2001 San Marino Grand Prix
Template:Good article Template:Infobox Grand Prix race report
The 2001 San Marino Grand Prix (formally the Gran Premio Warsteiner di San Marino 2001)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was a Formula One motor race held before between 80,000 and 100,000 spectators at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy on 15 April 2001. It was the fourth race of the 2001 Formula One World Championship and the 21st San Marino Grand Prix. Williams's Ralf Schumacher won the 62-lap race, starting from third. McLaren's David Coulthard finished second, and Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello finished third.
Going into the event, Ferrari's Michael Schumacher led the World Drivers' Championship from Coulthard while Ferrari led McLaren in the World Constructors' Championship. After setting the fastest lap in the one-hour qualifying session, Coulthard started the race on pole position alongside teammate Mika Häkkinen. Ralf Schumacher from third overtook both McLaren drivers into the Tamburello chicane and retained the lead for the entire race, taking his maiden victory and Williams's first since the 1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix; Coulthard ended 4.3 seconds back in second place. Barrichello finished third after switching from a two– to a one–pit stop strategy.
Coulthard's second-place finish put him in the joint lead of the World Drivers' Championship with Michael Schumacher, but Schumacher retained the lead overall because he had won two races to Coulthard's one despite retiring from the race. Barrichello was third, 12 championship points behind the two, but Ralf Schumacher's victory moved him from seventh to fourth. McLaren decreased Ferrari's World Constructors' Championship lead to ten championship points, while Williams moved from sixth to third with 13 races remaining in the season.
Background
The 2001 San Marino Grand Prix was the race's 21st edition, the fourth of seventeen races in the 2001 Formula One World Championship, the season's first European round, and one of two in Italy. It was held on 15 April 2001 at the 17-turn, Template:Convert anti-clockwise Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy,<ref name="2001GPStats" /><ref name="AF1TytlerPreview">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="SpeedvisionPreview">Template:Cite web</ref> outside of San Marino which lacks the facilities to host Formula One races.<ref name="SpeedvisionPreview" /> There were eleven teams (each representing a different constructor) with two drivers each for the Grand Prix, with no changes from the season entry list.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was the last race before the legal reintroduction of electronic driver aids at the following Template:F1GP in late April.<ref name="TimesBetting">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="AF1FioranoTesting">Template:Cite web</ref>
Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher led the World Drivers' Championship with 26 championship points heading into the race, with McLaren driver David Coulthard second on 20 championship points. Rubens Barrichello, Schumacher's Ferrari teammate, was third with 10 championship points, ahead of Sauber's Nick Heidfeld in fourth with seven championship points and Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen in fifth with six championship points.<ref name="points">Template:Cite book</ref> Ferrari led the World Constructors' Championship with 36 championship points, 15 ahead of second-placed McLaren. Sauber was third with eight championship points, followed by Jordan with seven championship points and British American Racing (BAR) on three championship points.<ref name="points" />
Following the Template:F1GP on 1 April, almost every team tested their cars, setups, tyres and car components on European racing tracks with their racing driver and test drivers in preparation for the San Marino Grand Prix.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AF1MagnyTestD1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AutosportSilverstoneTestD12">Template:Cite web</ref> BAR, Jordan and McLaren tested for three days in inclement weather at Northamptonshire's Silverstone Circuit.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="AutosportSilverstoneTestD1">Template:Cite web</ref> Jordan's test driver Ricardo Zonta led the first day, while BAR's Jacques Villeneuve and McLaren's test driver Alexander Wurz were fastest on the second and third days.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Arrows, Prost, Sauber and Williams tested for three days in variable weather at France's Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="AF1MagnyTestD1" /> Williams test driver Marc Gené was fastest on the first day, followed by Prost's Jean Alesi on the second day and Heidfeld on the third.