Long wait is over for Schumacher the younger

IMOLA, APRIL 16. It was only a matter of time - and some dry weather - for Ralf Schumacher to gain his first Grand Prix win and the Williams team to break the Ferrari-McLaren stranglehold on Formula One victories.

It was the first time in 23 races for a non-Ferrari or McLaren victory dating back to September 1999 when Johnny Herbert won in a Stewart-Ford. The last time a Williams car won was in September 1997.

Over the past three races the Williams cars driven by Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya have been making an impression. At the Malaysian Grand Prix four weeks ago, the younger Schumacher had the top time in qualifying until the final minute.

At the Brazilian Grand Prix, he shared the front row on the starting grid with his more famous older brother, three- time World champion Michael in a Ferrari. Montoya led for much of the race before crashing out, as did Ralf.

That led to a whimsical message of ``keep your distance on the rear wing of the Williams cars'' in Friday's practice for the San Marino Gran Prix.

In Sunday's race the others had to keep their distance as no one could keep up with Ralf's Williams-BMW. It dominated so much that it led to second-placed David Coulthard to congratulate them on Saturday, even though Coulthard had the pole position.

``I saw him and Frank (Williams, team principal) and said it quite clear you have a package good enough to win,'' Coulthard said. Ralf agreed. ``I must say, David was the first to congratulate me so Michael was the second.''

Michael had enough time to wait for his brother. He was out of the 62-lap race by the 24th lap when he had a flat tyre on his Ferrari that led to suspension damage when he had to go nearly a lap to return to the pits.

That was the first time Michael failed to come in first or second in a race since last July when he was bumped out of the race on the first lap.

Michael is now tied for the lead in the season standings with Coulthard with 26 points heading into the Spanish Grand Prix April 29.

However, the way the Williams-BMSs performed in the dry weather, the Ferraris and the McLarens might have to pray for rain in Spain.

The key to Schumacher's victory appeared to be the tyres from Michelin, which is returning to Formula One for the first time since 1984.

Their development in dry weather has been superb. Unfortunately their wet weather performance is not as good and it has taken its toll on the Williams cars in the rain in Malaysia and Brazil.

Schumacher said the engine and car itself was good which made Coulthard notice. ``Ralf had the quickest combination out there,'' Coulthard said. ``I think if I had a good start, I don't think I would have been able to pull away. I don't think the result would have been different.''

At the start Schumacher, starting from third behind Coulthard, took advantage of the wheel spin that the McLaren had and darted inside Coulthard to win the race to the first turn.

After that the Williams was unchallenged the rest of the way. Both pulled away from the field as Jarno Trulli's Jordan-Honda was in third, holding up the faster McLaren of Mika Hakkinen and the other Ferrari of Barrichello.

Michael Schumacher had dropped to eighth after a slow gear change allowed three cars to pass him. He was only up to seventh by the time he went out of the race.

Barrichello took advantage of the first pit stop to jump into third. After Hakkinen and Trulli went in, Barrichello went three more laps to gain more time allowing him to come out ahead of them after the tyre change.

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Section  : Sport
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