Schumacher wins but Sauber miss out on points

Michael Schumacher has won the European Grand Prix at Nürburgring near Cologne in Germany. He came home just 14 seconds ahead of the reigning world champion, Finland's Mika Häkkinen.

Schumacher proved once again that he is master of wet weather driving conditions as he drove his Ferrari to victory ahead of Häkkinen and the Scot, David Coulthard, in their Mercedes-McLarens. Schumacher’s team mate, the Brazilian, Rubens Barichello, finished fourth.

Italy’s Giancarlo Fisichella steered his Benetton into fifth place and Spain’s Pedro de la Rosa brought the Arrows team one point in sixth.

There was no luck for the Swiss Sauber team though. The Brazilian, Pedro Diniz, just missed out on the points after finishing seventh. Diniz twice spun off the track in the early part of the race.

Team mate Mika Salo complained of steering problems when he dropped out of the race on lap 28 after driving his car off the track and on to the gravel.

Schumacher’s win gives him a commanding lead in the Formula One drivers standings. He’s now on 46 points with Häkkinen in second place on 28 and Coulthard in third on 24.

swissinfo with agencies