The 2004 Formula One season produced unforgettable images of hope and disappointment, friendship and rivalry, triumph and loss. Award winning photographer Keith Sutton selected the pictures that tell the story of 2004

A crushing Ferrari 1-2 finish at the season opener in Australia, led home by reigning champion Michael Schumacher, hailed fears of a 2002 style red wash - a concern not echoed by the jubilant Ferrari team.		Expectations were high for the much-hyped McLaren MP4-19 and Kimi Raikkonen entered the 2004 season as second favourite to Michael Schumacher. The Iceman, however, would suffer a succession of temper thawing technical failures and uncompetitive performances until a 'B' spec car reaped some success later in the year.
Jenson Button stepped onto the podium for the first time at Malaysia and soon grew accustomed to tasting the fizzy stuff – the BAR superstar finished top three ten times in 2004 en route to third place in the championship. A Grand Prix win must surely come soon.		Second position in qualifying at Malaysia for Mark Webber brought great optimism for the Jaguar team. However a disappointing race mirrored the remainder of a season where ultimately the bosses at Ford decided to pull the plug on the Leaping Cat's presence in F1. Webber, though, shone enough to earn a prime berth at Williams for 2005.
Formula One arrived in the Middle East for the first time as the Kingdom of Bahrain welcomed the teams with an enthusiasm and professionalism that belied their lack of experience for hosting a major sporting event. Fernando Alonso was one of those who put on an exciting display behind the all-conquering Ferraris to take a hard-earned sixth position.		Jenson Button showed the world that something other than a Ferrari could lead a Grand Prix at Imola – albeit only for the opening nine laps when Jenson pitted and Michael Schumacher showed his overwhelming superiority to storm into the lead and collect win number four out of four for the season.
The 2004 San Marino GP paled into insignificance as the motorsport world remembered Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger ten years on. It was most fitting that Gerhard Berger was chosen to drive a lap in the ex-Senna Lotus 98T: he was a friend to both and closer than many to the legendary Brazilian.		He makes it look so easy. Not even a cracked exhaust could prevent Michael Schumacher cruising to victory at Barcelona in his 200th GP start. By this stage people were seriously talking of Michael winning every race in 2004. But there are no certainties in Formula One, as the next race would prove.
A maiden victory for Jarno Trulli with Renault at Monaco was undoubtedly the high point of 2004 for most. The subsequent slump though in relations between Trulli and Flavio Briatore culminated in a dramatic loss of form for Renault and a premature departure for Trulli after Monza to join Toyota.		Michael Schumacher arrives at the Harbour Chicane with evidence he is human after all. Following the safety car called out for Fernando Alonso's crash, he hit the wall in the tunnel, which, in turn, helped hand victory to Alonso's teammate Jarno Trulli. If it were not for this error Michael would have won the opening thirteen races of the season.
Usual business was resumed at the Nurburgring for Ferrari as Michael took win number six backed up in second position by teammate Rubens Barrichello. It was a bittersweet weekend though for the team as Fiat Chairman Umberto Agnelli had died earlier in the week – black armbands were worn by the team as a mark of respect.		A rare slip for BAR third driver Anthony Davidson as he crashed hard during Friday free practice at Montreal. The young Brit impressed many with his speed and consistency, undoubtedly helping BAR on their way to second in the Constructors' Championship.
With Michael Schumacher continuing his destruction of the record books with a seventh victory in Canada, attention for many switched to the Euro 2004 Football Championship in Portugal. Button talked a good fight to Panis, but Oliver had the last laugh as France beat England 2-1.		A chilling moment at Indianapolis as Michael Schumacher crawls past his stricken brother Ralf, who suffered a severe back injury after crashing hard at the final corner on the Indy banking. Michael maintained his composure to take win seven of the season, Ralf would miss the next six Grands Prix recovering from his injuries.
Takuma Sato's exuberant performances had won him many fans in the opening races but had yielded little in the way of results. The BAR driver enjoyed his day in the sun at Indy with a fine third position, matching Aguri Suzuki as the only Japanese drivers to step onto the podium at a Grand Prix.		Renault was convinced they had a victory on home soil when Fernando Alonso took pole and led the race. They hadn't counted though on Michael and Ferrari gambling on a four-stop strategy to steal victory number nine in 2004.
