Who won the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix in 2004?

Rubens Barrichello won the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix in 2004.

The race was held on September 26, 2004, at the newly constructed Shanghai International Circuit. It was the 16th round of the 18-race Formula One season and marked China’s first appearance on the championship calendar. Barrichello started from pole position for Ferrari and converted that advantage into victory over 56 laps.

Jenson Button finished second for BAR-Honda, while Kimi Räikkönen took third for McLaren-Mercedes. Barrichello’s Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher had a difficult weekend: he qualified only 20th after a problem and recovered to 12th, setting the fastest lap but failing to score a podium.

The result was Barrichello’s last win for Ferrari and his final victory until the 2009 European Grand Prix with Brawn GP. Schumacher had already secured the 2004 Drivers’ Championship before the event, and Ferrari had also clinched the Constructors’ title.

Button is an especially plausible distractor because he finished runner-up, but Barrichello was the pole-sitter and race winner.