2001 Spanish Grand Prix edit
| 2001 Spanish Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 5 of 18 in the 2001 Formula One World Championship | |||
 Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | April 29, 2001 | ||
| Official name | XLIX Gran Premio de España Telefónica | ||
| Location |
Circuit de Catalunya Barcelona, Spain | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 4.655 km (2.892 miles) | ||
| Distance | 65 laps, 302.449 km (187.934 miles) | ||
| Weather | Overcast | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Ferrari | ||
| Time | 1:24.547 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 David Coulthard | McLaren-Mercedes | |
| Time | 1:25.151 on lap 65 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Williams-BMW | ||
| Second | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
| Third | Ferrari | ||
Qualifying edit
Once again, Rubens Barrichello was the undoubted master of qualifying with his third consecutive pole position but Ralf Schumacher did an equally wonderful job to separate Barrichello and his Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher. Juan Pablo Montoya was happy and contented with fourth place but the McLaren drivers Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard were not too happy to be back down in fifth and sixth. Jordan was where one expected them to be - seventh and eighth with Heinz-Harald Frentzen ahead of Jarno Trulli.
Race edit
At the start, Ralf Schumacher got off better and took the lead from polesitter Rubens Barrichello with Juan Pablo Montoya and David Coulthard doing the same to Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen. Ralf was leading from Barrichello, Montoya, Schumacher, Coulthard, Häkkinen, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jarno Trulli. The first two then made a gap from the others with Trulli dropping back from the second group of five. Barrichello was quicker than Ralf and took the led on lap 8 at the first corner. Before the stops, on lap 18, at the same tine, Schumacher found a way past Montoya at the same place. Häkkinen was the first to stop on lap 20. Frentzen and Montoya stopped on the next lap and Frentzen came out just ahead of Häkkinen. Häkkinen tried to go round the outside and his left sidepod touched the front wing of Frentzen's car, sending it into the gravel trap and retirement. On the next lap, when Coulthard stopped, he rejoined ahead of Montoya.
Barrichello increased his lead to seven seconds by lap 28 but then smoke satrted coming from the side of his car. It was coming from a radiator, and because of the dangers, Barrichello came in the next lap and drove straight into the garage. Three laps later, Schumacher went wide on turn 3, allowing Coulthard to get through. Ralf was seven seconds ahead but both Coulthard and Schumacher were closing in on him slowly. During the second round of stops, Häkkinen was able to find a way past Montoya. Soon after, on lap 46, Trulli's engine blew up and he retired. Coulthard and Schumacher were exchanging fastest laps and closing in on Ralf but Ralf held them off to win from Coulthard, Schumacher, Häkkinen, Montoya, Olivier Panis, Giancarlo Fisichella and Jenson Button.
Classification edit
Notes edit
- Lap Leaders: Ralf Schumacher 40 (1-8, 30-44, 48-65), Rubens Barrichello 21 (9-29), David Coulthard 1 (45), Michael Schumacher 2 (46-47)
- Luciano Burti had moved to Prost team from the Jaguar team to replace Gaston Mazzacane who was fired.
- Pedro de la Rosa's first race for the Jaguar team.
- Pedro de la Rosa's clutch failed in his first race for the Jaguar team. After jumping over a barrier to reach the pitlane, he lost his balace and fell down onto the Jordan team wall.
- Heinz-Harald Frentzen got punted into the wall after a controversial collision with Mika Häkkinen.
Standings after Grand Prix edit
Drivers`
- 1. Ralf Schumacher - 42
- 2. Juan Pablo Montoya - 26
- 3. David Coulthard - 25
- 4. Michael Schumacher - 19
- 5. Mika Häkkinen - 15
- 6. Rubens Barrichello - 13
- 7. Heinz-Harald Frentzen - 11
- 8. Jacques Villeneuve - 10
Constructors