2002 Australian Grand Prix
The 2002 Australian Grand Prix (formally the 2002 Foster's Australian Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race contested on 3 March 2002 at the Albert Park Circuit, Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The race, which drew 127,000 spectators, was the first of the 2002 Formula One World Championship and the 18th Formula One Australian Grand Prix. Ferrari's Michael Schumacher won the 58-lap race after starting second. Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya finished second, and McLaren's Kimi Räikkönen took third, his maiden podium finish.
| 2002 Australian Grand Prix | |||||
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Race 1 of 17 in the 2002 Formula One World Championship
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| Race details | |||||
| Date | 3 March 2002 | ||||
| Official name | 2002 Foster's Australian Grand Prix | ||||
| Location | Albert Park Circuit, Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||||
| Course | Temporary street circuit | ||||
| Course length | 5.303 km (3.295 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 58 laps, 307.574 km (191.118 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Cloudy at start, clearing to sunny skies. | ||||
| Attendance | 127,000 | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Ferrari | ||||
| Time | 1:25.843 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren-Mercedes | |||
| Time | 1:28.541 on lap 37 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | Ferrari | ||||
| Second | Williams-BMW | ||||
| Third | McLaren-Mercedes | ||||
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Lap leaders | |||||
Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello took pole position after setting the best qualifying lap. He retired at the start of the race after braking too early for the first corner, catching Williams driver Ralf Schumacher, who collided with the rear of Barrichello's car. Six drivers were involved in a separate incident. The safety car was deployed for four laps to clear the track. McLaren's David Coulthard led the first ten laps before a mistake on lap eleven allowed Michael Schumacher to pass him. Montoya then passed Schumacher for first place on lap twelve. He maintained the lead until he ran wide and Michael Schumacher passed him to retake it. He led the rest of the race to claim his 54th career victory.
Following this, the season's opening round, Michael Schumacher left Australia leading the World Drivers' Championship with ten points. Montoya was four points behind in second with Räikkönen third. With sixteen races left in the season, Ferrari led the Constructors' Championship from Williams and McLaren.