Michael Schumacher started the 2001 Formula 1 season as the defending World Champion, having finally won the title in a Ferrari. Once again the Italian team expected their main challengers to be McLaren.
There was a new face at Williams, the team having signed CART star Juan-Pablo Montoya to partner Ralf Schumacher. Jenson Button had left the team and moved over to join Giancarlo Fisichella at Benetton. The Sauber team had an exciting young Finnish driver called Kimi Raikkonen, who had only competed in a handful of single-seater races before reaching Formula 1. Minardi also had a Grand Prix rookie, having signed Spanish youngster Fernando Alonso.
Tragic Australian Grand Prix Won by Schumacher
Michael Schumacher started from pole in Melbourne and set the fastest lap on his way to victory. The race was an unhappy affair, however. On lap five BAR driver Jacques Villeneuve had a massive accident after hitting the back of Ralf Schumacher’s Williams on the fast run down to turn three. In the ensuing carnage marshal Graham Beveridge was struck by an errant tyre and died from his injuries.
Rubens Barrichello also made a good start to his season, finishing third in the other Ferrari. Between the two red cars was David Coulthard’s McLaren. His team-mate, Mika Hakkinen, suffered a mechanical failure which resulted in a heavy crash. Nick Heidfeld was fourth in his Sauber and Heinz-Harald Frentzen finished fifth in his Jordan. Raikkonen scored a point on his Formula 1 debut, finishing sixth.
Schumacher Heads Ferrari 1-2 in Malaysian Grand Prix
At Sepang the Ferrari drivers once again dominated qualifying, with Michael Schumacher on pole and Barrichello second. Ralf Schumacher demonstrated the potential of his Williams by clocking the third fastest time, ahead of double World Champion Hakkinen.
Michael Schumacher led away from the line, while Ralf Schumacher went off at turn one while trying an ambitious overtaking manoeuvre on Barrichello’s Ferrari. The William driver got going again, but had lost a considerable amount of time.
Torrential rain led to the safety car being deployed, and everyone pitted. The Ferrari drivers opted to use intermediates, while their rivals switched to full wets. Despite rejoining well down the field the two red cars scythed their way to the front. They ended up running 1-2, with Michael Schumacher pulling out a huge lead over his team-mate. It was the same order at the finish, with Coulthard third. Frentzen was fourth, Ralf Schumacher fifth and Hakkinen sixth.
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