Schumacher survives scare

The problem developed after 11 laps when the left exhaust of Schumacher's F2004 split and the team's technical director Ross Brawn order the world champion to look after the car.

"We realised we had a cracked exhaust on Michael's car, which got progressively worse every lap," said Brawn. "The broken exhaust in itself was not a problem in performance terms but it was starting to damage the bodywork on the left hand side and in fact there was a bit of a fire there at the second pit stop.

"I really didn't think he would finish as the problem happened so early in the race."

Schumacher admitted that the problem had taken its toll: "Of course, I tried to look after the car, but in fact I could not slow too much as that would have made the problem worse. It became very tiring mentally, but I managed to bring it home.

"Five straight wins, 200 grands prix, 75 wins: so many nice numbers have come together and I am proud of it, but now I am just looking forward to the next race.

Rubens Barrichello opted for a two stop strategy in the other Ferrari which paid off as the Brazilian finished second having started fifth on the grid. "I had a great race," said Barrichello. "Now it is obvious I was on a two stop strategy, it explains why I was happy to be fifth in qualifying with such a heavy fuel load. I was so frustrated with being stuck in traffic in the San Marino GP that I decided to gamble."

"Given the result, I can be pleased with the way it worked out. I might have had a chance of getting ahead of Michael if Trulli had held him up a bit longer. Even so, my chances were looking good, but after the first pit stop, my car was a bit more difficult to drive with the heavy fuel load."