<ref name="AF1MagnyTestD1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Benetton tested for three days at Spain's Circuito de Jerez,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with Jaguar joining on the second and third days.<ref name=":1" /> Ferrari tested for five days at its private Fiorano Circuit in Italy, with test driver Luca Badoer developing traction control systems in an F1-2000 car for the Spanish Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher tested tyre and aerodynamic developments in an F2001 car for three days for the race in Imola.<ref name="AF1FioranoTesting" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Arrows collected aerodynamic data from driver Jonny Kane during straight line speed testing at France's Lurcy-Lévis track.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Minardi did not test since it was awaiting the arrival of equipment from Brazil.<ref name=":1" />
After Michael Schumacher won the first two races in Australia and Malaysia, Coulthard won in Brazil by passing Schumacher in the race, trailing the latter by six championship points and ending his six-race win streak.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> Coulthard stated he was satisfied with how the first three races went and spoke about his prospects of victory at Imola, "I have won here before and there is no reason why I cannot do so again."<ref name=":0" /> Michael Schumacher, the pre-race bookmakers' favourite,<ref name="TimesBetting" /> acknowledged that it was normal to not win every race in a season and said his team could return to form at Imola.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Williams won six races at Imola in the 1990s.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Driver Juan Pablo Montoya was acquainted with Imola from International Formula 3000 in 1998 and felt his car would be suited to the circuit but not performing as well as in Brazil, adding, "I have only been here once before in my life. It doesn't make a great difference, but it does help a little bit."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Multiple teams updated their cars for the race, while several squads experimented with different brake ducts for improved cooling and installed downforce-reliant aerodynamic packages.<ref name="Piola">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="AnnualMansell">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp After being outpowered by the BMW engine, Ferrari created a more powerful Type 050 V10 engine by increasing its revolutions per minute limit.<ref name="HeraldSun13April2001">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="HenryGuardian13April">Template:Cite news</ref> McLaren made various changes to the MP4-16 to improve its handling when mounting kerbs. It also debuted a redesigned rear wing and a stronger Mercedes V10 engine. BAR modified the 003's bodywork to incorporate new wings and narrower side flip-ups in the rear wheel.<ref name="Piola" /><ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp Arrows fitted a front wing with a wider flap to increase downforce while Jos Verstappen's car had a minor suspension modification made of steel rather than carbon fibre due to a lack of time. Sauber did not modify their car nor use Brembo calipers or power steering because they had not been thoroughly tested. Prost modified the front wing's endplate flip-ups since they damaged the front tyres when the cars were carried into the garage on full-lock. Minardi lacked a revised aerodynamic package as their cars arrived late from Brazil.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp
Practice
The race was preceded by four practice sessions, two one-hour sessions on Friday and two 45-minute sessions on Saturday.<ref name="regulations">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp The first practice session began on a damp, wet track after overnight rain had left parts of the circuit wet,<ref name=AutosportFP1/><ref name=F1RacingNetFP1/> causing spray to be raised off the ground due to the inclement weather.<ref name=F1COMFridayPractice/> Drivers used wet-weather tyres at first, but lap times improved as the circuit dried swiftly, and they switched to slicks late in practice.<ref name=AutosportFP1>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=F1RacingNetFP1>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="F1MagRuReport">Template:Cite journal</ref>
