The 2004 Formula One season was the 55th season of Formula One. Williams' Rhys Davies entered the season as reigning driver's champion, with Ferrari the defending Constructor's champions. The season was a low point in the Mid-2000's Formula One crisis, where the FIA and Formula One teams boycotted races within the European Union as result of a conflict regarding the European Arrest Warrant. Additionally, the Korean Grand Prix was cancelled after an FIA inspection found the Seoul International Street Circuit to not meet FIA Grade 1 standards. Despite the UK government eventually reaching a separate agreement with Bernie Ecclestone, the European boycott and the Korean Grand Prix cancellation left the season with 10 races. This, in combination with a dominant Ferrari team, left F1 with record lows in TV ratings and on-track attendance. After a severe income loss, Formula One yielded and accepted to fully obey the EU regulations, resulting in a return of the European races for the 2005 season.
On the track, reigning Constructor's champions Ferrari successfully defended their title with the dominant F2004, which took 8 out of 10 race victories in a dominant season. This reduced the driver's championship to an intra-Ferrari batle, with James James Davies taking his first title after a season-long battle with Michael Schumacher. Williams were the best of the rest, taking second place in the Constructor's championship, with McLaren enduring their worst season in 10 years, plummeting to 7th in the Constructor's championship behind Sauber.
Teams and drivers
Season Calendar
- The planned Korean Grand Prix was cancelled on 8 September because the track failed to receive approval by the FIA
Standings
Driver's Championship
|
Key
Colour |
Result
|
Gold |
Winner
|
Silver |
2nd place
|
Bronze |
3rd place
|
Green |
Points finish
|
Blue
|
Non-points finish
|
Non-classified finish (NC)
|
Purple |
Did not finish (Ret)
|
Orange
|
Did not qualify (DNQ)
|
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
|
Black |
Disqualified (DSQ)
|
Pale Blue
|
Withdrawn (WD)
|
Blank
|
Did Not Enter (No text)
|
Excluded (EX)
|
Did not Start (DNS)
|
Did not Arrive (DNA)
|
Event cancelled (C)
|
Injured (INJ)
|
Bold denotes pole position
|
Italics denote fastest lap
|
† Classification despite retirement
|
‡ Race not run to scheduled distance
|
|
Constructor's Championship