Raikkonen leads for 48 of the first 58 laps – but struggles as the end of the race approaches, tyre damage causing the suspension of his McLaren to vibrate.

Neither he nor his crew have any intention of pitting, though, with Alonso catching him hand over fist.

Going into the 59th and final lap, he leads the Spaniard by 1.5 seconds… only to lose it completely at turn one, as his suspension finally gives up the ghost.

Schumacher tangles with Fisichella at the first corner allowing the McLaren’s to pull away until a track invader brings out the safety car.  Meanwhile Barrichello on a two stopper is storming up from 18th on the grid thanks to a wet qualifying to line up third behind the McLarens. Late rain leaves the stadium section wet but the forest dry – Hakkinen and DC pit for wets but Rubens stays out on drys to win his first race at his 124th attempt triggering emotion down the pitlane the likes of which hadn’t been seen since Canada 1995.  It also left the first three in the championship separated by 3 points at mid season.

But what I think it does prove is that there is basically, on average, one or two races a season maximum that are truly great, truly memorable, truly exciting events. Out of 17 races, is that really a good strike rate? There’s probably four or five a year that are really tediously dull, and the vast majority of F1 races are tense, interesting, strategic affairs, with leaders separated by 6 or so seconds trading fastest lap times, races that never really burst into something that gripping.