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Barrichello recorded the fastest time of 1:31.998, ahead of teammate Michael Schumacher. McLaren's Mika Häkkinen and Coulthard were third and fourth, followed by the Jordan pairing of Jarno Trulli and Frentzen, Sauber's Kimi Räikkönen, BAR's Olivier Panis, Jaguar's Eddie Irvine and Panis's teammate Villeneuve in fifth to tenth.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Three drivers lost control of their cars at the wet turn 17 during the session. Verstappen was unable to set a lap time when his car stopped, owing to a drop in fuel pressure on his first lap after leaving the pit lane.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name=AutosportFP1/><ref name="F1MagRuReport" /> Minardi's Fernando Alonso stopped his car on track with a hydraulic issue that resulted in a gearbox malfunction.<ref name=F1COMFridayPractice>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=FIAFriday>Template:Cite web</ref>
The track had dried sufficiently after the first session, allowing teams to mount slick tyres on their cars for the second session, which provided a more accurate indicator of the pace of drivers. With around 15 minutes to go, Michael Schumacher set the day's quickest time of 1:25.095, with his teammate Barrichello second. Williams's Ralf Schumacher, Häkkinen, Panis, Räikkönen, Irvine, Villeneuve, Trulli and Jaguar's Luciano Burti were in the next eight placings.<ref name=AutosportFP2>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=F1RacingNetFP2>Template:Cite web</ref> Coulthard went off the circuit after losing control of his car and becoming stuck in the Acque Minerali corner's gravel trap with 13 minutes left in the session due to a gear selection issue.<ref name=AutosportFP2/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=SpeedvisionFridayPractice>Template:Cite web</ref> This meant McLaren's engineers worked overnight to repair Coulthard's car.<ref name="EasonTimesGuide">Template:Cite news</ref> Montoya suffered an engine problem caused by a piece of gauze dropping into the engine early in the session.<ref name=SpeedvisionFridayPractice/><ref name=ObserverQuali/> He was unable to continue driving as the Williams engineers replaced the engine in his car.<ref name=F1COMFridayPractice/><ref name=AutosportFP2/>
The third practice session on Saturday morning was cold and wet due to overnight rain,<ref name="F1MagRuReport"/><ref name=BBCSatPractice>Template:Cite web</ref> resulting in lap times that were around 11 seconds slower than the 2000 pole position lap time.<ref name=AutosportFP3>Template:Cite web</ref> The cooler air caused the track to dry slowly.<ref name="F1MagRuReport"/><ref name=BBCSatPractice/> Michael Schumacher lapped fastest at 1:35.633, followed by his teammate Barrichello. Häkkinen, Coulthard, Trulli, Frentzen, Räikkönen, Heidfeld, Villeneuve, and Montoya rounded out the top ten.<ref name=AF1FP3>Template:Cite web</ref> Several drivers were taken off guard on the wet track as their cars lost traction.<ref name=F1COMSatPractice>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=F1RacingNetFP3>Template:Cite web</ref> On his second lap of the session,<ref name=SpeedvisionSaturdayPractice>Template:Cite web</ref> Burti lost control of his car's rear entering Tosa corner, severely damaging the front suspension hitting the tyre barrier.<ref name=AutosportFP3/><ref name=F1COMSatPractice/><ref name=AF1FP3/> Burti exited the car unhurt,<ref name="F1MagRuReport"/><ref name=AF1FP3/> although he did not compete in the final session because his mechanics repaired the vehicle before qualifying.<ref name="F1MagRuReport"/><ref name=AF1FP4/>
It became sunny for the final session as the circuit gradually dried, and nearly every driver lapped faster than the previous session. Most drivers used wet-weather tyres, and some lost control of their car on the wet circuit.<ref name=F1COMSatPractice/><ref name=SpeedvisionSaturdayPractice/><ref name=F1RacingNetFP4>Template:Cite web</ref> Michael Schumacher set the fastest lap of 1:30.737, followed by teammate Barrichello in second. Coulthard, Räikkönen, Frentzen, Heidfeld, Ralf Schumacher, Panis, Arrows's Enrique Bernoldi and Häkkinen occupied positions three to ten.<ref name=AF1FP4>Template:Cite news</ref>
Qualifying
Each driver was limited to twelve laps during Saturday's one-hour qualifying session, with the starting order determined by their fastest laps. The 107% rule was in force during this session, which required each driver to set a time within 107% of the fastest lap to qualify for the race.<ref name="regulations"/>Template:Rp The track had dried sufficiently after practice ended but was still damp in some places.<ref name=F1RacingNetQuali>Template:Cite web</ref> There were dark clouds over Imola just before qualifying began, so most drivers, except Coulthard, set lap times early in case it rained.<ref name=AutosportQuali>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=SpeedvisionQuali>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=IndyOnSunQuali/> As the course dried, lap times improved as the surface provided more grip to cars.