After the worst start to an F1 season in his career, no podium appearances in the opening three races, Michael Schumacher got his championship campaign back on track with a win today at Imola in a race he pretty much controlled through out. However, it was a joyless affair, with the death of his mother overnight in a Cologne hospital.

Schumacher gave last year's World Championship winning Ferrari F2002 its final race outing, an ideal send off, as he took his fourth win in five years at the San Marino Grand Prix. But with Kimi Raikkonen running a well judged race into second place, the German was only able to close the gap to the championship leader by two points.

The sombre Schumacher brothers had started from the front row of the grid and Ralf, from the outside slot, got the jump on Michael to lead the field into the first corner. Despite heavy pressure from his brother, Ralf held the lead until the first round of pitstops, after which Michael quickly opened up a 10-second advantage. Their team mates Rubens Barrichello and Juan Pablo Montoya, had held third and fourth as the Ferrari and Williams pair left the main field trailing.

Barrichello, losing time after a botched pitstop, pressurised Ralf Schumacher until the Williams driver ran wide at the final chicane ten laps from home, and although making inroads into second placed Kimi Raikkonen, the flag came down before he caught him, and the Brazilian had to settle for third place.

Montoya, in the other Williams-BMW, dropped from contention after a refuelling rig failure saw him having to make an extra stop, the Colombian driver eventually finishing seventh. New star Mark Webber dropped to eleventh at the start, then incurring a drive-through penalty for pitlane speeding before mechanical failure enforced his retirement. Meanwhile David Coulthard, after a disasterous qualifying session, worked his way up to finish fifth, but in the process lost more ground to his championship-leading team mate.

"This was a special victory. Today in Imola Michael proved yet again, even to those who do not seem to accept it, that he is a special man. Despite being in mourning, he wanted to take part in this race for the sake of the team and went on to win it. Then, going onto the podium, he wanted to acknowledge all the team and our fans, who love him as much as we do. We have gone through some very stressful moments and Michael appreciated the way the team supported him. It is at moments like these that the values we hold dear and cultivate in the team come to the fore." 

"Turning now to the race itself, I can say that it was good to end the career - at least that is our current plan - of the F2002 with a victory and a third place. It is a car which has exceeded all expectations. Rubens also drove a great race, fighting his opponents all the way. Second place only just eluded him. The Bridgestone tyres worked very well and the support of all our technical and commercial partners played a key role. The road to the top is still a long one and we are well aware of that. To return to our winning ways in Imola, in front of our fans and the Gestione Sportiva staff who were here to support us, is a marvellous feeling. We said we would answer our critics who accused us of being in crisis with our actions and we are proud to have done so." 

RUBENS BARRICHELLO

"My race was conditioned by the fact that I never really had a clear track ahead of me, because of the Williams drivers' strategy. In the whole race, there were only three laps when I could push to the maximum. So I was unable to fully exploit my three stop strategy. I was unable to get past Ralf in the pit stop and my problem at my next one lost me some time and but for that I might have caught Ralf earlier and been able to catch Kimi. But it was a fun race from a driving point of view with some good clean fights." 

"When I came up behind Ralf, I was enthusiastic about my overtaking, I saw my chance and went for it. In the closing stages, I tried all I could to catch Kimi, but I really did not get close enough until the final lap and then there was not enough time to pass him. It was nice of Michael to let me pass him, when his race was already secure and I was pushing very hard on my 'in' lap." 

ROSS BRAWN

"After a difficult start to the season and especially difficult circumstances this weekend, today's result is a great incentive to keep doing well and tackle the coming races with confidence. It was a shame for Rubens that he had a problem during the third pit stop as, but for that, he could probably have finished second. The car performed strongly and the strategy worked well."