At a glance
Schumacher won a higher share of races in 2004—13 of 18, or 72.2%—but his 2002 campaign was more consistent on the podium: 17 podiums from 17 starts. “Dominance” depends on which measure matters.
- 2002 wins11 / 1764.7% of Grands Prix
- 2004 wins13 / 1872.2% of Grands Prix
- 2002 podiums17 / 17Every championship start
Which season produced more wins?
Michael Schumacher won 11 of 17 races in 2002, a 64.7% win rate. In 2004 he won 13 of 18, or 72.2%. That is two more victories in one additional Grand Prix, and an increase of 7.5 percentage points in race-win rate. Both seasons were Ferrari campaigns; in each, Schumacher secured the Drivers’ Championship and Ferrari the Constructors’ Championship.
Win rate increased in 2004; it should not be confused with the perfect podium record Schumacher achieved in 2002.
Win Rate Percent
Grand Prix wins as percent of Grand Prix starts · 2002 and 2004 Formula 1 World Championships
| Season | Win Rate Percent |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 64.7 |
| 2004 | 72.2 |
The win rate answers one question: how often did Schumacher finish first? It does not describe how often he remained in the top three. Here the contrast reverses. The official 2002 driver record has him on the podium in all 17 races: 11 wins and six second- or third-place results. In 2004 he reached 15 podiums from 18 starts (83.3%), leaving three races outside the top three.
Was 2002 the more consistent campaign?
On podium frequency, yes. A 17-for-17 podium record gives 2002 a 100% podium rate, while 2004’s 15-for-18 equals 83.3%. The 2002 minimum finish was third; the official race record shows he scored in every round. In 2004, the three non-podium results were a 12th place in China, seventh in Brazil and a retirement at Monaco. These exceptions matter: a season with more wins did not mean every weekend had the same result.
Championship points offer another comparison, but raw totals must be handled carefully. Schumacher scored 144 points in 2002 and 148 in 2004. The 2002 scale awarded 10 points for a win and then 6–4–3–2–1 to the top six. By 2004, the top eight scored, with 10–8–6–5–4–3–2–1. Therefore, 148 is not directly “better” than 144 as a rate of performance; the second-place and lower positions had different values.
| Measure | 2002 | 2004 | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix starts | 17 | 18 | One more race in 2004 |
| Wins | 11 (64.7%) | 13 (72.2%) | 2004 led on win frequency |
| Podiums | 17 (100%) | 15 (83.3%) | 2002 led on podium consistency |
| Points | 144 | 148 | Scoring scale changed; raw totals are not like-for-like |
So which was “more dominant”?
If dominance means converting starts into wins, 2004 has the stronger rate. If it means avoiding a result below third, 2002 stands apart with a podium in every Grand Prix. The comparison also shows why headline points are weak evidence across rule eras: a 2004 second place earned eight points, compared with six in 2002, while the 2004 scale awarded points to eight finishers rather than six.
Neither season isolates the driver from the Ferrari package, rivals, reliability or race circumstances. These are descriptive records, not a causal measure of car advantage or a verdict on which title was harder to win. For the race-by-race shape of the 2004 campaign, visit the Schumacher topic page and explore the Ferrari hub. Browse our Historic Seasons archive.
Sources and method
Formula 1’s official race-by-race records for Schumacher, 2002 and Schumacher, 2004 give the round classifications and points; final standings are listed for 2002 and 2004. Win and podium percentages use starts as denominator: wins ÷ starts and P1–P3 finishes ÷ starts, respectively. The official standings show 144 and 148 points. FIA points regulations changed after 2002, with the 2004 allocation awarding points to the top eight. Sprint races did not exist in these seasons. Checked 2 October 2026.