<ref name=ObserverQuali>Template:Cite news</ref> Coulthard adjusted his car's setup for his final run after rear-end stability issues<ref name=IndyOnSunQuali>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=FIASaturday>Template:Cite web</ref> and took the 11th pole position of his career with a time of 1:23.054 on his final qualifying lap late on.<ref name=AutosportQuali/><ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=DTQuali>Template:Cite news</ref> He broke Villeneuve's outright track lap record from 1997 and prevented Michael Schumacher from equalling Ayrton Senna's record of eight consecutive poles set between the Template:F1 and Template:F1 seasons.<ref name=DTQuali/><ref name=SAGordonQuali>Template:Cite news</ref> Coulthard was 0.228 seconds faster than teammate Häkkinen in the final runs, setting his time late in qualifying's final runs.<ref name=F1RacingNetQuali/><ref name=BBCQuali>Template:Cite web</ref> Ralf Schumacher qualified third, feeling his Michelin tyres were quite competitive.<ref name=FIASaturday/> The Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello took fourth and sixth, respectively, after choosing the slower, more durable harder Bridgestone tyre compound over the better-performing softer option because they believed the softer tyres to wear too quickly and expected inclement weather for the race.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name=BBCQuali/> Michael Schumacher, who adjusted the rear wing settings to increase downforce,<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/> lost time through two driver errors, while Barrichello was delayed by slower cars. Trulli took his time and separated the Ferraris, qualifying fifth with a late lap.<ref name=FIASaturday/><ref name=BBCQuali/> Montoya, seventh, lost seven-tenths of a second by going wide onto the grass at the Variante Alta chicane on his final run.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name=FIASaturday/><ref name=AF1Quotes>Template:Cite web</ref>
Panis was pleased with the improvements to his car and took eighth.<ref name="FIASaturday" /><ref name="AF1Quotes" /> Frentzen was hampered on his second run by Tarso Marques's Minardi car, and on his third run, his car developed understeer, leaving him ninth. Räikkönen qualified ahead of teammate Heidfeld for the first time in 2001, securing tenth after running across the grass after braking too early for the final turn.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name=FIASaturday/> Villeneuve in 11th was the fastest driver to not qualify in the top ten due to slower cars on his final run.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name=FIASaturday/> Heidfeld took 12th after encountering slower vehicles on his penultimate run and losing time on his final run due to understeer and car balance issues.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name=AF1Quotes/> Irvine took 13th since his Jaguar could not adequately load the tyres. Alesi, 14th, drove a car that was sensitive to setup changes and changing track conditions. Burti was the slower Jaguar driver in 15th due to a slow gearbox downshift and a misfiring engine, causing him to go onto the grass at turn three during his final run.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name=FIASaturday/><ref name=AF1Quotes/> Bernoldi and Verstappen qualified 16th and 17th for Arrows, respectively.<ref name=SpeedvisionQuali/><ref name=BBCQuali/> A technical issue affected Bernoldi's third run,<ref name=AF1Quotes/> and Verstappen's last run was in the spare Arrows car due to an engine-related electrical fault.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name=FIASaturday/> Alonso took 18th after his team switched car settings.<ref name=SpeedvisionQuali/><ref name=AF1Quotes/> Benetton's Giancarlo Fisichella qualified 19th, and his teammate Jenson Button took 21st.<ref name=SpeedvisionQuali/> On their last runs, both drivers were plagued by errors, a lack of grip, and slower cars, preventing them from lapping faster.<ref name=FIASaturday/><ref name=AF1Quotes/> Gastón Mazzacane was 20th for Prost after losing speed in the slower corners and his car's performance deteriorated.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name=FIASaturday/> Marques completed the starting order in 22nd;<ref name=BBCQuali/><ref name="DAlessioWilliams2001" /> he failed to find a suitable car setup, and on his final run, a slow front-left puncture developed.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name=AF1Quotes/>
Qualifying classification
Warm-up
