Atlas F1 News Editor
While the 2001 World Championship battle was quite predictable and boring, the races themselves held much excitement and action, perhaps more than we've seen in years. On-track passes aplenty; heartbreak retirements; maiden winners; and much more. Pablo Elizalde looks back at each of the 17 rounds of the 2001 season, with the hindsight of how it all ended
Winner: Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher kept his momentum going from the 2000 season, and after four consecutive wins in the final part of last year, the German continued with his winning streak by dominating the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. However, the event was marred by the death of Graham Beveridge, an Australian marshal who was hit by a bouncing tyre after a heavy accident between Ralf Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve.
Right from the start, it became apparent that McLaren would need to raise their game quickly in order to stand a chance of fighting Ferrari's supremacy. Mika Hakkinen crashed out of the race after a mechanical failure, the Finn suffering a heavy impact that, as he later admitted, would give him a reason to start thinking about leaving Formula One. David Coulthard finished second, but the Scot already knew his team would need to work hard to catch Ferrari. "They are setting the pace and we are catching up," he said.
As for the rookies: Juan Pablo Montoya was outshadowed by Kimi Raikkonen despite the former being tipped as a potential winner, and the latter being treated as a potential danger, after making his Formula One debut with only 23 single-seater races under his belt.
Winner: Michael Schumacher
Despite running off the track and missing the barriers by the skin of his teeth, Michael Schumacher was able to give another lesson of driving skill as he extended his winning streak to six consecutive victories, the only living driver to achieve such a feat and the first one since Italian Alberto Ascari did the same at the end of the 1952 and the start of the 1953 seasons.
"Michael is a hell of a driver but I wish I could have a little bit of his luck as well," said teammate Rubens Barrichello after finishing more than 20 seconds behind the World Champion. Schumacher emerged on top of a chaotic race after the rain had flooded the Sepang circuit. Nearly every driver went off the track at some point, but Ferrari's decision to use intermediate tyres when the rest of the field opted for full wets gave the World Champions the edge. Schumacher was masterful in the wet conditions and overtook every single one of the ten drivers who were in front of him after going off the track.
David Coulthard was a distant third as the Scot began to emerge as McLaren's main contender, especially after Mika Hakkinen's poor performance, which saw him finish in a disappointing sixth place. "Ferrari are the class of the field and they are getting what they deserve," reiterated Coulthard after the race.
Winner: David Coulthard
After almost seven months without a different winner, it was David Coulthard who was finally able to stop Michael Schumacher's triumphant streak of wins, by staying out of trouble and scoring his first victory of the season with a car that looked to be the third best. However, the action-packed Brazilian Grand Prix was a race that will probably be remembered for Juan Pablo Montoya's performance in only his third Formula One event.
Montoya's pass and pace thereafter in the race was also seen as a confirmation of Williams's return to form after nearly four years of struggle, as demonstrated not only by the Colombian's performance in the race, but also by Ralf Schumacher's qualifying pace, which allowed him to complete the first all-Schumacher front row. However, what looked set to become Montoya's first win in just three races turned out to be a bitter disappointment when Jos Verstappen missed his braking point and crashed into the back of the Williams.
Coulthard took the gamble to opt for a wet-weather set-up and when Interlagos was hit by rain the Scot was able to benefit from it, despite his McLaren team - who had already lost Hakkinen after he stalled on the grid - waiting a lap longer than necessary before calling him into the pits to change tyres. Fortunately for them, Michael Schumacher was not at his best and, after spinning off track, the German had to be content with second place, which still allowed him to stay in the lead of the Championship.
Winner: Ralf Schumacher
What was surprising perhaps was that Ferrari and Michael Schumacher struggled at their home circuit, with the German losing his advantage in the standings courtesy of Coulthard's impressive point-scoring streak. After six consecutive victories and seven pole positions in a row, Schumacher's domination came to an end in San Marino, not only for having to start down in fourth place, but also because the Ferrari driver suffered his first mechanical problem, forcing him to retire for the first time since July last year.
