- R.Schumacher lead a Williams 1-2, after a thrilling and rather controversial race, at the start of which team-mate Montoya ended up penalized for a first corner incident with M. Schumacher. The two drivers fought their way back to the podium, even though M.Schumacher had to stop for a new front wing and Montoya had been given the first drive-through penalty in F1 history.
- This new penalty forces drivers to come off the circuit and drive through the pit-lane (i.e., at reduced speed) though without stopping. Montoya was furious at a penalty that he thought unfair, an opinion that the Schumacher brothers actually seemed to share.
- As far as this first corner incident, as it usually occurs, the views of those involved differed. Montoya claims to have given the German Champion room, but M.Schumacher understeered agains the Colombian's Williams-BMW. M.Schumacher, in turn, mentioned that had he been given more room, they would not have touched. What both drivers agreed on was that the penalty was a bit extreme and that it would be healthy to have consistent rules.
- Although the expected rain never fell, there were plenty of incidents to raise the spectators' attention and adrenaline level.
- Rubens Barrichello stopped with a blown engine, when he seemed to have the race in his hands.
- The Brazilian driver was quick to take advantage of that first corner incident, and gained the lead, followed by R.Schumacher. The Ferraris, however, being on a two-stop strategy (whereas both Williams-NMW on a one-stop strategy), Barrichello actually needed to open a reasonable advantage ahead in order to secure his lead till the final flag. Just the gap that the Brazilian driver could manage was never greater than 7 seconds. After the race, we learned that Barrichello was not happy with his car, all along, a situation quite different from R.Schumacher's, who mentioned in the post-race unterview that his car was superb.
- At any rate, Barrichello was unfortunately forced to retire, when the good Ferrari engine surprisingly failed him. Undertandably, he seemed devastated, at first, hardly believing his eyes. We last saw him on the back of a scooter, being driven to the Ferrari box.
- J.Button also had a quota of bad luck: he was heading for his first podium finish (third place), when his car developed problems and, in the final lap, he saw M.Schumacher get by and snatch the third place. But Button was of coursea lot luckier than Barrichello, as the young Briton did finish the race, and in the points. Team-mate J.Trulli, in turn, was first driver to retire, with technical problems.
- Following Button's Renault, the two Saubers of Nick Heidfeld and Felipe Massa received the final flag in fifth and sixth. Massa was thrilled at his first point ever in F1 racing. To add to the Sauber Team's joy was the fact that this was the first tikme that they managed to score points in their "home" race,
- Now, the BMW Williams Team leads the Constructors Championship for the first time since their partnership begun (and the last time the Williams Team lead the constructors' championship was in 1997). This result is additionally significant as this is the first time ever that a BMW-powered Team conquers a one-two finish -- not even when they won the championship title in 1983 did this happen.
- Juan Pablo Montoya is now second in the Drivers' Championship and Ralf Schumacher, third. Of the top teams, neither Barrichello nor Coulthard have scored any points so far. Will Barrichello's elusive second win come in his home race?...
- A.McNish was another driver to be tricked by Mr.McFate, who disregarded the fact that this Sunday was St.Patrick's Day. McNish looked like he was on his way for his first-ever point, when a problematic pit stop dropped him down to seventh, where he remained till the final flag. Team-mate M.Salo was twelfth, victim of car problems, as so many others this Sunday.
- T.Sato had his share of trouble, when the Japanese rookie ran into the back of Fisichella's car, and incident that forced both into the pits, to Eddie Jordan's despair. This cost Fisichella's race, as the repair his car needed lasted some three laps, before he could rejoined the field. Fisichella eventually finished last, in thirteenth place, whereas Sato was ninth. After the race, the Japanese rookie apologized all over to his team-mate, as well as apologized to the entire team, one by one.
- Neither Minardi finished the race this time. Webber retired with car problems, whereas local-boy Yoong seemed to have retired in the aftermath of an incident with E.Irvine, who ran into the back of the Minardi when trying to overlap Yoong.
- No better luck had the McLaren Team who, as a result, now lies in third in the Constructors' Championship. Both drivers retired with car problems.
- If E.Irvine retired, following his incident with Yoong, P.de la Rosa at least managed to finish tenth, though not without enduring technical problems with his Jaguar.
- Of the BAR Hondas, J.Villeneuve crossed the line one lap down, in eighth, whether Panis's tough luck this weekend seemed not to loosen its grip on him.
- H.H.Frentzen once more stalled on the grid. He finished eleventh. Team-mate Bernoldi was actually having one of his best races, when his car failed and he had no choice but to park it and hitch a ride back to the boxes.
- Bernoldi managed to pass some three or four cars, right on the start (a lesson that he must have learned from observing Verstappen). Midway through the race, Bernoldi had such a good fight with M.Schumacher that the young Brazilian managed to take back his position, after the German Champion had overtaken him. M.Schumacher eventually passed Bernoldi once more.
- During the week-end, Sauber has reportedly imparted that Jos Verstappen is out of their plans for the task of development driver, as earlier announced, following a couple of visits that the Dutch driver was said to have paid to the Sauber headquarters in Switzerland. The reason made public for the deal to have fallen through is that Sauber's cars are allegedly too tight for Verstappen's build and the factory couldn't conceivably make special cars just for test driving. Verstappen's manager, however, is reportedly certain that the Dutchman will be lining up on the F1 Grid at mid-season. Whether or not he has a special card up his sleeve, we must wait and see...and of course wish Verstappen all the best in the mean time.
 
- The next Grand Prix will take place in Brazil's Interlagos . . . ( click here to continue)
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