2001 San Marino Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of San Marino 2001 was held on 15 April at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola place and was the fourth round of the Formula 1 season 2001. Winner was Ralf Schumacher ( Williams - BMW) ahead of David Coulthard ( McLaren Mercedes) and Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari).
- 3.1 qualifying
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
After the Brazilian Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher was in the drivers' standings with 6 points ahead of David Coulthard and 16 points ahead of Rubens Barrichello. Ferrari resulted in the constructors' championship with 15 points ahead of McLaren -Mercedes with 28 points, ahead of Sauber Petronas.
With Michael Schumacher ( three times), Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Coulthard ( once each ) were three former winners of this Grand Prix.
Training
In free practice on Friday Michael Schumacher posted the fastest lap ahead of his teammate Barrichello and his brother Ralf Schumacher. In Saturday's training, the fastest Ferrari, Michael Schumacher was back again in front of Barrichello. Third fastest was Coulthard.
Qualifying
In qualifying, Coulthard scored the pole position ahead of Mika Hakkinen and Ralf Schumacher.
Warm Up
The fastest in the warm up was Jenson Button. He was followed by Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher.
Race
The start was not good for the McLaren drivers in the top two starting positions and they were overtaken directly from Ralf Schumacher. Jarno Trulli also improved by two positions and joined between Coulthard and Hakkinen in third position a. After the first round Ralf Schumacher led in front of Coulthard, Trulli, Hakkinen, Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya.
In the early rounds, the two leaders of the third-placed Trulli deposed. Meanwhile, Michael Schumacher briefly had problems with his Ferrari and fell behind Montoya, Olivier Panis and Barrichello. The problems did not occur then on again, so that Schumacher was able to drive back the same lap times as his team-mate in front of him. This practiced Meanwhile pressure on the front -propelled Panis and finally overtook him in the seventh round. In the following round, it also managed to overtake Michael Schumacher Panis.
At the top of the field, meanwhile, the placings remained unaltered. Ralf Schumacher and Coulthard continually broke away from Trulli, behind the pursuers on a warmed up after the other. The chasing group was after a few rounds of Trulli, Hakkinen, Montoya, Barrichello and Schumacher.
While Ralf Schumacher Coulthard a little settled, Kimi Raikkonen dropped out due to a broken steering. In round twelve of the Ferrari of Schumacher suffered a puncture and had to drive slowly to the pits. There you changed the tires and sent him to the race track again. Shortly thereafter, however, Schumacher had to abandon the race, because a part had come loose on the suspension.
On lap 24 Trulli led the first driver of the syringe group the pit stop phase. Three laps later followed him Montoya, who passed by Trulli on the basis of three rounds faster - Match succeeded Häkkinen. Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher went to the pits. Ralf Schumacher, who tarried a lap on the track, increased his lead to Coulthard from five to eight seconds. Barrichello was the last of the top 6, who went to the pits. His pit stop just before half- time of the race was shorter than that of his opponents and he came ahead of Häkkinen back on track.
After the first pit stops thus can be said Ralf Schumacher before Coulthard, Barrichello, Häkkinen and Montoya.
18 laps to go it was Coulthard who came to the final pit stop was the first driver of the top teams. He was followed one lap later Ralf Schumacher, who thus did not lose the lead. The other driver came to the pits for the last time. For Montoya, there were problems when starting, the engine of the Williams went out briefly. After more than a minute Montoya was able to leave the box again, but the race was forced to retire with gearbox failure in the same round.
By the end of the race changed at the front positions no more. Ralf Schumacher succeeded in his 70th Grand Prix, the first victory in Formula 1 was second Coulthard before Barrichello. The remaining points went to Häkkinen, Trulli and Frentzen.
Coulthard took the world championship six points to Schumacher, so that both were now tied. However, Schumacher kept the lead.
Message list
Classifications
Qualifying
Race
WM stands after the race
The first six of the race were 10, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point (s).