At that point, it seemed like the battle for the title was about to become exciting. But again, things change very quickly in Formula One. "I have to say our rivals have made up the advantage we had over them," said Schumacher after the race. But the day still belonged to a Schumacher, as Ralf drove a flawless Grand Prix to score his first Formula One win in the first European race of the year. "It is a great experience and I hope it is the first of many," he said. "I've waited long enough for it."
Winner: Michael Schumacher
It is no secret that Formula One can be a very cruel sport sometimes, and this year's Spanish Grand Prix was probably one of the cruellest blows for a Grand Prix driver. This time it was Mika Hakkinen who was on the losing side, having to retire a few corners away from the end of the race, when the McLaren driver held a 45-second lead over Michael Schumacher. Just as it happened a year earlier, the Spanish race looked set to be the turning point for Hakkinen's poor start of the season. After only four points in the first four races, the Finn drove like he is capable of, and only bad luck stopped him from winning for the first time since the 2000 Belgian Grand Prix.
Just like a pendulum, luck seemed to go away from pole-sitter Schumacher halfway through the race, only to return to him in the final seconds of the event. A problem with his third set of tyres forced the German to reduce his pace drastically, allowing Hakkinen to move away easily. But when the two-time champion was ready to win again at the Barcelona circuit, his car began to spit sparks and smoke, coming to a halt halfway through the final lap. "I'm super-disappointed - goddamn it, you know, Jesus," spluttered Hakkinen after seeing Schumacher retaking the lead in the race and the Championship.
The race also saw two important achievements by two former CART champions. Juan Pablo Montoya was finally able to finish a race, and he did it in style by grabbing second place ahead of a surprise Jacques Villeneuve, who gave BAR their first ever podium finish. Unfortunately for the team, the sign was misleading and the Brackley-based outfit were never able to get close to the leaders.
Winner: David Coulthard
Just when it seemed that David Coulthard was starting to fade as a Championship contender, and especially following a poor qualifying showing which saw him starting the Austrian Grand Prix from eighth place, the Scot put in one of his best performances of the season, allowing him to finally become McLaren's main man. Coulthard not only moved within four points of Championship leader Michael Schumacher, but also was able to create a 32-point gap to teammate Mika Hakkinen, who once more was left stranded on the grid.
The German, who had scored yet another pole position ahead of an impressive Juan Pablo Montoya, endured a great battle with the Colombian, who was determined to stop the Ferrari driver from overtaking him. In the end, Schumacher tried to pass Montoya, who ran wide and forced the German to go off the track to avoid him, losing several positions and setting off an intense war of words between the two. "He just thinks - 'I'm Michael, so you've got to let me by'," declared Montoya, after Schumacher admitted he was upset by the Colombian's move.
All in all, it was not a good day for Ferrari, who were put under fire after their decision to impose team orders to allow Schumacher to take second place away from a less than happy Barrichello. "Imagine at the end of the season I miss the Championship by two points," said Schumacher after the race. If only he had known...
Winner: Michael Schumacher
There was little doubt that Schumacher had been the man to beat in the first part of the season, but McLaren's problems didn't help Coulthard's or Hakkinen's cause, the Finn also being a victim of the MP4-16's unreliability at the Principality. With Barrichello running in second place and the Williams out of contention, Schumacher cruised home to score his fifth Monaco victory and to move twelve points clear, ahead of Coulthard, a gap that would only be increased in the remaining ten races of the season.
In a race full of retirements, the lesser teams benefitted to score some valuable points. This was the case for Jaguar, who finally scored their first ever podium finish courtesy of Eddie Irvine, and for the struggling Prost, who returned to the points after nearly two years of drought with Jean Alesi's sixth place.
Winner: Ralf Schumacher
By the eighth round of the Championship and after their demonstration of superiority at the fast San Marino Grand Prix, it was obvious that the combination of the powerful BMW engine - perhaps the most powerful in Formula One today - with the FW23 chassis would be the one to beat at low downforce tracks like the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Canada.
