Lucky win for Michael SchumacherJos finishes 12th

Published on 29 April 2001 by Verstappen Info Page

In the end Mika Hakkinen finshed the race, but as passenger on his team mate's car. The abrupt end to a good race came in the last lap for the Fin. A victory seemed certain but when the engine blew his chance to win the Spanish Grand Prix for the 4th consequetive time was over. And Michael Schumacher? Well he was happy with his seemingly 2nd position and slowed down about 10 laps before the finish. He had problems with his car and was hoping he could reach the finish. A few corners before the finish he passed his rival, probably to his joy and surprise, and won the Spanish GP after all.
Schumacher wins again, Juan Pablo Montoya came second and third was Jacques Villeneuve. Mika Hakkinen still finished officially on ninth, even in front of Jos Verstappen who came 12th..

Started from 17th
Last year this race was not a good one for Ferrari (Nigel Stepney broke his leg during a pitstop of Michael Schumacher) and this year the stars were not good for McLaren. In the warmup lap David Coulthard stalled his car and had to start from 22nd position on the grid. Right after the start he enters the pits with a damaged front wing. For a long time he seemed to be driving a lost race but managed to finish fifth and gathered two points.
The start was very good for Juan Pablo Montoya and Jos Verstappen, after 1 lap the Colombian is sixth and Jos twelfth. Montoya gained 6 places and Jos five. Montoya took what was rightfully his. World Champion point and 2nd place on the podium.
Besides Mika Hakkinen other retirements from the race were Heinz Harald Frentzen and Pedro de la Rosa who colided in lap 10 when the German tried to overtake the Spaniard. As usual Frentzen blamed his opponent. A few minutes later Bernoldi has to give up with an electrical problem. Ten laps later Ralf Schumacher spins off track and beached his car. For a long time the remaining 18 cars drive their laps then another 2 retirements; Rubens Barrichello has to give up because of a broken rear wheel suspension and Eddie Irvine due to an oil leak.


Jos in front of Kimi Raikkonen

Jos Verstappen drove after his usual start a good race but after his second stop he encountered some problems when he went onto the gravel. He manages to keep Alonso behind him and finished on 12th position.
Right after the race we spoke to Jos: 'It went very well this morning in the warmup. The car felt good in both the warmup and the race. Well, until the second pitstop. I had some vibrations in my left front wheel suspsension and the car felt a bit strange. Despite the problems I tried to drive to the limit. You do what you can at that point. Then the brake gave me some trouble as well. The pedal stroke became longer, the braking balance became unstable and that is why I went onto the gravel in the last corner. I lost several seconds in that outing. I would like to thank the Arrows team, they have implemented the new regulations very well. The electronic changes worked well. I did start with launch control. See, you can have launch control but you still have to have a quick reaction when the lights turn green and have the guts to manouvre between two cars with little room to spare. Good starters stay good starters, with or without launch control. And on top of that the car is becoming more reliable as well. Aerodynamics are getting better and we a gaining on Jaguar and Prost. Tuesday we will be in Silverstone for a three day test. One of the things we will be looking at is comparing the old front wheel suspension with the new one. We are doing well and improving bit by bit.'


On his way to Silverstone for a three day test

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