On the morning of the race, there was a 30-minute warm-up session to finalise car setups and test the teams' racing strategy.<ref name=AutosportWarmUp>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=BBCWarmUp>Template:Cite web</ref> The weather was dry and sunny as teams tested their race and spare cars.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=SpeedvisionWarmUp>Template:Cite web</ref> Coulthard had surgery to remove an abscess from the left rear that was causing vibrations in his ear the evening before the race.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He lapped fastest at 1:26.440,<ref name=BBCWarmUp/> ahead of Ralf Schumacher and Häkkinen, who both understeered into the gravel.<ref name=AutosportWarmUp/> Heidfeld and Barrichello were fourth and fifth. Alesi and Mazzacane went off the circuit, while Alonso's run was disrupted by mechanical troubles that saw him stop on the side of the track, although he was able to continue driving after returning to the pit lane and switching to the spare car.<ref name=SpeedvisionWarmUp/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Räikkönen's running was restricted by a broken starting shaft in the backup Sauber car, and his race vehicle had an electrical failure.<ref name="F1MagRuReport"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race
The 62-lap race began at 14:00 local time in sunny weather,<ref name="GaleForceF1Overview" /> on a dry circuit,<ref name="IHTReport" /> in front of between 80,000 and 100,000 spectators.Template:Efn<ref name="DAlessioWilliams2001">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=TimesRaceReport>Template:Cite news</ref> The air temperature was between Template:Convert, and the track temperature ranged from Template:Convert;<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name=GaleForceF1Overview>Template:Cite web</ref> conditions were expected to remain dry for the event.<ref name=F1COMRaceLive>Template:Cite web</ref> During the start sequence, Coulthard moved slightly before applying the brakes to stop and stabilise his car.<ref name=AutosportRaceAnalysis>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=GPCOMArticle>Template:Cite web</ref> Coulthard experienced excess wheelspin in his rear tyres when the race began,<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/><ref name=AutosportRaceAnalysis/> as did his teammate Häkkinen on the track's dirty side.<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/><ref name=CrashRaceReport>Template:Cite web</ref> This allowed Ralf Schumacher to go to the inside after Coulthard gave him space; he avoided contact with Coulthard and passed both McLarens for the lead at the fast left-hand turn on the drive to the Tamburello chicane.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/> Trulli passed the slow-starting Michael Schumacher and then braked later than Häkkinen into the Tamburello chicane to move into third.<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/><ref name=AutosportRaceAnalysis/><ref name=GPCOMArticle/> Panis moved from eighth to fifth, going to the outside on the straight, but Montoya overtook him on the outside at the final Variante Bassa chicane later in the first lap.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name=GPCOMArticle/>
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When lap one ended, Ralf Schumacher led Coulthard, Trulli, Häkkinen, Michael Schumacher and Montoya.<ref name=F1RacingNetRace>Template:Cite web</ref> Ralf Schumacher and Coulthard began pulling away from Trulli, who was battling Häkkinen for third, and a pack of cars formed behind them.<ref name=GPCOMArticle/> Heidfeld passed Irvine for 12th, and Verstappen overtook Burti for 16th on lap two.<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/> Panis was investigated for a possible jump start but was not penalised.<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/><ref name=ITVLapByLap>Template:Cite web</ref> Michael Schumacher appeared to slow exiting the final curve ending lap three after reportedly selecting third gear when mounting the kerbs and his right rear wheel was off the track surface. This confounded the electronic gearbox system, preventing the upshift and keeping him in second gear after leaving the corner.<ref name=AutosportRaceAnalysis/> He fell to seventh on the start/finish straight, behind Montoya and Panis, and ran wide at Tosa corner, being passed by teammate Barrichello on the inside.<ref name=GPCOMArticle/> Barrichello went wide on lap five, but Michael Schumacher could not pass him.<ref name=F1COMRaceLive/> Verstappen passed Fisichella for 15th on that lap while Marques overtook Mazzacane.<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/>