Ralf, however, had other plans, and when his Michelin tyres began to perform at their peak after a few laps - something that would be common for the French tyre manufacturer for most of the year - the little brother showed he really knew how to win races, being patient behind Michael and taking full advantage of the Ferrari's high fuel consumption to run enough laps to emerge ahead after his pitstop, then disappearing into the distance, finishing more than 20 seconds ahead of Michael. The Ferrari star, however, didn't push very hard after his rival in the Championship David Coulthard had been forced to retire for the first time in eleven races, allowing the World Champion to move 18 points clear in the standings.
But the McLarens were never on the pace during the weekend, and Mika Hakkinen's first podium of the season was little consolation for the Mercedes-powered team, with the Finn finishing more than a minute off the leader. Another Finn, this time Kimi Raikkonen, was only two seconds behind Hakkinen at the chequered flag, confirming his outstanding talent.
Winner: Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher scored his fifth win in nine races despite a serious challenge from his brother Ralf, who again looked like the only man capable of stopping the Ferrari driver. But Lady Luck was on Michael's side most of the year, and after the Williams driver received a very strict penalty for crossing the line at the exit of the pitlane, the Ferrari driver was left to fight only his concentration, cruising during most of the race at the Nurburgring. Following his victory in Canada, Ralf and Williams continued with their impressive form by qualifying behind Michael and his Ferrari and presenting the only real challenge to the German, as McLaren continued to struggle for pace.
As for the McLaren team, things continued to look dim, and despite David Coulthard's third place, both titles were already looking out of reach, the Scot leaving Germany with a 22-point deficit to Schumacher. To add insult to injury, Mika Hakkinen was nothing but a shadow of his winning self, being constantly outpaced by his teammate and having to settle for the final point at the Nurburgring. Despite Ron Dennis claiming the Finn was not off form, it was obvious that Hakkinen's focus was not the same as before.
Winner: Michael Schumacher
The French Grand Prix was probably a perfect example of what the 2001 season was for Michael Schumacher. The German drove a perfect race and without having to give that little extra that he is capable of, and that in the past allowed him to win so many races, the Ferrari star saw his rivals falling out of contention one by one as he drove in an unspectacular way to his 50th career win.
For the first time in the season, Schumacher was pipped for pole by his brother Ralf in qualifying, the Williams driver scoring the first pole position for Michelin since 1984. Ralf led the race for 25 laps, demonstrating that his Williams was not only capable of winning at fast circuits. To make matters worse for the BMW-powered team, Juan Pablo Montoya succumbed again to mechanical problems when he looked set for another second place. For McLaren, the race was very obscure too, with Hakkinen again stalling his car on the grid. As Mercedes boss Jurgen Hubbert said after the race: "everything apart from the colours and tyres needs to be improved." Of course, being more than 50 points behind Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship, it was perhaps too late for that.
Winner: Mika Hakkinen
"He was flying today. He was much, much faster, so it would have been very difficult to win this Grand Prix," said Michael Schumacher after having to settle for second place behind a rejuvenated Mika Hakkinen, who left his nightmare season behind him at Silverstone and performed brilliantly to returned to the top step of the podium after 15 races and almost a year of a winning drought. The Silverstone paddock was delighted to see the two-time Champion demonstrating that, despite the criticism he was subject to after his poor performances in the early part of the season, he could be the man to beat when his car and his motivation were right.
This time, the Williams drivers were unable to match their rivals' pace, also continuing with their poor reliability record, with Ralf Schumacher retiring with mechanical problems and Juan Pablo Montoya finishing in a distant fourth, ahead of the other rookie of the season Kimi Raikkonen. Both the Finn and his teammate Nick Heidfeld completed another great performance from the Sauber team, who with Ferrari's one-year old engine, were showing the way to go to both Honda-powered rivals Jordan and BAR.
