Michael Schumacher will wholeheartedly agree that seven is his lucky number – while brother Ralf will be looking seven days ahead to overcame the frustration of Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix.
”Michael under the banner of seven: seventh win in Montreal, seventh victory in the season and 77th in his career. What other outcome could have been expected?” said French sports daily L’Equipe.
Liberation daily added: ”If he continues like this, it won’t take long for him to clinch a seventh world title.
” The Ferrari star used a two-stop strategy to perfection to become the first man in F1 history to win the same race seven times after his other triumphs on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003.
”It sort of worked out to plan. We knew we had a strong car. We knew we wouldn’t get the pole and concentrated on the race,” Schumacher said. ”We managed it once again. It’s fantastic.”
Schumacher came to Montreal with six wins each in Canada, France and Belgium, a tie with the late Ayrton Senna (Monaco) and Alain Prost (Brazil, France). Schumacher has redefined the sport over the last decade. His many records include career marks for world titles (six) and race wins (77), plus world championship points in a season (144 in 2002).
While Michael Schumacher rejoiced, brother Ralf learned hours after the race that he was disqualified from second place alongside Williams-BMW teammate Juan Pablo Montoya and the Toyota duo of Cristiano da Matta and Olivier Panis for a rule violation. ”The stewards have received a report from the technical director that the air ducts for the purpose of cooling the front brakes of the cars… do not comply with the dimensional requirements of the 2004 Formula One technical regulations,” said a statement from the ruling body FIA.
Both teams admitted their mistakes and accepted the ruling, but Williams technical director Sam Michael also insisted that ”there was no intention to cheat”.
”I am now thinking ‘what have I done to deserve this?’ It’s cold comfort that Sir Frank Williams called me immediately to tell me he was sorry. I have to accept it, even if it really hurts,” said a shocked Ralf Schumacher.
He added ”It’s a big shame because it puts an end to the positive impression from the race.”
The disqualification of four drivers, unprecedented in recent years, resulted in a complete shake-up of the standings. Ferrari were awarded yet another one-two finish with Rubens Barrichello bumped from third to second. It could have been more, with a frustrated Barrichello failing to pass Schumacher midway through what was, by and large, a dull race.
”I pushed like hell, but the brakes were cooking,” he said. ”The only chance I had was overtake him on the track or go longer [waiting for the pit stop]. But I only had little fuel left. He got another win. I wish I could have it.”
Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard won some badly-needed points for McLaren-Mercedes in fifth and sixth place, and German Timo Glock won two points in his F1 debut in a Jordan, promoted from 11th to seventh place.