Malaysian Grand Prix 2002 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Ralf Schumacher scored Williams-BMW's first victory of the season with a dominant performance at Sepang, leading teammate Juan Pablo Montoya across the line for a crushing one-two finish that demonstrated the Anglo-German team's potential as Ferrari's primary challenger. The younger Schumacher brother controlled the race from the front, managing his tire strategy perfectly in the sweltering Malaysian heat while his teammate provided the perfect support act. Michael Schumacher could only manage third place after starting from pole, a rare off-day for the reigning champion that hinted Ferrari's dominance might not be absolute.

The Williams FW24 showed exceptional straight-line speed thanks to its powerful BMW engine, and both drivers capitalized on superior race pace to pull away from the Ferraris. Montoya's aggressive driving kept Michael Schumacher under pressure throughout the first stint before the Colombian settled into a comfortable second place. The McLarens of Coulthard and Räikkönen ran competitively in the early laps but faded with tire degradation, unable to match the pace of the leading trio.

Despite the defeat, Ferrari left Malaysia with confidence intact - Williams had won through superior straight-line speed rather than overall package superiority. The Italian team knew their upcoming F2002 would address any performance deficits. For Williams, the dominant one-two finish represented their best result of the season and raised hopes of a genuine championship challenge, though these would prove short-lived once Ferrari unleashed their new weapon.