Winner: Ralf Schumacher
Only the continuous bad luck - in the form of reliability problems - that hampered Juan Pablo Montoya during most of the 2001 season stopped the Colombian from scoring his first Formula One win, and just like in Brazil earlier in the year, it would have been a deserved one after starting from pole position for the first time.
For the first time in 2001, Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen were forced to retire in the same race, with the German driver suffering his second and last (!) mechanical failure of the year during a race. For McLaren, that was nothing new and with Schumacher already out of reach and judging by the form of the Williams team, Ron Dennis's team were already concentrating their efforts in watching their back in both Championships.
The high-attrition race as usual allowed the rest of the field to grab some unexpected points, with Jacques Villeneuve scoring a second podium finish for the BAR team. The German Grand Prix also saw the return to the points of the Benetton team who, after a torrid start of the season, where they had to fight against the Minardis for the final row of the grid, were beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Winner: Michael Schumacher
With nearly a 40-point advantage and five races remaining, the only question was when would Michael Schumacher clinch his fourth drivers' crown. Fittingly after a dream season, the German did not waste any opportunities and with a flawless drive at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Schuey became only the third driver in the history of Formula One to win four titles. The tight and twisty Hungaroring circuit provided, as it does nearly every year, one of the most boring events of the season, which somehow fitted a Championship race that had lost all its excitement long ago.
"Today is all about Michael's win. I congratulate him on that achievement and recommend that he takes a holiday for the last four Grands Prix," said Coulthard after finishing in third place in the race, probably echoing the desire of the majority of the drivers. Unfortunately for them, there was much more to come from Schumacher.
Winner: Michael Schumacher
Fittingly, Schumacher achieved his record where ten years earlier he had made his Formula One debut with the Jordan team: at Spa, the Ferrari driver's favourite circuit. The victory was typical of Schumacher, dominating from start to finish, surviving one of his trademark scares by going off the track for a second, and finishing way ahead of his rivals to score his fifth win in Belgium. If, after clinching the title, anyone thought that Schumacher would relax, they were forced to think twice.
Schumacher's cause was aided by his rivals, who gave the impression of not wanting to win the race. As expected, the Williams team dominated qualifying and were the clear favourites for the race, with Juan Pablo Montoya heading teammate Ralf Schumacher for an all-Williams front row. But the Grove-based outfit suffered an embarrassing day, first with Montoya stalling his car on the grid, and then with Ralf being the protagonist of one of the most bizarre incidents of the last few years, his car still raised on jacks while the field got moving.
The Belgian Grand Prix was, however, marred by Luciano Burti's terrible accident with his Prost. The Brazilian crashed at more than 240km/h against the tyre barriers, fortunately surviving to tell the story, and demonstrating once more the high standard of safety in Formula One.
Winner: Juan Pablo Montoya
After his demonstrations of talent and speed both in Brazil and Germany, Juan Pablo Montoya probably did not deserve to score his first Formula One win in such a subdued race like the Italian Grand Prix, an event which was held under the shadow of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
After scoring his third pole position in four races, the Colombian did not put a foot wrong all race long and, for once, he benefitted from his rivals' bad luck, in the form of a problem with Rubens Barrichello's fuel rig. The Brazilian was Ferrari's main contender during most of the weekend, outqualifying and outpacing during the race a sad and absent Michael Schumacher, who was really affected by all the tragic events.
Barrichello got all the attention from Ferrari and performed better than ever, only to be thwarted by a problem which probably cost him his first win of the season. However, after David Coulthard's retirement, the Brazilian was able to move closer to the Scot in the standings, foreseeing an exciting battle in the final two races of the season.
The Italian Grand Prix not only confirmed Montoya as a race winner and probably as a title contender for 2002, but also something that had been expected for some time: Mika Hakkinen's decision not to race next season, and McLaren's to sign Kimi Raikkonen to replace him alongside Coulthard.
