Race report

The world champion's victory made him the first driver to win the same Grand Prix seven times.

"I have no special reason why I have won so often here. I probably just had a good package and a bit of luck," insisted Schumacher.

"Our competitors had problems, which worked in our favour."

While Williams and BAR opted for a three-stop strategy Ferrari decided to only make two trips to the pits and Schumacher was pleased that their strategy had proved superior.

"We thought on Saturday that we had no chance for pole so we worked our strategy for the race," said Schumacher. "The car preparation was fantastic.

To split the Ferraris is a good success but it is clear that we have to improve to win races Williams driver Ralf Schumacher

"Rubens (Barrichello) pushed me very hard at one point and he was very strong but we managed to do it again and it is just fabulous."

Ferrari looked on course for a one-two until second Ferrari driver Barrichello made an unplanned trip across the grass shortly after his second pit stop.

Before going into the pits Barrichello had been right behind his team-mate and looked as though he had a quicker car than Schumacher at that point of the race.

"The only chance I had to beat him was overtaking him on the racetrack or going further on fuel," said Barrichello, who eventually finished third. "It just didn't go the way we hoped.

"The turn was very bumpy and I couldn't stop the car. I lost five seconds in that corner, fell out of second place and that was it."

Ralf Schumacher's second place equalled his best finish of what has been a disappointing season, but he had hoped to win after starting from pole.

"It was clearly better than we expected at the start of the weekend but if you start from pole and finish second it is not very pleasing," said Ralf.