Exactly 22 years ago, on August 29, 2004, the Belgian GP was held at Spa-Francorchamps. It was a crazy race: crashes and multiple mechanical problems led to no less than eleven retirements. Only nine drivers crossed the finish line after 44 laps, including Michael Schumacher. With a second place, the German secured his seventh world title, which would ultimately be his last championship in Formula 1.
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The chaos started already in the first lap. Mark Webber hit Rubens Barrichello’s Ferrari at La Source, after which the Australian lost his front wing and the Brazilian also suffered considerable damage. Then it went wrong again at Eau Rouge: Webber came into contact with Takuma Sato, who spun. Gianmaria Bruni tried to avoid the stranded BAR but was hit by teammate Zsolt Baumgartner and then by Giorgio Pantano. Webber, Sato, Bruni, and Pantano retired, which led to a safety car. Barrichello, Jenson Button, and Felipe Massa also had to pit for repairs.
Michael Schumacher’s difficult start
Schumacher also had a difficult start. From second on the grid, he was already passed by Fernando Alonso and David Coulthard. After the first safety car phase, he fell back further: Räikkönen passed him and a lap later Juan Pablo Montoya also went by. However, Schumacher remained calm and gradually worked his way back forward. He was helped by Alonso’s retirement due to an oil leak and by a collision between Trulli and Montoya.
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From lap 21, Schumacher was second behind Räikkönen, a position he would hold until the finish. The Finn eventually took the victory. With an impressive charge from P10, he gave McLaren the only win of the 2004 season. Meanwhile, with his second place, Schumacher had collected significantly more points than Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello, while only the Brazilian could still keep him from the title heading into Belgium. Ferrari had already secured the constructors’ title, but Schumacher completed the dominance by claiming his seventh world title and his fifth in a row.
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Read all about the Italian GP here
