MONTE CARLO - Michael Schumacher's fifth win at the Monaco Grand Prix this morning (NZ time) extended his lead in the World Championship to 12 points, and Rubens Barrichello's second place completed the perfect day for the Ferrari team.
But even as Schumacher was tossed into the air by his delirious mechanics and Barrichello was embraced by Ferrari's sporting director, Jean Todt, prominent-figures in the rival McLaren Mercedes organisation were venting their frustration.
David Coulthard's hopes of joining Schumacher at the head of the title standings ended when, for the second time in three races, his launch control software failed him and he was forced to start at the back of the grid.
The Scotsman then endured 34 laps, almost half the grand prix, stuck behind the arrows of the Brazilian rookie, Enrique Bernoldi, unable to overtake the distinctly slower car on this tight, twisting circuit. By the time Coulthard was released from the shackles by Bernoldi's pit stop any prospect of a podium place had evaporated. In the circumstances, he had cause to be grateful for fifth place and two points.
However, Coulthard, the McLaren team principal, Ron Dennis and Mercedes' motor sport director, Norbert Haug, all condemned what they considered unreasonable and unsporting resistance by Bernoldi. Dennis and Haug harangued the 22-year-old driver personally and Coulthard weighed in later with his own caustic comments. Bernoldi defended his right to race for position and Tom Walkinshaw, Arrows' team principal, reacted vehemently against Dennis and Haug.
Almost unnoticed was Eddie Irvine's splendid third place, delivering Jaguar's first podium finish, but then such is the intensity of the competition and the pressures at the sharp end.
Coulthard had been majestic in qualifying, claiming his first pole position here. In warm-up he and his team mate, Mika Hakkinen, were comfortably quicker than the Ferrari pair.
Hakkinen tracked Schumacher for 12 laps until his car suddenly started behaving in a disconcerting manner and, after a pit stop, the team decided it was pointless his continuing.
Schumacher was free to drive his own race at the front, untroubled and unchallenged, the 48th victory of his Formula One career rendered a formality.
- INDEPENDENT
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