2001 Brazilian Grand Prix
The Brazilian Grand Prix 2001 was held on April 1 at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo place and was the third race of the Formula 1 season 2001. Winner was David Coulthard in the McLaren -Mercedes ahead of Michael Schumacher at Ferrari and Nick Heidfeld in the Sauber Petronas.
- 3.1 qualifying
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
After the Malaysian Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher led the Drivers' Championship with 10 points in front of the tied Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard. Ferrari resulted in the constructors' championship with 19 points ahead of McLaren -Mercedes and 25 points on Jordan - Honda.
With Michael Schumacher ( three times), Mika Häkkinen (twice) and Jacques Villeneuve (once) were three former winners of this Grand Prix.
Training
In the first free practice session on Friday was David Coulthard the fastest, with more than a full second ahead of Jarno Trulli, followed by Michael Schumacher. In free practice on Saturday Juan Pablo Montoya set the fastest time. Second was before Hakkinen Coulthard.
Qualifying
In qualifying succeeded Michael Schumacher to take the pole position ahead of his brother Ralf. Third place was Mika Hakkinen.
Warm Up
In the warm up again followed by the best of Michael Schumacher, his teammate Rubens Barrichello. Third fastest was Mika Hakkinen.
Race
In the Einrollrunde to the grid Rubens Barrichello slipped off the road and landed in the gravel. He then started in the replacement vehicle. Before the start of the warm-up lap were the Jaguar Eddie Irvine, the mechanics still 15 seconds before switching the lights on the vehicle. This was punished with a 10 seconds stop-and- go penalty, which he took up in the 5th round.
At the start Michael Schumacher decided the duel for himself and remained first. Ralf Schumacher started badly and lost four places at once. Second after the first three curves was Juan Pablo Montoya, followed by David Coulthard and Jarno Trulli. Losers of the launch was Mika Hakkinen, who not only drove off due to gearbox problems. Since one could not recover fast enough from the start / finish straight his car, the Safety Car was decided to send out.
The restart was then carried out in the second round. The rookie Montoya used his experience from the CART series and went with a hard maneuver past Schumacher. When braking in curve 4 Rubens Barrichello, Ralf Schumacher ran into the back. For the race Barrichello was therefore terminated prematurely. Ralf Schumacher still took refuge in the pits, which he left with four laps down again and drove the race.
At the top of the field Montoya led for many laps ahead of Schumacher and Coulthard. In Olivier Panis made several good places, but that came along that he mitführte little fuel. In the meantime, raindrops were from time to time to see, but had no effect due to the heat. Meanwhile, Michael Schumacher practiced in each round pressure on Montoya from which, however, was not to overtake because of superior speed. On lap 15 ended Enrique Bernoldi Arrows in his race in the pits with a broken gearbox. Even Fernando Alonso had to park his vehicle, the reason for his departure were electronic problems.
On lap 25 Michael Schumacher came early to the pits. However, the amount of fuel that has been refueled, was not enough as to enable him to pass through, so it was clear that he was on a two stop strategy. The next pilot who could not continue was Luciano Burti. In the 30th round, he had to retire due to an engine failure his Jaguar. David Coulthard to date a unaffälliges race in second position, but went a short distance, the times of Montoya. Behind Coulthard at this time was about 30 seconds behind Michael Schumacher, who was already on the box. They were followed by Jarno Trulli, Heinz -Harald Frentzen and Nick Heidfeld.
On lap 38 Montoya then ran on two vehicles on which he had to overtake. It slowed Jos Verstappen, Montoya had just let happen later in the turn 4 and drove him into the car. Thus the race for both pilots had ended. New leader was thus David Coulthard. This came in the same round straight to his pit stop because his tires were worn out. The projection of about 30 seconds to Schumacher enough to stay ahead of him. The distance was now but only less than a second, but it was clear that Schumacher had to come into the box again. Meanwhile, it hinted that it might rain, so that the disadvantage of Schumacher would be invalid. Shortly after most drivers had completed their scheduled pit stop it was then so far and the rain began. Thus all had to go back to the pits to pick up rain tires. The whole field opted for the intermediates.
Schumacher came a lap earlier for a tire change as Coulthard, who thereby lost the lead and then had a few seconds behind Schumacher. Its lead lasted not long, for he turned to curve 4, so Coulthard unlocked again. Two laps later, the two front runners ran on slower vehicles. At the end of the start / finish straight, both pilots were on par and it sat outside Schumacher and Coulthard in to the lap of Tarso Marques to so Coulthard passed by Schumacher. The rain was too intense and it turned out that Schumacher did not get along so well with the conditions. Coulthard thus strengthened its leadership.
Between 52 and 56 round Eddie Irvine, Räikönnen Kimi and Ralf Schumacher turned and drove not all. Seven laps to arbitration Heinz -Harald Frentzen with electronic problems. His third place Nick Heidfeld took over. In the fifth last round Olivier Panis still Jarno Trulli overtook.
Finally, David Coulthard came ahead of Michael Schumacher to the finish. This was followed by Nick Heidfeld, who reached his first podium, followed by Olivier Panis and Jarno Trulli. Overall, only 10 of 22 pilots came to the finish.
In the world championship took David Coulthard four points to Michael Schumacher, who but with 26 points in three races still had 6 points ahead. Also in the Constructors' Championship McLaren took four points on Ferrari.
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).