Win ten from eleven for Michael Schumacher at Silverstone came as little surprise. Second place though for Kimi Raikkonen in the revised McLaren MP4-19B brought some comfort to the Woking team, whilst they were totally aware that second is the first of the losers.		The death of Minardi Sporting Director John Walton cast a dark shadow over the British GP paddock. Minardi ran in colours strikingly bereft of livery except for a personal message typical of the close-knit Anglo-Italian team. A gesture deemed fitting by all save perhaps the title sponsor of Minardi who withdrew their support two races later.
With win eleven at his home GP at Hockenheim, Michael Schumacher saw fit to deviate from his traditional podium leap to perform this move inspired by his daughter performing on her trampoline!		Had Jenson Button not been penalised ten places for blowing an engine during practice, it is likely he would have won the German GP. Second position marked the Button / BAR combination as the revelation of the season. It came therefore as something of a shock that only a few days later Button revealed his intention to leave BAR and join Williams for 2005.
Ferrari tied up the Constructors' title at Hungary, Michael making it win twelve from thirteen and Rubens finishing second for the seventh time. The prancing horse's domination of F1 was emphatic - going on to score more than double the points of nearest rivals BAR.		Those who managed to watch all of the Hungarian GP on television were enthralled by a slow-motion replay of Ferrari's Ross Brawn eating a banana – captured by a director with tongue firmly in cheek. The general lack of overtaking and sub-standard TV direction at many of the races were two prime causes of consternation for most F1 fans.
A well-earned victory for Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren at Spa-Francorchamps was a welcome respite from the Michael Schumacher steamroller and an illustration that if you give good drivers a proper drivers' circuit then they can provide great racing.		Michael Schumacher may not have won the race but his second position at Spa was good enough to claim a remarkable seventh World Championship title, celebrated after the event in typical manner with his Ferrari colleagues.
Their domination of F1 may be testing the patience of many F1 fans, but to their adoring tifosi, a Ferrari 1-2 is still a cause of major celebration. Rubens Barrichello pulled out all the stops at Monza to grab his first win of the season and help secure second spot in the Drivers' Championship.		With Ralf Schumacher out injured, Williams looked to their test drivers to fill the role of support to Juan Pablo Montoya. Marc Gene was replaced by Antonio Pizzonia at Hockenheim and impressed enough at the four GP he raced at to put himself as a favourite to partner Mark Webber at Williams in 2005.
The Chinese GP in Shanghai was a resounding success with facilities that raised the bar to dizzy new heights – about as high as the awesome media centre and hospitality suite towering above the pit straight. Rubens Barrichello took his second victory on a weekend where teammate Michael was strangely out of sorts.		With Jarno Trulli dispatched after Monza to resurface in Japan at Toyota, Renault needed a replacement for Shanghai and beyond. Enter 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, returning prematurely from a one-year sabbatical. Lacking fitness and testing time Jacques failed to deliver what was hoped of him, but he will be back with Sauber in 2005.
Olivier Panis bowed out of Grand Prix racing at Suzuka after eleven seasons and 157 GP starts. One of the most popular figures in the F1 paddock, Toyota will retain his services for 2005 as their third driver.		Typhoon 22 may not have reaped the feared destruction at Suzuka, but it did postpone qualifying to the Sunday morning as teams and organisers were forced to batten down the hatches. It brought about winds of change though as a successful qualifying and race both held on a Sunday prompted the FIA to ratify a qualifying session on Sunday mornings at all GP in 2005.
The crowd may have been praying for a Rubinho victory at Interlagos, but Juan Pablo Montoya spoilt the party with his only win of the season in his last GP for Williams. Barrichello did at least partially break his home GP jinx, appearing on the podium in Brazil for the first time.		Donkey does a great job of providing some welcome relief to a travel-weary, politically overcharged F1 paddock at the end of season finale in Brazil.