2001 Austrian Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of Austria 2001 took place on 13 May at the A1- Ring in Spielberg place and was the sixth race of the Formula 1 season 2001. David Coulthard (McLaren -Mercedes) won the Grand Prix ahead of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello ( both Ferrari).
- 3.1 qualifying
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
After the Spanish Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher led the drivers' standings with eight points ahead of David Coulthard and 22 points ahead of Rubens Barrichello. In the Constructors' Championship, Ferrari led with 18 points ahead of McLaren -Mercedes with 32 points on Williams - BMW.
With Mika Häkkinen (twice), Eddie Irvine, Jacques Villeneuve and ( once each ) were three former winners of this Grand Prix.
Training
In the first free practice David Coulthard drove the fastest lap, followed by his team -mate Mika Hakkinen and Rubens Barrichello. Also in the second free practice Coulthard was fastest. Second fastest was Michael Schumacher ahead of Barrichello.
Qualifying
In qualifying Michael Schumacher secured the pole position with a lap time of 1:09,562 minutes. Second place went to Juan Pablo Montoya, followed by Ralf Schumacher.
Warm Up
In the warm up, the two McLaren drivers were the fastest. Häkkinen was with a time of 1:11,647 minutes just 0.118 seconds quicker than his team-mate Coulthard. The third fastest time went Heinz -Harald Frentzen in the Jordan.
Race
The pre-start in the lap went smoothly for all pilots. At the start of the race, however, remained four drivers are: Häkkinen, Nick Heidfeld, and both Jordan drivers Jarno Trulli and Heinz -Harald Frentzen. To make the start -finish straight free, they pushed the cars first in the pit lane. Frentzen had to give up his race in the box. Trulli, Heidfeld and Häkkinen was able to record the race again, Häkkinen was, however, after a round of technical problems. Trulli left the box, while the pit exit light was still on red and was disqualified in round 14.
At the top of the field when it came to starting position changes. Both Williams drivers overtook Michael Schumacher. Due to the broken-down vehicles, the safety car was sent out. It led Montoya before Ralf Schumacher, Michael Schumacher, Barrichello and Coulthard. Irvine made a good start from position 13, after one lap he was already in sixth place.
At the restart after the third round succeeded the Arrows pilot Jos Verstappen to take the sixth position of Irvine. Michael Schumacher exercised, however, from pressure on his brother ahead of him. Verstappen finished after his passing maneuver quickly to Coulthard and overtook those in round four.
In round six Verstappen was also brought up to Barrichello and tried several times to overtake him. Meanwhile, the two leaders succeeded in outperforming the field. The now propelled at position eight Irvine was under pressure from both BAR drivers Olivier Panis and Jacques Villeneuve, and the second Arrows pilots Enrique Bernoldi. Panis overtook Irvine in the seventh round and sat down afterwards. Also Bernoldi overtook Irvine one lap later. As Villeneuve launched an overtaking move, he turned and lost several positions.
In round ten Ralf Schumacher drove in second position lying in the pit lane. About the team radio he stated that a proceeding due to brake problems was unsafe for him.
Meanwhile, tight drove the first four of the race together. Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen drove behind faster and were able to catch up.
After several overtaking Schumacher there were in round 15, a near-collision with Montoya, as Schumacher ansetzte on the outer track to overtake. Both slipped beside the racing line and were overtaken by the pursuers. Schumacher went on position six, seven Montoya after this maneuver.
While Bernoldi shuts off his car on lap 17 to the box, Michael Schumacher drove the fastest lap times and quickly closed on Panis on - he could overtake him, however.
On lap 23 Verstappen came first of the leaders to the pits. One lap later Panis made a mistake, Schumacher was able to drive past him and catch up with Raikkonen, whom he overtook on lap 27.
After 30 rounds Barrichello leads before Coulthard, Michael Schumacher, Raikkonen, Panis and Montoya.
On lap 36, Montoya walked past Panis. Six laps later, but his Williams was suddenly slowed down, he gave shortly after the race. The top three finishers pushed together - between Barrichello and Schumacher were only two seconds.
On lap 45 Schumacher was the first of the top group to the box. One lap later, Barrichello drove to his only pit stop and came ahead of his teammate back on track. Coulthard now ran faster times than the Ferrari drivers, in round 48 even the fastest lap of the race and went three rounds after Barrichello to pit. The pulled-out lead was enough to claim the lead after his stop.
Thus Coulthard led after the pit stops before Barrichello, Schumacher, Raikkonen, Panis and Verstappen.
Eight laps before the finish Jenson Button retired with an engine failure.
One lap before the finish got Barrichello from Ferrari team boss Jean Todt, the statement: "Let Michael pass for the championship " over the team radio, the radio message was broadcast live on television. Barrichello made the statement sequence, leaving Schumacher in second place by driving slowly down the stretch.
Coulthard thus won the race ahead of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. The remaining points went to Raikkonen, Panis and Verstappen.
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).