Winner: Mika Hakkinen
Amid extreme security measures, the United States Grand Prix took place - despite all the rumours and doubts surrounding the event - at Indianapolis, following the terrorist attacks a little more than two weeks earlier in America. And Mika Hakkinen took the opportunity to score his final Grand Prix victory at least until the 2003 season, though many believe it would be his last Formula One win.
Despite his 10th pole position of the season, Michael Schumacher was still not at his best and, being hampered by a wrong tyre choice, the German could do nothing to stop Hakkinen at Indy. Not that he cared much anyway, as almost everybody in the paddock was happy to see the Finn returning to the top step of the podium after the announcement of his temporary retirement. Rubens Barrichello completed a disappointing weekend for Ferrari after having to retire from the race with only two laps remaining when he was running in second, just when he was set to equal David Coulthard in the Championship.
The day, in the end, belonged to a happy and relaxed Hakkinen, and to the delighted American racing fans, who were grateful that the Formula One circus had decided to continue with the show when they needed it most.
Winner: Michael Schumacher
After a couple of races where he was not his usual committed self, and amid rumours claiming he was thinking about retirement, Michael Schumacher wanted to make clear that his will to win had not changed a bit, and the German put on another brilliant display of driving to close the season just like he had started, by winning from pole position.
Schumacher destroyed the opposition in qualifying, finishing seven tenths of a second ahead of Montoya, to clinch his sixth pole position at the Suzuka circuit. The Williams driver did his best during the race, and despite being the only driver who gave Schumacher a run for his money, there was nothing he could do to stop the Ferrari driver from closing with what was an almost perfect season.
The Japanese Grand Prix also marked the end of Jean Alesi's career after 201 Grands Prix and Mika Hakkinen's final Grand Prix before taking his one-year break, or before leaving Formula One for good. Only time will tell if the Finn returns. Fortunately for the sport and unfortunately for his rivals, Michael Schumacher will be there next season to try to reach one of the few records that the German driver does not yet hold: Juan Manuel Fangio's five World Championships. Eleven poles, nine victories, fourteen podium finishes and only two retirements tell the story of Schumacher's dominance in a season that will be hard to emulate, even for the quadruple World Champion.
Round 1: Australia Triumph and Tragedy
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:26.892)
Fastest Lap: Michael Schumacher (1:28.214)
Schumacher led from start to finish after clinching his first pole position in Australia, firing the first warning of what was to be a season of dominant performance from a man who was not always considered the quickest in qualifying trim. The first race of the season also saw the return of Michelin to Formula One, after an absence of more than 16 years from the sport, setting off a new tyre war that would subsequently increase speed throughout the season. Ralf Schumacher's fifth place on the grid proved that the French manufacturer, as well as the Williams team, were to become a serious threat to the established order.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 10 1. Ferrari 14
2. Coulthard 6 2. McLaren 6
3. Barrichello 4 3. Sauber 4
4. Heidfeld 3 4. Jordan 2
5. Frentzen 2
Round 2: Malaysia Sensational Schumacher Does it Again
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:35.220)
Fastest Lap: Mika Hakkinen (1:40.962)
Starting from his sixth pole position in row, the German and his Ferrari team showed once more they were a class apart as the Italian team achieved their first one-two finish for the year.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 20 1. Ferrari 30
2. Coulthard 10 2. McLaren 11
= Barrichello 10 3. Jordan 5
4. Frentzen 5 4. Sauber 4
5. Heidfeld 3 5. Williams 2
Round 3: Brazil A Star is Born
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:13.780)
Fastest Lap: Ralf Schumacher (1:15.693)
The Williams driver not only led half the race, but also completed a pass over Schumacher that many saw as the beginning of a new era.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 26 1. Ferrari 36