On lap six, while closing on Button,<ref name=GPCOMArticle/> Alonso's brakes failed due to a leaking brake caliper. This launched him over the high kerb at the Variante Alta chicane, onto the grass, and damaged his car's front-right suspension against the tyre wall at the turn's exit.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=F1COMRaceLive/><ref name=CrashRaceReport/> Alonso was unhurt but became the race's first retirement.<ref name=CrashRaceReport/><ref name=BBCWebRace>Template:Cite web</ref> Two laps later,<ref name=F1COMRaceLive/><ref name=F1RacingNetRace/> Verstappen stopped at the side of the Rivazza turn with a broken exhaust pipe that caused a series of overheating issues in his car.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=GPCOMArticle/> Panis was slowing Barrichello due to understeer and electronic gear selection issues until the latter passed him on the inside at the Rivazza turn for sixth on the same lap.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/> Michael Schumacher was challenged by Räikkönen on lap nine, but he passed Panis for seventh at the Rivazza turn.<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/><ref name=ITVLapByLap/> Ralf Schumacher extended his lead over Coulthard to four seconds after both drivers traded fastest laps because Michelin's tyres generated temperature on the warm circuit faster than Bridgestone's tyres. Trulli, who was battling Häkkinen for third, was 20 seconds behind by lap 16.<ref name="F1MagRuReport"/><ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/><ref name=GPCOMArticle/>
Räikkönen in ninth was racing Panis when the steering wheel disconnected from the spline cresting the hill on the straight connecting the Tosa hairpin and Piratella turn. On lap 18, his car veered sharply to the left and crashed into the retaining barrier at low speed.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=CrashRaceReport/><ref name=F1LiveRaceReport>Template:Cite web</ref> Although Räikkönen was unhurt,<ref name=GuardianRaceReport/> he was forced to retire.<ref name=CrashRaceReport/> Button made the race's first scheduled fuel and tyre pit stop on lap 20. He had to make another pit stop on the following lap when his car received no fuel due to a refuelling rig malfunction. Panis dropped from eighth to 12th on lap 22 after selecting the wrong gear.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=F1COMRaceLive/> Michael Schumacher got a puncture on his left front wheel rim due to the brake caliper becoming too hot, resulting in its failure on the following lap.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=AutosportRaceAnalysis/><ref name=CrashRaceReport/> He drove cautiously to the pit lane to ensure that the puncture did not cause any further damage.<ref name=CrashRaceReport/> Schumacher rejoined the track one lap down in 19th and last place.<ref name=ITVLapByLap/><ref name=BBCWebRace/> Trulli was the first of the leading drivers to make a pit stop on lap 24.<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/><ref name=BBCWebRace/> Häkkinen was promoted to third, giving him the opportunity to drive without aerodynamic turbulence affecting his McLaren, while Trulli rejoined in eighth. Michael Schumacher completed one exploratory lap before Ferrari summoned him into the pit lane to retire for safety reasons after discovering more problems with his car.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/><ref name=F1LiveRaceReport/>
Montoya made his pit stop from fourth on lap 28 and rejoined in seventh, behind Trulli.<ref name=F1COMRaceLive/><ref name=ITVLapByLap/> Coulthard entered the pit lane for the first of two pit stops on the next lap and remained second after establishing a sufficient lead over teammate Häkkinen.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=F1RacingNetRace/> Montoya closed up to Trulli on that lap, passing him on the outside at the Tamburello chicane for sixth.<ref name=GPCOMArticle/><ref name=ITVLapByLap/> Ralf Schumacher made his pit stop from the lead on lap 29 and retained an eight-second lead over Coulthard.<ref name=ITVLapByLap/><ref name=F1LiveRaceReport/> Häkkinen made his first pit stop soon after, rejoining ahead of Montoya and Trulli but behind Barrichello. An oil leak caused Mazzacane's engine to fail and emit flames from the car's rear, and he retired on lap 31.<ref name="AnnualMansell" />Template:Rp<ref name="F1COMRaceLive" /><ref name="BBCWebRace" /> Villeneuve was set to score points<ref name="EasonTimesGuide" /> until he pulled over to the side of the track when oil smoke emitted from his car's rear exhaust system on the following lap.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=F1COMRaceLive/><ref name=BBCWebRace/>
Ferrari moved Barrichello from a two-stop to a one-stop strategy in order to put less fuel in his car and allow him to pass Häkkinen.<ref name=AutosportRaceAnalysis/><ref name=CrashRaceReport/> He made his pit stop on lap 33 and rejoined the track in third, having pulled ahead of Häkkinen.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=ITVLapByLap/> Benetton brought Fisichella into the pit lane to retire with a misfiring engine on the same lap because the team did not want to risk an engine failure.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=CrashRaceReport/> The following fifteen laps saw little action as Ralf Schumacher maintained his lead over Coulthard, but the margin fluctuated due to slower cars, while Coulthard was aware that passing Schumacher would necessitate a better strategy.<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/><ref name=F1LiveRaceReport/><ref name=CrashRaceReport/> Barrichello pulled away from the slower Häkkinen but was 26 seconds behind Coulthard by lap 42.<ref name=ITVLapByLap/><ref name=BBCWebRace/> Trulli, in sixth, began the second round of pit stops on lap 44,<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/> falling behind teammate Frentzen.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp
