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2001 Spanish Grand Prix
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2001 Spanish Grand Prix
The 2001 Spanish Grand Prix (officially the Gran Premio Marlboro de Espana 2001) was a Formula One motor race held on 29 April 2001, at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló, Catalonia, Spain, before 91,000 spectators. It was the fifth round of the 2001 Formula One World Championship, and the circuit hosted its 11th Spanish Grand Prix. Ferrari's Michael Schumacher won the 65-lap race from pole position. Williams's Juan Pablo Montoya finished second for his first Formula One podium finish and British American Racing's (BAR) Jacques Villeneuve finished third.
Going into the race, Ferrari's Michael Schumacher and McLaren's David Coulthard shared the lead of the World Drivers' Championship, but Ferrari led McLaren in the World Constructors' Championship. Michael Schumacher set the fastest lap in the one-hour qualifying session, securing pole position. He held the lead until the two pit stop cycles, when Coulthard's teammate Mika Häkkinen took the lead each time round due to his longer stints than Schumacher's. Häkkinen took the lead after the second round of stops because McLaren told him to push to get ahead of Schumacher, whose rear tyres began to vibrate. Häkkinen led the race and appeared set to win until his clutch failed on the final lap due to a hydraulic leak. Michael Schumacher took the lead and won by 40 seconds over Montoya.
Electronic driver aids including traction control, fully automatic gearboxes, and launch control became legal for the first time since the 1993 season at the Spanish Grand Prix. Schumacher's win was his third of the season and his 47th overall. As a result, he led the World Drivers' Championship by eight championship points over Coulthard and 22 over Rubens Barrichello. With 12 races left in the season, Ferrari expanded their lead in the World Constructors' Championship to 18 championship points over McLaren and 32 championship points over Williams.
The 2001 Spanish Grand Prix was the fifth of seventeen Formula One races in the 2001 Formula One World Championship, held on 29 April 2001, at the 4.730 km (2.939 mi) clockwise Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló, Catalonia, Spain, the track's 11th Spanish Grand Prix. Before the race, Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher and McLaren driver David Coulthard were tied for the World Drivers' Championship lead with 26 championship points each. Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello was third on 14 championship points, followed by Williams's Ralf Schumacher and Sauber's Nick Heidfeld with 12 and 7 championship points. Ferrari led the World Constructors' Championship with 40 championship points, and McLaren were second with 30. Williams were third with 12 championship points, followed by Jordan on 10 and Sauber on 8.
Two months before the start of the Grand Prix weekend, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA; Formula One's governing body) and all the teams agreed to legalise electronic driver aids such as traction control, fully-automatic gearboxes, and launch control from the Spanish Grand Prix to end long-standing rumours of cheating by teams in Formula One, because of the extreme difficulty of policing such systems and to clarify which electronic systems were legal. The FIA previously prohibited these devices at the end of 1993, fearing that technology would reduce driver abilities. Several drivers voiced displeasure with the systems' return, but engineers and manufacturers observed that it provided an opportunity for them to demonstrate their technical skills. Drivers tried the new technology as they left the pit lane during free practice.
Following the San Marino Grand Prix on 15 April, all teams tested aerodynamics, electronic driver aids, engines, mechanical car components and tyres at various European racing circuits to prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix. The British-based teams of Benetton, British American Racing (BAR), Jaguar, Jordan, McLaren and Williams and the Paris-based Prost team tested at England's Silverstone Circuit from 17 to 19 April. Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen set the first day's fastest lap time, while McLaren's Mika Häkkinen led on the final two days. Sauber, Ferrari and Minardi tested at Italy's Mugello Circuit between 18 and 20 April. Luca Badoer, Ferrari's test driver, topped the first day's running, while Michael Schumacher led the second and final days. Arrows did two days of private straight-line speed aerodynamic testing at Italy's Vairiano Circuit with former Indy Lights driver Jonny Kane, followed by regular driver Jos Verstappen. Sauber's Kimi Räikkönen joined them. Badoer and Barrichello tested several Ferraris for the race at the team's private testing facility, the Fiorano Circuit.
Häkkinen had scored four championship points in the season's first four races. He hoped to extend his winning streak in Spain to four successive victories, adding, "No one is too far ahead and there are still plenty of points to be scored. I hope my championship starts here." His teammate Coulthard said he would be prepared for the race, but was aware of Häkkinen's performance at the circuit and that a victory for the latter would return him to championship contention. Following two subpar races, Michael Schumacher stated that he was not concerned after retiring from the San Marino Grand Prix, but believed Ferrari might regain competitiveness and win in Spain. Williams's Juan Pablo Montoya anticipated a difficult Grand Prix due to his car's pace in recent circuit tests, saying, "I am sure when we get there we will figure it out and hopefully be competitive. It will be quite interesting. For me I am really looking forward to getting to the end of a race to score some points."
The event featured eleven teams (each representing a different constructor) with two drivers each, with two changes from the season entry list. Luciano Burti, who had driven for Jaguar from the beginning of the season, was released and replaced by Pedro de la Rosa, the team's test driver. Burti joined Prost as the second driver change, replacing Gastón Mazzacane, who was sacked by Prost for breaching a performance clause in his contract after being off teammate Jean Alesi's pace. Prost attempted to replace Mazzacane with Jordan test driver Ricardo Zonta, among others, but they declined to join a smaller team. Benetton's Jenson Button had been nursing a shoulder injury for more than a month but entered the race after visiting specialists.