2. Coulthard 20 2. McLaren 21
3 Barrichello 10 3. Sauber 8
4. Heidfeld 7 4. Jordan 7
5. Frentzen 5 5. BAR 3
Round 4: San Marino Schumacher Part II
Pole Position: David Coulthard (1:23.054)
Fastest Lap: Ralf Schumacher (1:25.524)
The San Marino Grand Prix confirmed two things: first, that Formula One can change very quickly; and second, that Williams were back for good to the top of the sport. Both were good news for a season that had started with the old Ferrari-McLaren battle. After their performance in Brazil, it became obvious that it was just a matter of time before the BMW-powered Williams scored their first win since 1997, and when Ralf overtook David Coulthard at the start of the race and disappeared into the distance it was not a big surprise.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 26 1. Ferrari 40
= Coulthard 26 2. McLaren 30
3 Barrichello 14 3. Williams 12
4. R.Schumacher 12 4. Jordan 10
5. Heidfeld 7 5. Sauber 8
Round 5: Spain Mika's Heartbreak
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:18.201)
Fastest Lap: Michael Schumacher (1:21.151)
The fifth round of the Championship was also a significant date in this year's calendar, as it meant that all electronics aids were finally allowed. As expected, that didn't change the established order, and only Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen and David Coulthard noticed the introduction of the traction and launch control systems. The German driver was delayed by his starting system, while the Scot was forced to take the start from the back of the grid after his McLaren refused to move before the formation lap, a recurrent problem during the 2001 season for some teams, but especially for the Woking-based outfit, whose boss Ron Dennis began the infamous 'brain fade' accusations on Coulthard, who was not to blame this time.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 36 1. Ferrari 50
2. Coulthard 28 2. McLaren 32
3 Barrichello 14 3. Williams 18
4. R.Schumacher 12 4. Jordan 13
5. Heidfeld 8 5. Sauber 9
Round 6: Austria DC Strikes Back... for the Last Time
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:09.562)
Fastest Lap: David Coulthard (1:10.843)
As he had done in the first five races of the season, Coulthard stayed out of trouble and with an aggressive drive and a good strategy emerged on top as his rivals failed to challenge him. The McLaren was able to stay on track longer than his rivals, courtesy of the low consumption of the Mercedes engine, and benefitting from his rivals' misfortunes he took his second win of the year ahead of Schumacher. As it turned out, however, it would be the final time the Scot would present a real challenge.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 42 1. Ferrari 60
2. Coulthard 38 2. McLaren 42
3 Barrichello 18 3. Williams 18
4. R.Schumacher 12 4. Jordan 13
5. Heidfeld 8 5. Sauber 12
Round 7: Monaco The Beginning of the End
Pole Position: David Coulthard (1:17.430)
Fastest Lap: Michael Schumacher (1:19.424)
Following his victory in Austria, scoring pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix was surely a morale boost for David Coulthard. But one of the keys to this year's Championship was Ferrari's almost perfect reliability and McLaren's problems in the first half of the season. That was highlighted again at Monaco, where Coulthard's car was again unable to get moving on the formation lap, clearing the way for one of Schumacher's dullest wins.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 52 1. Ferrari 76
2. Coulthard 40 2. McLaren 44
3 Barrichello 24 3. Williams 18
4. R.Schumacher 12 4. Jordan 13
5. Heidfeld 8 5. Sauber 12
Round 8: Canada The Battle of the Schumachers
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:15.782)
Fastest Lap: Ralf Schumacher (1:17.205)
That, added to another flawless performance from Ralf Schumacher, gave the Williams team their second win of the season, this time with Ferrari and Michael Schumacher on track and at their best. The German star and his team were nowhere close to the top at Imola, but after his Monaco win and a dominant pole position, the elder Schumacher looked set for another win.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 58 1. Ferrari 82
2. Coulthard 40 2. McLaren 48
3 Barrichello 24 3. Williams 28
4. R.Schumacher 22 4. Sauber 15
5. Heidfeld 8 5. Jordan 13
Round 9: Europe Schuey Back to the Top
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:14.960)
