  
| ||||
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| In dry qualifying, fourth was the best that could be done. |
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| Schumacher is through into second as Button prepares to hit Trulli. |
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| A good first pit strategy helped Schuey into first - as did a Hakkinen spin. |
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| Barrichello abandons his Ferrari in disgust, no fuel pressure is the culprit. |
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| Reality begins to dawn as Schumacher contemplates another Hakkinen win. |
GRAND
PRIX : Spa Francorchamps : Ferraris Not Quick Enough Expectations for the Ferrari team were high despite the stunning pace
at which Hakkinen disappeared from Schumacher at the previous Grand
Prix in Hungary. Maybe this was blind expectation and we should have
realised that to make up this difference between two Grand Prix' is
almost impossible.
And so it proved during qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps when Mika Hakkinen's
McLaren took a commanding pole position, whilst Michael Schumacher languished
in fourth place, almost one second behind. Over the Grand Prix distance
of 44 laps that gap could be expected to multiply accordingly.
Rubens Barrichello was beset by all kinds of handling problems and,
due to being called in to the weighbridge, missed out on a final hot
lap. He was to start down in tenth place and it was little comfort that
David Coulthard's McLaren was only fifth on the grid.
The usual Ardennes rain then played its hand at the start of the race
and Schumacher, always outstanding in wet and slithery conditions, was
soon through into second, behind Hakkinen. An early Ferrari pit stop
on Lap 7 put Schumacher out on slicks one lap earlier than Hakkinen
and this, together with a quick spin by the Finn on Lap 13, put Schuey's
Ferrari into an 11-second lead.
Thereafter, as the track dried, it was a straightforward mission by
Hakkinen to catch and, in an astonishingly successful manoeuvre, pass
Schumacher for the lead just three laps before the finish. The McLaren
was demonstrably the quicker car, it needed to run less wing than the
Ferrari and was therefore 10 km/h quicker down the straights.
Barrichello had a torrid time in trying to elevate himself from his
lowly starting position but got as high as fourth when he was forced
to retire with low fuel pressure.
With the McLarens, especially that of Hakkinen, showing such dominating
speed over the last two Grand Prix' it is becoming difficult to see
how the Ferrari championship effort could be revived. Given wet conditions
Schumacher's skill could turn the tables but on a dry track the McLarens
seem unstoppable.
Hakkinen now leads the Drivers' Championship with 74 points, Schumacher
is on 68, followed by Coulthard on 61. In the Constructors' tables McLaren
are on 125 points, with Ferrari on 117. The next Grand Prix takes place
in the hallowed arena of Monza on 10th September.
Jean Todt: "In the end this was very disappointing, because
with Michael we did not get the result we could have done. We lost to
a very strong and very lucky driver. Rubens, who could have finished
in the points had to retire with a fuel pressure problem. The team did
a good job. After today's race we are now six points down in the Drivers'
Championship with Michael and eight behind in the Constructors.' There
is still everything to play for and we will continue to strive for success
with our usual determination."
Michael Schumacher: "Hakkinen was simply much faster today,
even though we improved the car from yesterday to today and from the
last race to this one. We do not feel we have lost the championship.
Everyone is still pushing very hard in the team. I picked up six points
today. The championship is still alive. I was driving through the water
to cool my tyres. I had no problems with them but it felt better. But
there was also a risk of getting dirt on the tyres. We made some adjustments
to the front wing during one of the pit stops. My second stop was a
bit long but at the moment I do not know why. As for the last few laps,
I was happy to see the backmarker in front of me, because I felt Hakkinen
had more straight line speed and I thought it would help. But it was
not enough. As for the passing move, usually there is only room for
two cars on the track but Mika made an outstanding move. If he had not
passed me there, he would have done it later. As for the previous lap,
I changed direction once as allowed in the rules. I don't feel I did
anything wrong. But I want to see the video."
Rubens Barrichello: "I made a good start, passing Herbert while
it was still very wet. For my first stop, I had asked to come in one
lap earlier but the radio did not work and so I stopped behind Schumacher,
but without losing much time. I did not have good straight-line speed
and could not pass Villeneuve. So we decided to change strategy. It
was the right decision. After the second stop I was actually going very
well. However, on the exact lap when I should have come in for the third
stop the engine cut out because of a drop in fuel pressure."
Belgium, 27.08.00
RACE RESULTS The Belgian Grand Prix Spa Francorchamps; 44 laps; 306.577km; Weather: Wet, dry at the end. Classified: Pos Driver Team 1. Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes 1h28:14.494 2. M.Schumacher Ferrari + 1.100 3. R.Schumacher Williams BMW + 38.000 4. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes + 43.200 5. Button Williams BMW + 49.900 6. Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda + 55.900 7. Villeneuve BAR Honda + 1:12.300 8. Herbert Jaguar Cosworth + 1:27.800 9. Salo Sauber Petronas + 1:28.600 10. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth + 1:31.500 11. Diniz Sauber Petronas + 1:34.100 12. Zonta BAR Honda + 1 Lap 13. Wurz Benetton Playlife + 1 Lap 14. Gene Minardi Fondmetal + 1 Lap 15. Verstappen Arrows Supertec + 1 Lap 16. de la Rosa Arrows Supertec + 2 Laps 17. Mazzacane Minardi Fondmetal + 2 Laps Fastest Lap: R.Barrichello, 1:53.803, lap 30 Not Classified/Retirements: Driver Team On Lap Reason Barrichello Ferrari 32 fuel Pressure Alesi Prost Peugeot 32 fuel Pressure Heidfeld Prost Peugeot 12 engine Fisichella Benetton Playlife 8 electrical Trulli Jordan Mugen-Honda 4 accident World Championship Standing, Round 13: Drivers: Constructors: 1. Hakkinen 74 1. McLaren 125 2. M.Schumacher 68 2. Ferrari 117 3. Coulthard 61 3. Williams-BMW 30 4. Barrichello 49 4. Benetton-Playlife 18 5. R.Schumacher 20 5. Jordan-Mugen Honda 13 6. Fisichella 18 6. BAR-Honda 12 7. Villeneuve 11 7. Sauber 6 8. Button 10 8. Arrows 4 9. Frentzen 7 9. Jaguar 3 10. Trulli 6 = Salo 6 12. Irvine 3 13. Verstappen 2 = de la Rosa 2 15. Zonta 1
Acknowledgement: Race data by Atlas F1.
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