German GP Ferrari race notes

Rubens Barrichello
"Given that we felt the Williams was on another level, the two stop strategy was the right decision, as the best we could hope for was to finish behind them and I was the only one who could match their pace at the start thanks to that strategy. So I am very happy with this second place. I was already third before the red flag. After I passed Mika, he hit me from behind and I was worried the car was damaged, but the team changed the rear wing before the second start. Mika apologised to me on the grid. My fight with David was fun and fair, although a bit too close at times. The problem with it was that we were both losing time rather than moving forward. It was not a problem passing him round the outside. He left that side for me and we know one another since Formula 3 so we have respect for one another. I was surprised at the number of retirements to be honest. This result was really everything I could hope for today. I am pleased to have brought home six very important points for the Constructors' Championship."

Michael Schumacher
"At the first start I had a problem with the gear selection. I did not know where to go and when I saw Burti in my mirrors I couldn't move out of the way. It was a difficult situation but it could have been a lot worse. After the pit stop I had a fuel pressure problem and I had to retire. I am not too disappointed as the situation in the championship remains the same and there is one less race to go. It was a shame not to finish the race and pick up a further six points. Of course I'm very happy for Ralf as this is our home race and it was good to see him win here. It would have been nice to get on the podium with Ralf and Rubens and the fans would have liked it."

Jean Todt
"This was a very strange race and tough on the reliability for the cars. Ferrari has come out of it with six points to increase its lead in the Constructors' Championship and in the Drivers' classification, Schumacher's advantage over Coulthard remains the same with one less race to go, even if his brother Ralf has closed up a bit. Rubens drove a really great race, getting the most out of the strategy, which given the result proved to be the right one. The way the race went showed the importance of reliability. I am disappointed that Michael did not finish. He had a gearbox problem at the first start and then a fuel pressure problem just after his pit-stop. I am happy that Prost and Jean Alesi finished sixth with a Ferrari engine."

Chassis:
Barrichello: F201-206
Schumacher: F201-210, F201-211