Always expect the unexpected

Alan Baldwin

Anything can happen in Formula One, and it usually does.

The favourite expression of veteran British television commentator Murray Walker, witness to more than half a century of Grand Prix drama, came to mind after Sunday's last-lap fireworks at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Hakkinen was heading for a victory that might have sparked a championship comeback when smoke, flames and bits of broken clutch began spewing from the back of his McLaren at the Circuit de Catalunya.

With about half a lap, a matter of seconds, remaining to the chequered flag, the Finn pulled over and stood helpless as Michael Schumacher -- more than 40 seconds behind -- stole an unexpected victory for Ferrari.

There have been few races in the history of the sport with such a dramatic finale, particularly one as heartbreaking for the driver concerned who was let down by something utterly beyond his control.

It was a reminder, if ever one was needed, that nothing can ever be taken for granted on the track.

The most obvious comparison was the last-lap nightmare suffered by Briton Nigel Mansell in Canada in 1991.

Mansell, heading for his 17th career win, led by more than 50 seconds and had lapped everyone except Brazilian Nelson Piquet's Benetton.

The Briton waved to the crowd in triumph as he approached the last few hundred metres and then he slowed, fists thumping the steering wheel before the car ground to a halt.

"It's almost unbelievable," he said later. "I went in to the hairpin and changed down from fifth to fourth like I always had, and then it went into neutral and the engine stopped."

GEARBOX PROBLEM

In 1997, Damon Hill was prevented from securing the first ever win for the Arrows team at the Hungaroring.

Hill, then the world champion, had taken the lead sensationally from Ferrari's Michael Schumacher on the 11th lap and led for 14 laps before a pit stop.

He later regained the advantage and still led by more than half a minute when his gearbox failed with three laps remaining. Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, in a Williams, caught and overtook him halfway round the final lap.

A cheap rubber seal had conspired to prevent one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport. Arrows are still waiting to win a race after 359 starts.

In 1982, Italian Ricardo Patrese won in Monaco for Brabham after a dramatic race that defied all predictions.

Frenchman Rene Arnoux lost his lead after a spin, compatriot Alain Prost took over but crashed three laps from the end and Patrese led briefly before also spinning.

France's Didier Pironi and Italian Andrea de Cesaris went past but Pironi stopped with an electrical fault with a lap to go and De Cesaris ran out of fuel.

Further back in time, races and championships have been lost and won after drama on the final straight.

The closest ever grand prix victory was that of Briton Peter Gethin in a BRM at Monza in 1971. Gethin beat Sweden's Ronnie Peterson in the blink of an eye -- by 0.01 of a second.

In 1959 Australian Jack Brabham won the first of his three world titles but he had to push his Cooper for the last 800 metres in the final race at Sebring in the United States to be sure of the crown after he ran out of petrol.

Brabham finished fourth.

"It must have been the first time the new world champion was escorted to the line by a motorcycle escort," he said.

"Black Jack" was also involved in two real cliffhangers in 1970.

First he led Jochen Rindt in the Monaco Grand Prix, only to go straight on at the final hairpin. He reversed out to finish second behind the victorious Austrian.

Rindt also snatched a late win at the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch when Brabham's car ran out of fuel.

In Belgium in 1967, leader Jim Clark had to go into the pits on the final lap to replace broken spark plugs and American Dan Gurney won.

It was only fair. In 1964, Gurney had been comfortably in the lead at Spa when he ran out of fuel with two laps to go.

UNLUCKY HAKKINEN

Hakkinen knows more than anyone never to count on anything in Formula One until the chequered flag falls.

The Finn has suffered more than his fair share of setbacks over the years, some of his own making.

In 1999, he provided one of the enduring images of the season by crouching sobbing in the bushes by the trackside at Monza after he selected the wrong gear at the chicane and put himself out of the race while leading.

The same year he was left with three wheels at the British Grand Prix after he had lost an early lead with tyre troubles.

Michael Schumacher, surprise winner on Sunday, can also claim one of the most confusing wins the sport has seen.

That came at a wet Silverstone in 1998.

Schumacher effectively crossed the finish line first but did it driving down the pit lane rather than the track as he pulled in on the final lap to take a 10-second penalty incurred earlier in the race for illegal overtaking.

Three stewards took the blame for failing to tell the Ferrari team about the penalty earlier in the grand prix.

Schumacher was declared the winner as he sat in his car in the pits amid total confusion.

Sometimes in Formula One, the only way to be sure who has won is to see who is spraying champagne around on the podium.

Images of Sunday's race