Ralf wins Canadian GP, Jos retires with brake problem

Published on 10 June 2001 by

After yet another good start Jos manages to overtake quite a few drivers. On the outside, like no one else thought of that. Just before the end of lap 1 Jos overtakes Kimi Raikkonen and is 7th. For several laps Jos drives right behind Olivier Panis's BAR, then Rubens Barrichello spins and Jos is in the points.

At that time Michael is leader in the race with his brother Ralf behind him. A big gap and then we see David Coulthard, Jarno Trulli, Olivier Panis and Jos. These last three are putting pressure on David. Behind them an unusual set of names around place 10: Hakkinen, Montoya, Villeneuve and Barrichello. In lap 19 Juan Pablo goes hard into the wall. Rubens who is right behind Montoya, has to work hard to avoid him but hits the wall on the other side of the track. Both cars are out of the race and are blocking the circuit.
When the safety car enters the track everyone is waiting who will make a pitstop. For a few laps nothing happens it is expected that Jos will not stop either. This assumption is incorrect. Jos's radio is broken and does not know what the team wants. He does not know if the team is ready and the risk it too big to go in on his own accord. The team wants him in and shows him a pitboard, too late, one lap before the safety car leaves the track. This unfortunate miscommunication has a a result the Jos is entering the pitlane at the moment the other cars are restarting the race. Jos loses over 20 seconds and rejoins the race in 15th position.


Jos is able to make his way forward due to others making their pitstops. Right before his second stop he is 4th, after the stop 9th. In lap 55 Coulthard blows up his engine and a few laps after that Jarno Trulli parks his Jordan in the pitbox. Jos is again in the points on a 6th position.
”Especially the middle part of the race went well, but I could feel the brakes going. It is a known problem but we haven't solved it yet. At one point the front left brake disc exploded and that was it. I could not hold the car. I had already slowed down because I could feel it coming. It is a big downer on our good weekend, I gave all I could and then something like this happens. It was not necesary and we lost points, just like Monaco. I am furious." Three laps before the finish Jos retired from the race.




Ralf Schumacher wins the Canadian Grand Prix. The majority of the race he trailed behind his brother but due to a good strategy Ralf takes the lead when the pitstops are happening and does not give it away. Mika Hakkinen came third and his younger fellow countryman Kimi Raikkonen fourth. Jean Alesi is able to get another set of points in two consecutive races. Pedro de la Rosa came 6th, another 1 point for Jaguar.
For an overview of the times visit our season page.