David Coulthard
Third_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
Third_Country = UK

Results from the 2002 Formula One French Grand Prix held at Magny-Cours on July 21, 2002. This was also the race in which Schumacher secured his 5th driver's title in record time, equaling Juan Manuel Fangio's record set over 40 years ago.

Classification

Notes

*Giancarlo Fisichella crashed in a Saturday practice session and was recommended by the doctors to sit out the race. Last minute attempt to have Heinz-Harald Frentzen drive in his place fell through due to legal technicalities.
*This victory handed Michael Schumacher his 5th World Championship, equalling the record set by Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio almost 50 years earlier. This is also the earliest that a World Championship has been clinched, with only 11 races of the season completed and 6 remaining.
*Räikkönen could have won the race, but whilst going into Adelaide hairpin in the closing stages, he locked up and ran wide after passing through the oil left by McNish's Toyota engine that had just given up on the same place, while Schumacher passed him to win.
*Schumacher's pass on Räikkönen was controversial for some time after the grand prix, as it was believed that Schumacher had made the pass under yellow flags from McNish's engine blow; this would have meant Schumacher would receive a penalty that would have certainly given Räikkönen the win. The FIA, however, ruled in favour of Schumacher and Ferrari.
*Both Arrows-Cosworth cars deliberately failed to qualify for the race due to financial issues. It would prove to be the team's penultimate showing at a Grand Prix weekend.

External links

*Official 2002 French Grand Prix results from [http://www.fia.com/archive/F1/2002/011.html FIA website] and [http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2002/14/ Formula1 website] .

F1 race report
Name_of_race = French Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 2002
Previous_race_in_season = 2002 British Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 2002 German Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 2001 French Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 2003 French Grand Prix