
Michael Schumacher won the San Marino Grand Prix for his and Ferrari8217;s first victory of the Formula One season on Sunday. It was the seven-times world champion8217;s 85th career success, and seventh at Ferrari8217;s home circuit, but he was harried all the way by Renault8217;s world champion Fernando Alonso.
In a repeat of last year8217;s nose-to-tail thriller only in reverse order, with that race won by Alonso with Schumacher failing to find a way past, the German held on to win by 2.0 seconds.
Schumacher8217;s last victory was at the six-car US Grand Prix last June, a race that turned into a fiasco when all the Michelin teams pulled out before the start. His last real win was the Japanese Grand Prix in October 2004, a season he dominated with 13 victories.
Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya was third for McLaren, ahead of Brazilian Felipe Massa for Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen in another McLaren.
Australian Mark Webber was sixth for Williams, with Briton Jenson Button seventh for Honda and Italian Giancarlo Fisichella taking the last point for Renault.
Alonso, winner of two of the season8217;s first three races, extended his championship lead by one point to 15 with Schumacher moving up to second overall. The Spaniard has 36 points, Schumacher 21 and McLaren8217;s Kimi Raikkonen 18. Renault lead the constructors8217; standings with 51 points to McLaren8217;s 33 and Ferrari8217;s 30. Alan Baldwin
Results Top 10
1.M Schumacher, Ferrari
2.Fernando Alonso, Renault
3.JP Montoya, McLaren
4.F Massa, Ferrari
5.K Raikkonen, McLaren
6.M Webber, Williams 8211; Cosworth
7.J Button, Honda
8.G, Fisichella, Renault
9. R Schumacher, Toyota
10. R Barrichello, Honda
Standings top 5
Drivers
8226; F Alonso, Renault 36
8226; M Schumacher, Ferrari 21
8226; K Raikkonen, McLaren 18
8226; G Fisichella, Renault 15
8226; JP Montoya, McLaren 15
Constructors Points
8226; Renault 51
8226; McLaren 8211; Mercedes 33
8226; Ferrari 30
8226; Honda 15
8226; BMW Sauber 10