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2001 Spanish Grand Prix
The 2001 Spanish Grand Prix (officially the Gran Premio Marlboro de Espana 2001) was a Formula One motor race held on 29 April 2001, at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló, Catalonia, Spain, before 91,000 spectators. It was the fifth round of the 2001 Formula One World Championship, and the circuit hosted its 11th Spanish Grand Prix. Ferrari's Michael Schumacher won the 65-lap race from pole position. Williams's Juan Pablo Montoya finished second for his first Formula One podium finish and British American Racing's (BAR) Jacques Villeneuve finished third.
Going into the race, Ferrari's Michael Schumacher and McLaren's David Coulthard shared the lead of the World Drivers' Championship, but Ferrari led McLaren in the World Constructors' Championship. Michael Schumacher set the fastest lap in the one-hour qualifying session, securing pole position. He held the lead until the two pit stop cycles, when Coulthard's teammate Mika Häkkinen took the lead each time round due to his longer stints than Schumacher's. Häkkinen took the lead after the second round of stops because McLaren told him to push to get ahead of Schumacher, whose rear tyres began to vibrate. Häkkinen led the race and appeared set to win until his clutch failed on the final lap due to a hydraulic leak. Michael Schumacher took the lead and won by 40 seconds over Montoya.
Electronic driver aids including traction control, fully automatic gearboxes, and launch control became legal for the first time since the 1993 season at the Spanish Grand Prix. Schumacher's win was his third of the season and his 47th overall. As a result, he led the World Drivers' Championship by eight championship points over Coulthard and 22 over Rubens Barrichello. With 12 races left in the season, Ferrari expanded their lead in the World Constructors' Championship to 18 championship points over McLaren and 32 championship points over Williams.
The 2001 Spanish Grand Prix was the fifth of seventeen Formula One races in the 2001 Formula One World Championship, held on 29 April 2001, at the 4.730 km (2.939 mi) clockwise Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló, Catalonia, Spain, the track's 11th Spanish Grand Prix. Before the race, Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher and McLaren driver David Coulthard were tied for the World Drivers' Championship lead with 26 championship points each. Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello was third on 14 championship points, followed by Williams's Ralf Schumacher and Sauber's Nick Heidfeld with 12 and 7 championship points. Ferrari led the World Constructors' Championship with 40 championship points, and McLaren were second with 30. Williams were third with 12 championship points, followed by Jordan on 10 and Sauber on 8.
Two months before the start of the Grand Prix weekend, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA; Formula One's governing body) and all the teams agreed to legalise electronic driver aids such as traction control, fully-automatic gearboxes, and launch control from the Spanish Grand Prix to end long-standing rumours of cheating by teams in Formula One, because of the extreme difficulty of policing such systems and to clarify which electronic systems were legal. The FIA previously prohibited these devices at the end of 1993, fearing that technology would reduce driver abilities. Several drivers voiced displeasure with the systems' return, but engineers and manufacturers observed that it provided an opportunity for them to demonstrate their technical skills. Drivers tried the new technology as they left the pit lane during free practice.
Following the San Marino Grand Prix on 15 April, all teams tested aerodynamics, electronic driver aids, engines, mechanical car components and tyres at various European racing circuits to prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix. The British-based teams of Benetton, British American Racing (BAR), Jaguar, Jordan, McLaren and Williams and the Paris-based Prost team tested at England's Silverstone Circuit from 17 to 19 April. Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen set the first day's fastest lap time, while McLaren's Mika Häkkinen led on the final two days. Sauber, Ferrari and Minardi tested at Italy's Mugello Circuit between 18 and 20 April. Luca Badoer, Ferrari's test driver, topped the first day's running, while Michael Schumacher led the second and final days. Arrows did two days of private straight-line speed aerodynamic testing at Italy's Vairiano Circuit with former Indy Lights driver Jonny Kane, followed by regular driver Jos Verstappen. Sauber's Kimi Räikkönen joined them. Badoer and Barrichello tested several Ferraris for the race at the team's private testing facility, the Fiorano Circuit.
Häkkinen had scored four championship points in the season's first four races. He hoped to extend his winning streak in Spain to four successive victories, adding, "No one is too far ahead and there are still plenty of points to be scored. I hope my championship starts here." His teammate Coulthard said he would be prepared for the race, but was aware of Häkkinen's performance at the circuit and that a victory for the latter would return him to championship contention. Following two subpar races, Michael Schumacher stated that he was not concerned after retiring from the San Marino Grand Prix, but believed Ferrari might regain competitiveness and win in Spain. Williams's Juan Pablo Montoya anticipated a difficult Grand Prix due to his car's pace in recent circuit tests, saying, "I am sure when we get there we will figure it out and hopefully be competitive. It will be quite interesting. For me I am really looking forward to getting to the end of a race to score some points."
The event featured eleven teams (each representing a different constructor) with two drivers each, with two changes from the season entry list. Luciano Burti, who had driven for Jaguar from the beginning of the season, was released and replaced by Pedro de la Rosa, the team's test driver. Burti joined Prost as the second driver change, replacing Gastón Mazzacane, who was sacked by Prost for breaching a performance clause in his contract after being off teammate Jean Alesi's pace. Prost attempted to replace Mazzacane with Jordan test driver Ricardo Zonta, among others, but they declined to join a smaller team. Benetton's Jenson Button had been nursing a shoulder injury for more than a month but entered the race after visiting specialists.
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