Fastest Lap: Juan Pablo Montoya (1:18.354)
In front of a huge German crowd, Schumacher senior showed his determination on the track at the start of the race as, starting from pole, he veered across the track in order to stop Ralf from overtaking him. That, added to the penalty he received later on, and to teammate Montoya's second place, saw Ralf leaving the track furious. The Colombian, on the other hand, drove a calm and collected race to grab his second point-scoring result. After finishing against the tyre barriers in Canada, the European Grand Prix was the inflection point for Montoya's season, beginning to drive very fast and staying out of trouble.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 68 1. Ferrari 94
2. Coulthard 44 2. McLaren 53
3 Barrichello 26 3. Williams 37
4. R.Schumacher 25 4. Sauber 15
5. Montoya 12 5. Jordan 13
Round 10: France Schumacher Hits 50
Pole Position: Ralf Schumacher (1:12.989)
Fastest Lap: David Coulthard (1:16.088)
His only real rival in the race, Ralf, and his only opponent in the Championship, David Coulthard, were not able to escape problems. A slow pitstop from the German and a silly mistake from the Scot, who was penalised for speeding in the pitlane, cleared the way for Schumacher, whose fourth world title looked closer as the races went by.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 78 1. Ferrari 108
2. Coulthard 47 2. McLaren 56
3. R.Schumacher 31 3. Williams 43
4. Barrichello 30 4. Sauber 16
5. Montoya 12 5. Jordan 15
Round 11: Britain Hakkinen's Renaissance
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:20.447)
Fastest Lap: Mika Hakkinen (1:23.405)
Indeed, Hakkinen was the man to beat in the race, and despite scoring his umpteenth pole position of the season, there was little Michael Schumacher could do to stop his rival. Not that he needed to anyway, especially after David Coulthard was forced to retire with only three laps gone following an incident with Jordan's Jarno Trulli at the start of the race. That, added to his second place behind Hakkinen, left Schumacher with an advantage of 37 points over the Scot. With six races left, and in case the McLaren driver could win in each of them, all Schumacher needed to do to clinch his fourth title was finish third in the each of the next races, something that tells the story of the German's dominance.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 84 1. Ferrari 118
2. Coulthard 47 2. McLaren 66
3. Barrichello 34 3. Williams 46
4. R.Schumacher 31 4. Sauber 19
5. Hakkinen 19 5. Jordan 15
Round 12: Germany Lucky Strike for Ralf
Pole Position: Juan Pablo Montoya (1:38.117)
Fastest Lap: Mika Hakkinen (1:43.405)
However, after a problem which saw him losing some 30 seconds during his pitstop and an engine failure later on, Montoya handed the win to Ralf Schumacher, who benefitted not only from his teammate's misfortunes but also from a Williams that was miles better than their rivals, Ferrari and the Mercedes-powered McLarens who were clearly outshone at their home track by BMW.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 84 1. Ferrari 124
2. Coulthard 47 2. McLaren 66
3. R.Schumacher 41 3. Williams 56
4. Barrichello 40 4. Sauber 19
5. Hakkinen 19 5. BAR 16
Round 13: Hungary Schuey: Simply the Best
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:14.059)
Fastest Lap: Mika Hakkinen (1:16.723)
Schumacher not only scored his ninth pole position of the season in the most dominant fashion, he was also a massive eight tenths of a second quicker than David Coulthard. He also equalled Alain Prost's record for most number of wins in Formula One with 51, and apart from taking his second title in a row, the German and his teammate Rubens Barrichello - who finished second - gave Ferrari their third successive Constructors' Championship. The Hungarian paddock was a red party.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 94 WC 1. Ferrari 140 CC
2. Coulthard 51 2. McLaren 72
3. Barrichello 46 3. Williams 59
4. R.Schumacher 44 4. Sauber 20
5. Hakkinen 21 5. BAR 16
Round 14: Belgium History in the Making
Pole Position: Juan Pablo Montoya (1:52.072)
Fastest Lap: Michael Schumacher (1:49.758)
Michael Schumacher's dominance in the 2001 season seemed to have no end by this point, and to confirm it, the German star wrote another chapter of his amazing Formula One history by becoming the most successful driver in the history of the sport with 52 Grand Prix wins.
