Barrichello's turn to win for Ferrari

This time they settled the outcome 15 laps from the end, and this time Michael Schumacher did not have to push Rubens Barrichello to the top of the rostrum.

The Brazilian ultimately cruised to victory in the Grand Prix of Europe here yesterday, secure in the knowledge that Schumacher was under instructions to hold station and accept second place. Barrichello had only the second victory of his Formula One career and Ferrari doubtless felt they had recovered a little PR ground, just three days before their appearance at an FIA World Council hearing to answer charges over the shenanigans at last month's Austrian Grand Prix.

However, Ferrari are so dominant it seems they cannot win. Some observers argued that they again tailored the result to fit their requirements and short-changed a 150,000 crowd in the process. Schumacher caught his partner only to slow down and follow in his tyre tracks, all the way to the flag. They were still 46 seconds clear of third-placed Kimi Raikkonen, in a McLaren Mercedes.

Schumacher, who extended his lead in the championship to 46 points, towed Ferrari's party line, maintaining that his position, three races on from Austria, was far more comfortable, so there was never a suggestion that Barrichello should move over. The German also contended that their cars were so closely matched it would have been foolhardy to attack Barrichello.

Ferrari are anxious not to say anything that might prejudice their case in Paris, but admit that they regret their strategy at the A1-Ring and had stated they would "do things differently in future'.'

They were as good as their word here. Schumacher said: "Rubens deserved the win. He drove a superb race and didn't make a mistake. I did. I pushed so hard I went off and was still pushing up to the second pit-stop. We had a free race. After that, there was no point in taking the risk. The cars were so equal there was no chance to overtake. We were told to drive a safe race and drive home.

''There was never a question for me to be allowed through. The championship is not finished, but the points difference is now quite substantial. Austria was race six, this was race nine. That justifies the situation.''

It was so easy for Ferrari that Ross Brawn, the technical director, sat back munching a banana and amused himself by teasing Barrichello, calling the driver on the radio and saying: "Rubens, I want you to do something for me...'' Barrichello's heart pounded as Brawn paused and then resumed: "Win the race.''

Barrichello, whose only other win also came in this country, at Hockenheim two years ago, revelled in the acclaim and the sense of relief. "I told Michael Germany seems to be great for me and this time there were not so many tears,'' said Barrichello, now closing in on second place in the championship. "Today was fair and square. All in all, I agree with what happened in Austria, but what is done is done.''

Not quite, of course. Wednesday's meeting will revisit events on the circuit and on the podium in Austria and the word in the paddock is that the governing body is intent on punishing Ferrari.

Whether the FIA is able to turn the championship into a contest is another matter. Williams BMW occupied the front row of the grid here, but were powerless in the face of the instant red onslaught. The action was spectacular while it lasted, yet by the end of the third lap Barrichello and Schumacher had seen off Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher. The Ferraris pulled away at the rate of a second and a half a lap into a league of their own. Williams were left to fight a losing battle against McLaren.

Britain's David Coulthard had predicted incidents at the new first corner, a hairpin, and his race ended prematurely at that very point as he tried to overtake Montoya on the outside for fourth place. The Williams clipped the inside kerb, hit the McLaren and both cars were out.

Coulthard gave Montoya ironic applause and a piece of his mind when the Colombian appeared at the McLaren motor home to offer his hand in apology. The dialogue went like this: Coulthard: "Congratulations. There's no points for either of us. I gave you space.''

Montoya: "My tyres were a little bit slick. I spun.'' Coulthard: "I know that, you hit me.''

Montoya shrugged and shuffled away. Coulthard continued: "Sometimes you can't fight. There's no glory in both cars not finishing. This fits very well with the Montoya image in Formula One. The guy is all over the place and it's hardly surprising he's not won more Grands Prix. He's brilliant in qualifying, but he needs to calm down in races. I might go to see Sir Frank [Williams] and ask him to tell his driver about the big picture.''

Ralf Schumacher came in fourth and Britain's Jenson Button, in danger of losing his seat at Renault, responded splendidly by taking fifth place. Felipe Massa was sixth in a Sauber. Allan McNish brought home his Toyota in 14th place, but Eddie Irvine had to retire his Jaguar with a loss of hydraulic pressure.

RACE DETAILS

1 R Barrichello (Br) Ferrari 1hr 35min 7.426sec (average speed 194.741kph)

2 M Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 1:35:07.720

3 K Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:35:53.871

4 R Schumacher (Ger) Williams-BMW 1:36:14.389

5 J Button (GB) Renault 1:36:24.370

6 F Massa (Br) Sauber-Petronas +1 lap

7 N Heidfeld (Ger) Sauber-Petronas +1 lap; 8 J Trulli (It) Renault +1; 9 O Panis (Fr) BAR-Honda +1; 10 E Bernoldi (Br) Arrows-Cosworth +1; 11 P de la Rosa (Sp) Jaguar +1; 12 J Villeneuve (Can) BAR-Honda +1; 13 H-H Frentzen (Ger) Arrows-Cosworth +1; 14 A McNish (GB) Toyota +1; 15 M Webber (Aus) Minardi-Asiatech +2; 16 T Sato (Japan) Jordan-Honda +2.

Not classified (did not finish): M Salo (Finland) Toyota 51 laps completed; A Yoong (Malay) Minardi-Asiatech 48; E Irvine (GB) Jaguar 41; J P Montoya (Col) Williams-BMW 27; D Coulthard (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 27; G Fisichella (It) Jordan-Honda 26

Fastest lap: M Schumacher, lap 26, 1:32.226 (200.871kph).

Constructors' standings: 1 Ferrari 102pts; 2 Williams 57; 3 McLaren 37; 4 Renault 14; 5 Sauber 9; 6 Jordan 6; 7 Jaguar Racing 3; 8= Minardi, Toyota, Arrows 2; 11 BAR 0.