Schumacher reigns supreme

Schumacher was in a league of his own at Imola

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Michael Schumacher dominated the San Marino Grand Prix to take his third victory in four races this year and open a commanding lead in the Formula One world championship.

The crushing performance extends his lead in the title chase to 14 points - more than one race victory - and increases his record total of career wins to 56.

Schumacher's team-mate Rubens Barrichello made it a one-two for Ferrari, ahead of the BMW Williams drivers Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Imola GP result

1st: Michael Schumacher

2nd: Rubens Barrichello

3rd: Ralf Schumacher

4th: Juan Pablo Montoya

5th: Jenson Button

6th: David Coulthard

Unlike in the last two races, neither Williams driver had looked like being able to challenge for victory - and Montoya was comfortably outpaced by his team-mate.

McLaren's miserable season continued.

Kimi Raikkonen retired from fifth place on lap 44 with overheating rear suspension caused by a broken exhaust, and David Coulthard was sixth, beaten by Jenson Button's Renault.

Button drove an excellent race - he passed Coulthard at the first pit stops, and also outpaced his team-mate Jarno Trulli, who was ninth, behind the BAR of Jacques Villeneuve and Felipe Massa's Sauber.

It was a daunting performance by world champion Schumacher - he converted his pole position into a lead at the first corner, and proceeded to drive off into the distance.

We have to improve if we want to win races in the future - that's pretty clear

Ralf Schumacher

Schumacher said: "There are many reasons we can be proud and happy about.

"We failed last year [at this race], but this year we gave something back to the tifosi [the Italian Ferrari fans]."

Barrichello, who had been narrowly beaten to pole by Schumacher, was passed by Ralf Schumacher at the start, but reclaimed second place at the first pit stops.

Ralf Schumacher said: "Third was the best we could do.

"I managed to stay ahead of Rubens until the first pit stop but he stayed out a lap longer than me and that's why he got me.

"Our car was very good today, but it certainly looks like it was not good enough.

Button drove an excellent race to finish fifth

"We have to improve if we want to win races in the future - that's pretty clear."

Coulthard described McLaren's problems as "a general lack of grip".

He said: "The balance of the car was understeer in, oversteer out at all speeds - clearly we were just a mile off the pace today."

In a dull race in which action was thin on the ground, the only prospect of a change came from the weather forecast, which had predicted rain in the second half of the race.

But the rain - which would have severely affected the Michelin-tyred Williams, Renaults and McLarens - never materialised.