The McLaren team benefitted from Williams's misfortunes to consolidate their second place in the Championship thanks to David Coulthard's second place, who moved closer to securing the runner-up spot after being able to move ahead of a magnificent Giancarlo Fisichella. The Italian driver, with a rejuvenated Benetton, was probably the man of the race, eventually giving the Renault-owned team their first podium of a very difficult season.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 104 WC 1. Ferrari 152 CC
2. Coulthard 57 2. McLaren 81
3. Barrichello 48 3. Williams 59
4. R.Schumacher 44 4. Sauber 20
5. Hakkinen 24 5. BAR 16
Round 15: Italy Montoya's First Amidst Sombre Mood
Pole Position: Juan Pablo Montoya (1:22.216)
Fastest Lap: Ralf Schumacher (1:25.073)
Following Alex Zanardi's tragic accident that same weekend, and after the controversy over whether the start should have taken place without overtaking until after the second chicane, many wondered if the race should have been cancelled. As it was, Formula One went on, and despite all the surrounding events there was no demerit to Montoya's victory.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 107 WC 1. Ferrari 161 CC
2. Coulthard 57 2. McLaren 81
3. Barrichello 54 3. Williams 73
4. R.Schumacher 48 4. Sauber 20
5. Montoya 25 5. BAR 17
Round 16: United States Hakkinen's Swansong
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:11.708)
Fastest Lap: Juan Pablo Montoya (1:14.448)
The McLaren team opted for the right strategy and the right tyre choice, aided by Juan Pablo Montoya's retirement when the Colombian looked set to grab his second win in a row.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 113 WC 1. Ferrari 167 CC
2. Coulthard 61 2. McLaren 95
3. Barrichello 54 3. Williams 73
4. R.Schumacher 48 4. Sauber 22
5. Hakkinen 34 5. BAR 17
Round 17: Japan King Schumacher Reigns Supreme
Pole Position: Michael Schumacher (1:32.484)
Fastest Lap: Ralf Schumacher (1:36.944)
The Ferrari star not only extended his lead in the Championship to a massive 58 points, but also set a new record for most numbers of points in Formula One, surpassing yet again one of Alain Prost's achievements.
Drivers' Standings Constructors' Standings
1. M.Schumacher 123 WC 1. Ferrari 179 CC
2. Coulthard 65 2. McLaren 102
3. Barrichello 56 3. Williams 80
4. R.Schumacher 49 4. Sauber 21
5. Hakkinen 37 5. Jordan 19
6. Montoya 31 6. BAR 17
7. Villeneuve 12 (2x3) 8. Benetton 10
8. Heidfeld 12 (1x3) 7. Jaguar 9
9. Trulli 12 9. Prost 4
10. Raikkonen 9 10. Arrows 1
11. Fisichella 8 11. Minardi 0
12. Irvine 6 (1x3)
13. Frentzen 6
14. Panis 5 (1x4)
15. Alesi 5
16. De la Rosa 3
17. Button 2
18. Verstappen 1
19. Zonta 0 (1x7)
20. Burti 0 (2x8)
21. Bernoldi 0 (1x8, 1x9)
22. Marques 0 (2x9)
23. Alonso 0 (1x10)
24. Enge 0 (1x12, 1x14)
25. Mazzacane 0 (1x12)
26. Yoong 0
Standings updated after Jordan won appeal over US GP results
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Volume 7, Issue 43 October 24th 2001
Atlas F1 Exclusive
Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow
2001 Season Review
The 2001 Race-by-Race Review
The 2001 Drivers Review
The 2001 Teams Review
The Atlas F1 Top Ten
Columns
The 2001 Season Mega Quiz
Elsewhere in Racing
The Bookworm Critique
The Weekly Grapevine
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