Michael Schumacher will soon run out of records to set.
In winning the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, he became the first formula-one driver to win 12 times in a season with teammate Rubens Barrichello completing the Ferrari 1-2 sweep.
Schumacher has failed to win only once in the most lopsided season in formula-one history — and he probably should have won that one, too.
”Unfortunately, I couldn’t run Michael’s pace. He was on his own,” said Barrichello, who was talking about Sunday’s race.
He could have been talking about the entire season. Or he might have been speaking about Schumacher’s 14-season career, the most illustrious in the sport’s history.
Schumacher’s victory brought Ferrari their sixth straight constructors’ championship with five races remaining. All but mathematically clinched, Schumacher could wrap up an unprecedented seventh drivers’ title in two weeks at the Belgian Grand Prix. If not, it could come in the next race at Monza, just 200km from Ferrari’s homebase in Maranello, Italy.
The only driver who can beat Schumacher for the season title is Barrichello, and he knows his odds.
”Michael is far and away from everybody in terms of points,” he conceded.
The 35-year-old German on Sunday also became the first to win seven consecutive races in a single season. Italian Alberto Ascari won nine straight, but that was over two seasons — 1952 and 1953 — and in a different era.
”It’s just keeps going, and I’m going to enjoy it as long as it does,” Schumacher said. ”One day it will finish.”
Speaking in particular of the constructors’ title, he added: ”It’s the way we did it, so early so dominant and so perfect. It’s just outstanding.”
Schumacher won five straight to start the season. In Monaco, he was leading when he was knocked out in a freak crash with Juan Pablo Montoya as the cars were running behind the safety car.
Renault’s Fernando Alonso, who won in Budapest last year, was third and 44,5 seconds behind the winner with fourth place for Williams-BMW’s Juan Pablo Montoya. Jenson Button of BAR-Honda was fifth, followed by teammate Takuma Sato.
Schumacher’s winning time at the Hungaroring was one hour, 35 minutes and 26,131 seconds at an average speed of 192,798kph.
A look at the major formula-one records held by Michael Schumacher:
- Most victories in a season (12);
- Most career victories (82);
- Most series championships (six);
- Most points (1 158); and
- Most consecutive wins in a single season (seven).
The only major record he does not hold is the 65 poles won by Ayrton Senna. Schumacher won the pole in Hungary and has 62.
Starting from the number-one spot with Barrichello alongside, Schumacher took the lead on the first turn and never trailed — not even after his three pit stops. In a season made dull by Schumacher’s dominance, this race was another non-event, free of incidents with little passing in a processional parade behind Schumacher. Only five cars failed to finish.
Schumacher was in complete control, and led Barrichello by 20 seconds with 20 laps to go in the 70-lap event. He slowed at the end, allowing the Brazilian to finish just 4,4 seconds behind.
”The easy part started after the last pit stop when I had a safe margin, then I was driving safely,” Schumacher said ”But before that I was pushing, and Rubens was pushing me as well.”
In this season’s constructors’ championship, Ferrari have 202 points. Renault are number two with only 91.
In the drivers’ standings, Schumacher has 120 with Barrichello on 82. They are followed by Button (65) and Jarno Trulli of Renault (46).
Anyone hoping for Schumacher to be knocked out by a mechanical failure can forget it. He hasn’t gone out of a race that way in three years.
”Our reliability is just unbelievable,” Barrichello said.
Jordan owner Eddie Jordan summed up Schumacher’s dominance.
”We had just better sit down and pray that Michael retires sooner rather than later,” Jordan said. — Sapa-AP