2002 Malaysian Grand Prix

2002 Malaysian Grand Prix
Race 2 of 17 in the 2002 Formula One World Championship ← Previous race Next race →
Race details
Date	17 March 2002
Official name	IV Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix
Location	Sepang International Circuit Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	5.543 km (3.444 miles)
Distance	56 laps, 310.408 km (192.879 miles)
Weather	Partially cloudy, hot, and dry
Attendance	92,000 (Weekend) [1]
Pole position
Driver	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Time	1:35.266
Fastest lap
Driver	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams-BMW
Time	1:38.049 on lap 38
Podium
First	Ralf Schumacher	Williams-BMW
Second	Juan Pablo Montoya	Williams-BMW
Third	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Lap leaders

The 2002 Malaysian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 17 March 2002 at the Sepang International Circuit and was the second round of the 2002 Formula One season. The Grand Prix is notable for the first lap collision between Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya and Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher, which led to Montoya being given a drive-through penalty. This decision led to much criticism for the Malaysian stewards, with Schumacher commenting that the decision was "overly harsh" on Montoya.

The Grand Prix was won by the Williams-BMW of German Ralf Schumacher, who commented that it was "almost a perfect race". He was followed by teammate Montoya, and following them in third was Ralf's brother, Michael Schumacher. The race was followed by a decision by the FIA to give stewards more powers over the punishments of drivers who are involved in incidents which are deemed "avoidable". Also it would be Williams' only victory (and double) of the season, and one of only two races of the season that Ferrari failed to win (the other being the Monaco Grand Prix, won by McLaren's David Coulthard). The race was the only during the 2002 season that Michael Schumacher stood on the podium without being first or second.