Irvine, in ninth, pulled over to the side of the track with smoke streaming from his car's air intake box when his engine failed on the same lap.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=F1COMRaceLive/> Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher made their second pit stops between laps 45 and 46, remaining second and first, respectively.<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/> Häkkinen and Barrichello followed suit over the next two laps.<ref name=F1COMRaceLive/> Montoya's pit stop on lap 48 was troublesome. The mechanics were unable to remove the refuelling rig from the car's rear, and the engine stalled simultaneously. The engine was restarted on the jacks, losing Montoya over a minute on pit lane. He completed one slow lap as he was stuck in first gear after the clutch burned out and retired in the garage.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=F1RacingNetRace/><ref name=F1COMRaceLive/> On lap 54, Marques stopped alongside the pit lane barrier, with smoke billowng from his car's rear due to an airbox fire, presumably caused by a leaky fuel line.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name=F1LiveRaceReport/><ref name=TelegraphRaceReport>Template:Cite news</ref> Marshals pushed Marques's car off the road and into a secure place, allowing him to depart.<ref name=F1COMRaceLive/>
With seven laps remaining, Ralf Schumacher's pitboard displayed "Oil Pump" as he slowed, and Coulthard gradually gained on him.<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Ralf Schumacher led the rest of the race, securing his first win and becoming the first Grand Prix winner's brother to win on his own.<ref name=GuardianRaceReport>Template:Cite news</ref> It was Williams's first win since the 1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix.<ref name=IHTReport/> Coulthard finished 4.3 seconds behind in second.<ref name=IHTReport>Template:Cite news</ref> Barrichello finished third on the podium, 30 seconds behind Coulthard.<ref name="DAlessioWilliams2001" /> Häkkinen finished fourth despite nose cone damage from a minor first-lap collision with Trulli, which caused his McLaren's front end to loosen.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp Trulli finished fifth, the last driver on the lead lap, while teammate Frentzen had a quiet race to finish sixth and score the final championship point.<ref name=CrashRaceReport/> Heidfeld finished seventh due to car balance issues and lacked the pace to compensate for a poor start. Panis finished eighth after his electrical problem was resolved with a replacement steering wheel during his first pit stop.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name="EasonTimesGuide" /> Alesi on a two-stop strategy lost time following the one-stopping Irvine and was ninth.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp Bernoldi was tenth, registering his first Grand Prix finish.<ref name=TelegraphRaceReport/> Burti finished eleventh despite losing the use of the first three gears and having to be circumspect.<ref name=AnnualMansell/>Template:Rp<ref name="EasonTimesGuide" /> Button was the final classified finisher, two laps behind Ralf Schumacher.<ref name=AF1ElizaldeReview/> Just 12 of the 22 starters finished the race.<ref name=TelegraphRaceReport/>
Post-race
The top three drivers appeared on the podium to collect their trophies and spoke to the media in the subsequent press conference.<ref name="regulations" />Template:Rp Ralf Schumacher lauded his car setup and the engine, believing his win might begin a three-way battle for the World Championship.<ref name=SpeedvisionPressConf>Template:Cite web</ref> He said of the victory, "It's a great experience, and I hope for it to be one of many. I've waited long enough for it, I guess. Since I joined Williams, we've had a lot of work to see that and it paid off today."<ref name=SpeedvisionPressConf/> Coulthard stated that he was pleased to come second in comparison to other races over the season, adding "it was definitely the most difficult to try to achieve a balance with respect to the tyres, there was quite a big variation" since there was a minor inconsistency with each set of tyres.<ref name=SpeedvisionPressConf/> Barrichello was pleased with his Ferrari's balance and admitted to slowing in the final laps because he was trailing Coulthard.<ref name=SpeedvisionPressConf/> Asked if Ferrari's tyre selection was the right one, he replied, "At the end of the day we had a good tire for the race, but we may have been slow a little bit in qualifying, and that was probably a mistake."<ref name=SpeedvisionPressConf/>
