The longest season in the fifty sixth year history of the Formula 1 World Championship comes to an end this weekend at the biggest purpose-built F1 racing facility in the world, the Shanghai International Circuit.

When the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro duo of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello take to the track on Friday, it will not be the first time this year that the Prancing Horse has put on a show in China. At the end of August, two F612 Scagliettis took part in the “Ferrari 15,000 Red Miles.” Supported by Fiat China and the National Tourism Authority, this event saw the two cars complete a 15,000 mile trip around this huge country, with the cars driven by local and international journalists. The two Scagliettis embarked on the trip which began and ended in Shanghai, on 29th August on a route which took in Manchuria, Tibet, Lhasa, the Gobi Desert and the Great Wall of China.

Ferrari has been represented in China since 1993, at first through an importer, today more directly with a joint-venture, the Ferrari Maserati Cars International Trading. Currently, Ferrari dealers can be found in seven Chinese cities and there are plans to increase this number significantly in the next few years, with a total of twelve dealers up and running by the end of this year. From 1993 to 2004, 120 Ferrari cars have been sold, significantly 42 of those in 2004 alone, while the figure is set to go up to ninety for this year, with China likely to become Ferrari’s fifth or sixth biggest market in terms of sales within the next two or three years.

Although China does not have much of a motor racing history, the sport is now proving extremely popular, with 145,000 spectators attending last year’s inaugural Chinese Grand Prix and a bigger crowd is expected this time at the facility that has the capacity to seat 200,000. The 5.4 kilometre circuit is shaped like the Chinese symbol “Shang,” and the main grandstands offer terrific views of much of the course. The circuit was built from scratch in just eighteen months and the fact that the site was originally swamp land called for some interesting construction techniques, including sinking huge amounts of polystyrene as part of the foundations! Everything about the facility is vast, from the huge glass pods that span the track at either end of the main straight, housing Race Control, the Media Centre and a VIP viewing area, to the team offices in the paddock, which sit on stilts over a small lake. The track layout itself was an instant hit with the F1 drivers, who relished the challenge of a circuit that offered plenty of fast sections, some overtaking opportunities and very challenging corners, including a banked section. It has fourteen corners, seven left and seven right and Turn 1 is particularly challenging as it has more than one apex, while the longest straight is located between the final two turns, is over a kilometre in length, allowing the cars to hit speeds in excess of 330 km/h.

Rubens Barrichello had the honour of being the first driver to have his name engraved on a Chinese Grand Prix winner’s trophy last year and the Brazilian recently described standing on the massive podium next to Ferrari President, Luca di Montezemolo, as one of the highlights of his racing career. On current form, a podium finish for either the Brazilian or his team-mate, would require an element of luck at the end of what has been a very tough season for the Scuderia.
 

After Japan, the team has at least made sure it has secured third place in the Constructors’ Championship, a title that will pass to another team this weekend, for the first time since 1998. Theoretically, Michael Schumacher can still finish third in the Drivers’ classification, but as Ferrari Managing Director Jean Todt pointed out in Japan last week, “for a seven times world champion, finishing third is not something of any importance.” Therefore the man in red for whom the Chinese Grand Prix possibly has the greatest significance is last year’s Shanghai winner, Rubens Barrichello. It will be the 33 year old Brazilian’s 103rd and final appearance at the wheel of a Ferrari, since he joined the team at the start of the 2000 season. All of his nine grand prix wins have been achieved with the Scuderia and in addition he has started from pole eleven times, finishing on the podium on no less than 55 occasions.

RUBENS BARRICHELLO

For the final time in his career, Rubens Barrichello took part in his usual Thursday afternoon meeting with the media, dressed in Ferrari red, outside the team’s office on stilts in the Shanghai paddock. “I do not feel any particular emotion at the moment, but I am sure that will be different on Sunday,” said the Brazilian. “Standing on the podium here last year, alongside Luca di Montezemolo was one of the best moments of my career,” recalled the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver. “In fact, Montezemolo does not come to the race track very often but has often been there for important moments for me, like my first pole at Silverstone and my wins in Monza and China. But although I say Sunday will be emotional, it is not sad, because I have now chosen a different path after six years with Ferrari. I remember as though it was yesterday the first day I came to the Fiorano track and saw my name on the side of the car. It was snowing and I had to wait for the snow to melt from the track before I could drive. That was a memory I will keep for ever, as I will also remember the warmth of the crowd, which I will miss especially at Imola and Monza and I also recall the smiles of my mechanics when I got a good result for them.”

Barrichello pointed out that Ferrari was not very successful in his early days there. “I arrived when it was having a difficult time and I am proud to have contributed to its growth.” Asked to pick out his worse moment with the team, he replied: “That would be the time I ran out of fuel while leading in Brazil,” he said, referring to the 2003 race. “That still sticks in my throat.”

The Jordan name disappears from F1 this Sunday, as the team will be called Midland next year. “I will remember Eddie Jordan for all the laughter we had together,” said Rubens of the team boss who brought him into F1. “Gary Anderson (the team’s technical director at the time) was fundamental to my growing up as a driver and I remember the mechanics were all very good and hard working. It is sad to see the name go, but that is the way of the world now, not just in F1.” With the season coming to a close, Barrichello’s last official function for the Scuderia will be the Ferrari World Finals at Mugello next weekend. After that, he is planning a special final farewell at Fiorano. “I am bringing all my family to Fiorano to take them out in the 3-seater F1 car. That will be my bye bye to Ferrari.”

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

Michael Schumacher was in philosophical mood when he met the media in the Shanghai paddock yesterday. “Even without the results, there have been some good moments and some fun moments this season,” said the outgoing champion. “Monaco for example was a race I enjoyed. But we knew our situation would have to change sooner or later. But if you look at the end result, this year is not so bad. We have claimed third in the Constructors’ championship and I am currently third in the Drivers.’” The question of the qualifying format has been a major topic of discussion in recent weeks and Schumacher was asked for his opinion. “I think there have been about seven format changes in the last five years,” he calculated. “I think that shows there is no optimum solution and so the matter should be given a lot of thought before a decision is made.”

And the obvious question: would he miss Barrichello after this weekend? “Miss him? I don’t know if that is the right word, because he is not leaving the sport,” commented Michael. “But he will not be my team-mate and we did have a good time together, but I really don’t feel he is gone and I am sure I will still see as much if not more of him at parties and other events. We had a successful time together and I hope that continues with Felipe.” As for this weekend, Michael was not sure what to expect: “It could be like Brazil, or it could turn out like Japan.” Next weekend, he too will be at Mugello for the Ferrari World Finals. “This has always been an important event and a way to say thank you to the fans,” he stated. “In fact, it will be even more important to do that this year, than in the past when we were winning.”