Michael Schumacher won the race six times.
David Coulthard produced a scintillating lap in qualifying to claim pole position for the 1998 race. He carried his form into the race and won from the Ferrari’s of Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine. When the Formula 1 circus arrived for the 1999 Grand Prix everyone was mourning the sudden death of Harvey Postlethwaite, a well respected engineer and figure in the sport. Michael Schumacher won the race to take his second San Marino Grand Prix win. Coulthard finished second with Rubens Barrichello a fine third for the Stewart-Ford team. Jean Alesi scored a point for Sauber in sixth as the team celebrated their 200th Grand Prix start.
Mika Hakkinen was on pole in 2000 with Michael Schumacher in second but, by the end of the race, they had swapped positions. Hakkinen’s McLaren team-mate Coulthard completed the podium. The 2001 race brought Ralf Schumacher’s first Grand Prix victory, driving for Williams. Coulthard made his fourth consecutive podium appearance at Imola, finishing second, with Barrichello third.
Michael Schumacher was the winner in 2002, and was joined by Ralf on the podium. The two brothers sandwiched second-placed finisher Barrichello. It was Michael who emerged victorious again in 2003, but under difficult circumstances. Michael and Ralf’s mother had recently died and both drivers wore black armbands as a mark of respect. In addition there was no champagne sprayed on the podium. Kimi Raikkonen drove a fine race to finish second from sixth on the grid. Barrichello completed the podium in third.
Jenson Button took a surprise pole in 2004 for BAR but he could not resist Michael Schumacher in the race. Button eventually finished second to the German with Juan-Pablo Montoya third for Williams. Michael Schumacher was involved in a battle for victory with Renault’s Fernando Alonso in 2005. At the flag Alonso was just two tenths of a second in front. Alexander Wurz brought his McLaren home in third. Raikkonen had started from pole in the other McLaren and was leading the race until his retirement. The finishing positions were reversed in 2006 with Schumacher leading home Alonso by two seconds. Montoya finished third for McLaren.
The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari was dropped from the Formula 1 calendar for 2007 and has not returned since. It is uncertain whether the circuit will ever host a Formula 1 Grand Prix again but, over the years, it has been the setting for some of the most memorable events in Formula 1 history.
