2002 Formula One Season «2025-2027»

Austria proved that Ferrari wasn't just winning; they were engineering the championship result.

On paper, 2002 should have been a thriller. The 2001 season had ended with a resurgent Williams-BMW pairing of Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya promising to dethrone the red empire. McLaren-Mercedes, with David Coulthard and a young Kimi Räikkönen, looked sharp in pre-season testing. 2002 formula one season

While Ferrari’s technical superiority was undeniable, the season was also marked by significant controversy. The 2002 Austrian Grand Prix became a flashpoint when Ferrari ordered Rubens Barrichello to pull over on the final lap to let Schumacher win. The subsequent podium ceremony, where Schumacher insisted Barrichello take the top step, resulted in a $1 million fine for the team and eventually led to a ban on "team orders that interfere with race results". Austria proved that Ferrari wasn't just winning; they