Spanish Grand Prix 2002 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Michael Schumacher extended his winning streak to five consecutive races with a masterful drive at Catalunya, continuing Ferrari's relentless march toward both World Championships. The German controlled the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position, managing tire degradation perfectly in the scorching Barcelona heat while maintaining a comfortable gap to his pursuers. The F2002's superiority was evident on every corner, with Schumacher extracting maximum performance to pull clear whenever challenged.

Juan Pablo Montoya provided the main resistance, using the Williams-BMW's horsepower advantage on the main straight to stay within striking distance of Schumacher through the first stint. However, once the pitstop phase completed, the Ferrari's all-round superiority became apparent and the Colombian had to settle for second place. David Coulthard claimed a hard-fought third for McLaren, holding off teammate Kimi Räikkönen in an intense intra-team battle that showcased the young Finn's emerging talent. Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari suffered rare reliability issues, retiring with hydraulic problems.

Schumacher's fifth straight victory matched his own record set the previous year and put him 26 points clear in the championship after just five races. The German's dominance was so complete that rivals were already discussing regulation changes for 2003 to restore competitive balance. Ferrari's superiority had transformed the season into a procession, with only mechanical failure or driver error capable of preventing victories. The next race in Austria would provide the season's most controversial moment.