[2] For 25 laps of the European Grand Prix, Kimi Räikkönen looked set to win from his first pole position and regain his championship lead.

As Schumacher spun and sat stranded, his Ferrari’s rear wheels spinning in the gravel, Montoya continued.

I wasn’t going to give him all the track, but I thought it was all right.”[citation needed] Schumacher agreed that Montoya had given him enough room and after a stewards’ enquiry, no action was taken.

Ferrari’s Ross Brawn was not content with the situation, but Williams technical director Patrick Head remarked that, had Montoya been penalised, it would effectively have been a declaration that overtaking was no longer allowed in Formula One racing.

[citation needed] Then, on the 57th lap, McLaren's David Coulthard suddenly had to swerve around Fernando Alonso approaching the chicane, and spun into retirement.

[3] Williams’ haul of points from a race in which McLaren went home with none moved them up into second place in the constructors’ championship.