china shanghai schumacher ferrari

After two races without so much as a sniff of the points at the Shanghai International Circuit, Michael Schumacher finally found the fortune he was looking for as he won a race that really should have belonged to Renault.

1. Michael Schumacher Germany Ferrari-Ferrari 01:40.193 2. Fernando Alonso Spain Renault-Renault 01:40.365 3. Jenson Button Britain Honda-Honda 01:40.590 4. Vitantonio Liuzzi Italy Toro Rosso-Cosworth 01:40.795*

Michael Schumacher's dismal season ended in equally disappointing fashion, after a spin while under safety car conditions caused the German to retire from the Chinese Grand Prix.

One of the more outlandish rumours circulating in the Shanghai paddock suggests that world champion Michael Schumacher deliberately pitched his Ferrari into a 150mph qualifying spin so that he could demonstrate both his and the F2004's prowess by fighting back from the rear of the grid.

Michael Schumacher will start the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix from the back of the grid, after making an uncharacteristic - and so far inexplicable -mistake in qualifying.