2002 Italian Grand Prix

The 2002 Italian Grand Prix (formally the Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia 2002) was a Formula One motor race that took place at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza near Monza, Lombardy, Italy before 60,000 spectators on 15 September 2002. It was the 15th round of the 2002 Formula One World Championship, the second Italian round of the year and the season's last race in Europe. Starting from fourth place, Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello won the 53-lap race His teammate Michael Schumacher finished in second with Jaguar's Eddie Irvine third.

Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya qualified on pole position after recording the quickest average qualifying lap speed in the one-hour session. Michael Schumacher started second, with Montoya's teammate Ralf Schumacher third and Barrichello fourth. At the start, Ralf Schumacher took the lead by cutting the Rettifilo chicane and was told by the stewards to give it back to Montoya, but he lost pressure in the engine's pneumatic valve system as he did so. Montoya briefly led, but the smoke from Ralf Schumacher's car and loss of momentum allowed Barrichello to take the lead at the start of lap five. Barrichello led for the bulk of the remaining laps, except for the first pit stop cycle, and won his third race of the season and fourth of his career. His teammate Michael Schumacher finished second, 0.255 seconds behind, while Irvine finished third, giving him and Jaguar their first podium since the 2001 Monaco Grand Prix.

The result saw Michael Schumacher eclipse his own record for most championship points scored in a single season, which he set in 2001. Barrichello's victory moved him 17 championship points ahead of the third-placed Montoya in the World Drivers' Championship. In the World Constructors' Championship, Ferrari expanded their unassailable lead over Williams to 103 championship points, while McLaren secured third with two races remaining in the season.