Michael Schumacher's majestic march to a record-equalling fifth title win exploded into controversy yesterday as the German was handed victory at the Austrian Grand Prix when Ferrari ordered team-mate and race leader Rubens Barrichello to pull over just yards from the chequered flag.

Barrichello, who had outclassed Schumacher all weekend and taken his fifth career pole position in qualifying, had led the race from lap one and four laps from home and with a four-second gap back to second-placed Schumacher, looked assured of the top spot on the podium, almost two years after his maiden win at Hockenheim.

But that was without figuring in Ferrari's increasingly controversial team orders. With a handful of laps left Barrichello was ordered to hand the lead to Michael Schumacher. He did so and Schumacher took what may turn out to be the most controversial win of his career.

It was almost a repeat of last year in Austria when Barrichello was forced to surrender second to Schumacher in the last hundred metres as Schumacher fought to keep his championship alive against the threat of race winner David Coulthard. This was different though. Schumacher enjoys a massive lead in the drivers' championship and had been soundly beaten by his team-mate.

Schumacher, though took no obvious joy from the win. In a pointed show of dissent at Ferrari's decision, refused to take the top step and pushed Barrichello into the limelight. When presented with the trophy, the world champion refused, handing the cup to Barrichello.

It was scant consolation for Barrichello. While those with long memories will look back and remember Austria 2002 as a race where Ferrari team orders destroyed a weekend of supreme effort from its second driver, the records will coldly show that Schumacher won and his team-mate took second.

With the boos of the 100,000 strong crowd still echoing in his ears, Schumacher entered the post race press conference to more of the same. As the catcalls gave way to a barrage of furious questioning, the normally reserved and circumspect Schumacher finally lost his cool: "Look, when we won the championship last year did anybody ask about Austria? No! Everyone, in the end, thought it was okay and it was a fantastic job the team had done. Nobody discussed about Austria any more because it is one event out of 17 and that is simply it. Let's not go on and on about it because there's no point."

Barrichello, contractually obliged to let Schumacher through, could do nothing but sit beside the man who had taken his victory and mouth platitudes. "It's a team decision. I promise you that I have always been proud to drive alongside Michael. Today was a team decision. I think we should stop talking about it."

Jordan had an afternoon of emotional extremes. Giancarlo Fisichella finished fifth to take the team's first points of a turbulent season but the joy was tempered with concern for team-mate Takuma Sato, who was injured in a massive crash with Sauber's Nick Heidfeld on lap 27 after the German lost control of his Sauber on the run up to turn two and broadsided Sato