Mark Webber in action at Imola Photo Jaguar Racing, Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Yes... miracles happen and a team that's been mired near the bottom of the grid can suddenly leap forward over the course of the winter and challenge the mighty Ferraris for the pole or the lead during a race. With the support of a large manufacturer developing the engine, solid work on the 2004 chassis, a strong up and coming driver, a team who was once battling for 15th place can be turned around as we saw during the course of the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola Italy.

Oh, sorry... you didn't think that I was talking about Jaguar did you? no... they're stuck in the bottom half of the grid, although not fighting with Minardi and Jordan anymore but with Toyota and Sauber. The big story so far this year is BAR Honda with podium finishes in Bahrain and Malaysia, a pole at Imola and a strong second place finish behind Michael Schumacher's Ferrari. Incredible what a new year and a change of driver brought them; it seems like the amount of money they've been saving by dumping Jacques Villeneuve is paying off and the money is big used in developing the car.

Imola was once again the first year of the European season, with the teams returning to Europe after the first 3 fly away races of the year. Officially named San Marino Grand Prix, after the small principality just up the autostrada in northern Italy, the race is held at the Enzo i Dino Ferrari track in other words in Tifosi land. Each year, thousands of Ferrari fans descend on the track hoping for one thing: a Ferrari victory and for the 4th time in a row this season they were not disappointed with 6 times world champion Michael Schumacher taking the win. Only glitch in this Ferrari dream scenario was a small mistake by the German costing him pole and a lackluster performance by his Brazilian teammate Rubens Barichello (6th).

It was also a very emotional week end as it marked the 10th anniversary of the death of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger both killed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix; Ratzenberger during Saturday practice and Senna during the race ending the world champion's brilliant career. Ironically, the man who went on to win this fateful race was Michael Schumacher then in his third F1 season which would see him win his first title.

Jaguar? well, "also ran" really is what describe this week end performance. Mid field in practice, Mark Webber did manage to grab P8 in qualifying but the team was embarrassingly un impressive. During the race, Webber suffered from a misfire inducing electrical problems... no Lucas jokes please... and finished 13th . Rookie Christian Klien crashed his race car in practice on Saturday, started 14th but once again dropped near the tail end at the start. 14th would be the best he could manage in a race with very few mechanical failure and all of the big teams having their cars at the finish (except BAR's Sato)

With the exception of Toyota, Jaguar is now the last of the big manufacturers in the constructors standing as both Renault and BAR Honda have made huge progress over the past year and are now respectively in 2nd and 3rd place. Now with a little luck, Jaguar and Toyota will soon have company with Mc Laren Mercedes continuing their free fall with both cars lapped during the race although just finishing was a big relief for Kimi Raikonen who started his season with three engine failures.

During the week end, the FIA also announced yet another round of sweeping changes but not taking effect till 2008. 2.4 litre V8, single manufacturer spec tires, ban on all driver aids incl traction control and even a return to a conventional gearbox and clutch. As expected, a number of teams have already voiced their opposition....

Next stop, the Spanish GP at Barcelonna where things could get interesting between Schumacher and Montoya in the aftermath of the hot tempered Columbian accusing the German of being either blind or stupid. The two got together during the first lap when Montoya tried to pass Schumacher on the outside of Tossa early in the lap. It was an optimistic move which left him struggling for grip halfway in the grass but which the race stewards called "racing". Ironically, even Montoya's own team laid the blame on the Columbian who went on accusing the FIA and the race stewards to be pro Ferrari. One thing is sure: sparks will fly in Spain if they get to the first corner together again.

San Marino Grand Prix Results