Dennis praises Schumacher

"Michael did a good job," said the McLaren team boss. "He put in some very quick in laps up to the last pit stop and that decided it - that's motor racing."

Mika Hakkinen was in the fight for victory until the final stages when the Finn was hampered by back-markers and unable to take advantage of the fresh tyres taken on during his second pit stop. The slowly falling rain also suddenly increased to make the track dangerously slippery as Hakkinen returned to the track on lap 37.

Schumacher was still on worn rubber, which was better in the conditions and allowed the Ferrari ace to build up a big enough margin to take the lead.

"Traffic was always going to be a difficult thing today," admitted Dennis. "I don't think the conditions helped either because it put the drivers in the position of not being able to push to the limit. Every lap they had to take a risk."