But then the lights went out in Melbourne. The star of the show wasn't a driver—it was a machine. The Ferrari F2002, designed by Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn, was so advanced that Michael Schumacher famously refused to drive it in early tests because it felt too perfect.
It didn't just handle well; it redefined downforce. It didn't just have power; its 3.0-liter V10 (the famed Tipo 051) produced over 835 bhp with a reliability that bordered on witchcraft. While rivals struggled with exploding engines and tire graining, the F2002 finished 14 of the 15 races it entered. The only retirement? A freak alternator failure.
It was the season that forced the FIA to rewrite the rules: new qualifying formats, points system changes, and eventually, the V8 era to cut costs. Ferrari had become so good, they broke the game.
Ask any Formula One fan to describe the 2002 season in one word, and you’ll get two conflicting answers: “Masterpiece” or “Monotony.”
“It wasn’t racing. It was a royal procession. But what a procession.” – Murray Walker