Williams's victory was popular amongst the paddock.<ref name=WilliamsDelightAF1>Template:Cite news</ref> Jaguar team principal and three-time world champion Niki Lauda heralded Ralf Schumacher's win as "the perfect race", adding, "The first Grand Prix win is always the most difficult. The next ones come easier. It will be a big boost for his confidence."<ref name=BBCRalfWin>Template:Cite web</ref> Williams technical director Patrick Head characterised Schumacher's form at Imola as "perfect", stating, "Winning for the first time helps you a lot. What's happened will be very good for him."<ref name=BBCRalfWin/> BMW Motorsport director Gerhard Berger said, "Ralf was strong wasn't he? It was a very good race, a really strong and convincing performance."<ref name=WilliamsDelightAF1/> Willi Weber, the manager of the Schumacher brothers, said Ralf Schumacher's victory would help him gain confidence as a driver and that it came at the ideal time given the increased attention his teammate Montoya was receiving.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Häkkinen said his opportunity to win the race ended at the start but was happy to finish fourth: "It is very pleasant to get some points, although unfortunately the overall position was not very good for me. It would have been nice to win, but I am happy."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Trulli called his fifth-place finish "a good result" and that he "was able to show once more that when I have a good car and everything is working well, I can be right there."<ref name=AF1Jordan>Template:Cite web</ref> Frentzen blamed a slow start for his inability to compete for a better finishing position but said, "Scoring a point for sixth place was some consolation but, to be honest, we need to step up our performance a bit more."<ref name=AF1Jordan/> Michael Schumacher stated that the event was disappointing because of his poor start and gear selection issue.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Montoya claimed he might have finished on the podium and said that a cockpit warning light informed him of a clutch issue five laps before his second pit stop.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Coulthard's second-place finish and podium finishes in the first four races put him in joint first place in the World Drivers' Championship with Michael Schumacher with 26 championship points each; Schumacher had won two races to Coulthard's one and so remained first overall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Barrichello retained third with 14 championship points as Ralf Schumacher's victory moved him from seventh to fourth. Heidfeld's failure to score dropped him from fourth to fifth.<ref name="points"/> Ferrari maintained its lead in the World Constructors' Championship with 40 championship points, while McLaren reduced their advantage to ten. With 13 races remaining in the season, Williams moved from sixth to third, Jordan remained fourth, and Sauber dropped from third to fifth.<ref name="points"/>
Race classification
Drivers who scored championship points are denoted in bold.
Championship standings after the race
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
- Drivers' Championship standings
| Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 1 | Template:Flagicon Michael Schumacher | 26 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 2 | Template:Flagicon David Coulthard | 26 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 3 | Template:Flagicon Rubens Barrichello | 14 |
| File:1uparrow green.svg 3 | 4 | Template:Flagicon Ralf Schumacher | 12 |
| File:1downarrow red.svg 1 | 5 | Template:Flagicon Nick Heidfeld | 7 |
| Sources:<ref name="points"/><ref name="Championship Standings">Template:Cite web</ref> | |||
- Constructors' Championship standings
| Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Constructor | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 1 | Template:Flagicon Ferrari | 40 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 2 | Template:Flagicon McLaren-Mercedes | 30 |
| File:1uparrow green.svg 3 | 3 | Template:Flagicon Williams-BMW | 12 |
| File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 4 | Template:Flagicon Jordan-Honda | 10 |
| File:1downarrow red.svg 2 | 5 | Template:Flagicon Sauber-Petronas | 8 |
| Sources:<ref name="points"/><ref name="Championship Standings" /> | |||
- Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
Notes
References
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