2002 Monaco Grand Prix

Championship standings

Schumacher leads with 54 points, 27 clear of Montoya in second. Ralf Schumacher is tied with Montoya on 27. Barrichello is fourth on 12, Coulthard fifth on 10. Ferrari lead the Constructors’ by 16 points over Williams.

Previous race

Schumacher won in Austria, but the result was overshadowed by Ferrari ordering Barrichello to relinquish the lead on the final lap. Barrichello — who had led for most of the race — complied, finishing 0.182 seconds behind. At the post-race ceremony, Schumacher insisted Barrichello stand on the winner’s step. The incident drew intense criticism, including from Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso. The FIA has summoned Ferrari and both drivers to a World Motor Sport Council hearing in Paris on 26 June.

Between-race developments

Teams tested at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Paul Ricard, Fiorano, Mugello, and Jerez. Ferrari spent four days at Fiorano and two at Mugello. Sauber tested for four days at Paul Ricard, joined by Arrows, McLaren, and Toyota for part of the session. Minardi did not test.

Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt says the public will be watching closely to see how the team conducts itself after Austria’s controversy.

Car upgrades

Ferrari installs new front and rear wings. McLaren modifies the MP4-17’s lower bodywork and has brought five cars expecting some to be damaged. Arrows, Renault, Sauber, and Williams all modify wings for maximum downforce. Toyota adds aerodynamic appendages to the TF102’s sidewalls and engine cover. Both Minardi drivers use power steering.

Practice

Monaco uses Thursday and Saturday practice instead of the standard Friday and Saturday schedule. Four sessions took place across the two days.

In Thursday’s first session, De la Rosa understeered at the Swimming Pool chicane and damaged the Jaguar’s nose and front-right suspension. Räikkönen lost control at La Rascasse and spun backwards into the barrier; the monocoque was beyond repair. In the second session, Bernoldi’s engine failure dropped oil as far as Casino Square; Irvine hit the oil and crashed. Massa spun 360 degrees at the Nouvelle Chicane; practice was stopped to clear debris after Yoong damaged his car at La Rascasse.

In Saturday’s final session, Sato hit the inside kerb at Sainte Devote and crashed into the tyre barrier at the exit. In an almost identical accident shortly after, Räikkönen’s front-left corner was torn off at the same turn. Irvine’s rear-left suspension failed at the Swimming Pool complex, sending him into the barrier. Webber removed his left-front wheel in the same area.