2002 Belgian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Both championships are already decided. Schumacher holds 112 points as champion; Barrichello is second on 45, the Williams pair of Ralf Schumacher and Montoya are tied on 40, Coulthard fifth on 34. Ferrari are Constructors’ Champions with 157 points. Williams are second on 80.

Previous race

Barrichello won in Hungary for his second victory of the season, leading Ferrari to a one-two finish that clinched the Constructors’ Championship — their fourth consecutive title. Schumacher reset the Hungaroring lap record of 1:16.207 on lap 72, before easing off to let Barrichello win by 0.434 seconds. Räikkönen finished fourth, Coulthard fifth. Davidson retired on lap 61 after spinning into the gravel at turn nine.

Between-race developments

The Arrows team — which collapsed after the German Grand Prix and has been absent since — attempted to negotiate a sale to an American investor to allow them to race in Belgium. After the investor reportedly agreed to purchase the team, Arrows travelled to Spa-Francorchamps. However, on the night of 30 August, lawyers advised the team to withdraw from the race because legal procedures for the purchase could not be finalised before qualifying began. Arrows will not return this season.

Davidson replaces Yoong at Minardi for a second consecutive race, the final event of their two-race arrangement. Yoong will return for the final three rounds.

Although there is no testing for the race, Luca Badoer shook down three F2002 cars at Mugello. Jaguar’s Irvine also shook down new front suspension components at Silverstone. Several teams have begun reducing development of their 2002 cars to focus resources on 2003.

Track changes

The exit of the Bus Stop chicane has been modified to allow a faster exit into La Source. The new pit entrance has been moved to just before the end of the Bus Stop chicane. The track has been resurfaced from La Source to Les Combes, and from Blanchimont to the Bus Stop. The exit kerb at the top of Eau Rouge has been flattened to allow cars to straightline the turn en route to Raidillon.

Practice

The first session was cut from one hour to 30 minutes after race organisers delayed the start by an hour: heavy fog prevented the medical helicopter from landing at nearby hospitals. Barrichello was fastest in the shortened session.

Schumacher ran wide onto the grass at the fast Pouhon left-hand turn; Räikkönen also went onto the grass approaching Blanchimont, both at high speed without incident. Panis suffered an engine failure at Les Combes in the final minute, requiring a 42-minute rebuild.

Friday afternoon (full session): Räikkönen fastest. Montoya went off three times, including once at Fagnes where he passed through the gravel and returned to the pits. Webber stopped at La Source with gearbox issues; De la Rosa’s engine cut out at the pit lane entry. Barrichello spun into the Malmedy gravel late in the session.

In Saturday’s third session, Schumacher set the first sub-1:45 lap of the weekend (1:44.951). Webber stopped with an electrical issue; Davidson’s engine failed and he was pushed to the pits. Villeneuve damaged a bargeboard on a kerb; Massa locked up at Malmedy. Räikkönen was fastest in the fourth session; both Schumacher brothers spun at Malmedy and Les Combes.