Schumacher toasts sixth success

Michael Schumacher celebrated an historic sixth World Championship after surviving a double scare at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka this morning.

The German finished eighth but was certain of taking the drivers’ title after Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello deservedly triumphed to deny second-placed Kimi Raikkonen the victory he needed.

Schumacher’s success by two points enabled him to break the record of five titles he shared with Juan Manuel Fangio and he also became the first man since the Argentine in 1957 to win the championship four years in succession.

But the 34-year-old had an anxious 53-lap race after being relegated to last early on following a collision with BAR’s Japanese driver Takuma Sato in his first grand prix for 12 months.

Schumacher, who went into the race nine points ahead of Raikkonen, later had a collision with the Williams of his brother Ralf after a fierce scrap for track position.

The 34-year-old would have been guaranteed the title anyway thanks to Barrichello’s seventh career victory by 11 seconds from Raikkonen, whose McLaren team-mate David Coulthard finished third.

It was a double celebration for Ferrari as they clinched the Constructors’ Championship for the fifth year in succession.

Jenson Button finished his first season in style with an excellent fourth place for BAR with Renault’s Jarno Trulli fifth and Sato sixth while Toyota’s Cristiano da Matta was seventh.

Brit Justin Wilson and Ralph Firman brought their rookie seasons to a close with 13th and 14th places respectively for Jaguar Racing and Jordan.

The duo must now wait to see if they will be retained by their teams for 2004.

Williams' hopes of snatching the Constructors' title from Ferrari were hit when Ralf Schumacher slid off as he tried to overtake Renault's Jarno Trulli.

The 28-year-old had started from the last row after being hit by the weather in qualifying and although he got back onto the greasy circuit was again right at the rear of the field.

Schumacher senior had moved up to 11th but there was drama at the end of lap six when he had to go into the pits for a new front wing after he was clipped by BAR’s Takuma Sato in his first race since last year’s Japanese Grand Prix.

The five-time champion had a lengthy pit-stop and returned in last place while Raikkonen had moved to fifth after getting past team-mate David Coulthard.

Montoya built up a comfortable lead but on lap nine suddenly slowed down as his Williams developed a mechanical problem which forced him to drive into the pits and retire.

Barrichello regained the lead but it also enabled Raikkonen to move into third spot behind Renault’s Fernando Alonso.

Raikkonen though was around 14 seconds down on highly-rated Alonso, who was just fractions behind Barrichello.

The top two both came into the pits for their first stop at the end of lap 12 enabling Raikkonen to take the lead for the first time.

But the lead would last only one lap as he went into the pits for fresh tyres and fuel next time round the circuit leaving Britain’s Jenson Button – yet to stop – in the lead for the second race running.

Button's lead lasted until he pitted at the end of lap 16 enabling Barrichello to regain the advantage from Alonso.

Raikkonen’s hopes were boosted when Alonso was forced to park-up his car when his engine blew on lap 19.

That left Raikkonen, who seemed to take on extra fuel at his stop, third with only Barrichello and Coulthard – who would inevitably move over – ahead of him.

Barrichello led Coulthard by just over 16 seconds at the end of lap 20 with Raikkonen seven seconds further back while Schumacher had forced his way back up to 12th spot.

Schumacher was 10th when he stopped for fuel and tyres at the end of lap 24 coming in on the exhaust fumes of his brother.

Barrichello increased his lead to over 20 seconds from Coulthard – with Raikkonen 12 seconds further back – when he made his second stop with Coulthard also coming in at the same time.

Raikkonen inherited second place while Schumacher found himself in 12th spot again.

Schumacher returned in 10th place but got ninth when he darted past his brother Ralf on lap 39.

But the 34-year-old then had to defend himself as his younger sibling counter-attacked, moving across the track to defend his position as his brother tried to use his superior speed.

Schumacher had to go across the grass as he tried to overtake Toyota’s Olivier Panis while his brother made an overtaking manoeuvre but it was Schumacher junior who squirted off after damaging his car on the Ferrari.

Barrichello, meanwhile, had an untroubled final stop at the end of lap 40 and had enough of a lead to return still he well ahead of Raikkonen with just 13 laps left.