GRAND PRIX: Hungary: Schumacher and Ferrari Are World Champions
19.8.01

Although not a showdown event, with four more races to go, the aura of expectation in Hungary was high. With a win, Michael Schumacher would clinch the Championship irrespective of where anyone else finished.

It was therefore a very relieved Schumacher who clinched his fourth world title with two months of the season still to go. He had previously lived through four tense championship showdowns of which he won just two, so he could be excused a certain nervousness.

He won the Grand Prix in commanding style, leading from the first corner and coming home clear of team-mate Rubens Barrichello, whose second place gave Ferrari its third constructors title in a row.

He wept uncontrollably in Monza last year when he equalled Ayrton Senna's 41 GP wins and on Sunday he again found a tear in his eye as he matched Alain Prost's record 51 wins. Aged just 32, and with three more years left on his Ferrari contract, he is sure to become the most successful driver in the history of the sport.

"For it all to come together today, the fourth title, the 51 wins and the constructors' championship is pretty exceptional," said Schumacher. "I came here this weekend not too optimistic. I was quite relaxed, thinking that it was not going to happen here. Then in the last few laps I thought, 'No, this is supposed to be.' "

Schumacher's seventh race win of the season was a controlled drive built on the pole position he took in Saturday's qualifying session. He described his winning qualifying lap, which was eight tenths of a second faster than anyone else, as "one of the few perfect laps I have done in my career. I could not go any faster".

The race, too, went according to plan. Schumacher led into the first corner ahead of Barrichello, who passed Coulthard to take second. This pair battled throughout the race with the Scot managing to get ahead of the Brazilian in the first round of pit stops. But a sticking fuel nozzle in his second stop lost him two seconds and as he emerged from the pits, Barrichello scythed across his nose and moved back into second.

Schumacher was untroubled at the front, controlling the margin, never seeking to make a break, but always able to respond if the second place battle got too close.

For Coulthard, who came to Budapest 37 points behind Schumacher, the race summed up his season. "I'm not disappointed, just frustrated," he said. "I drove to the maximum today, but my car was not as quick as the Ferrari. You cannot drive around these kind of problems. But there is no question that Michael deserved the championship. He's been the fastest, made fewer mistakes and he and Ferrari have really performed. We at McLaren will have to go back to the drawing board."

The last four races of the season could be fabulously exciting. With the main contestants unleashed from the chore of winning the Championship, all attention is now focussed on whether Coulthard can repel the challenges of Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher for second place in the championship. There will be some great tactical racing ahead!

Jean Todt: "A dream race with a dream team. I am very happy that Ferrari has secured its third consecutive Constructors' title and that Michael has won the Drivers' for the second consecutive year. Michael was simply fantastic and Rubens drove a stupendous race which gave us the Constructors' title. This year's results speak for themselves and I am delighted for the team that Ferrari has reaped the rewards for all its hard work. There are still four races to go and we will do all we can to live up to our title in the races to come. This year's success is particularly sweet as we were up against two very strong rivals. This evening the entire team will dine together in Budapest and tomorrow we will return to Maranello to celebrate these titles with all the Ferrari staff. "

Michael Schumacher: " It has been a beautiful weekend and we have done everything we could. To be honest, I did not have such a good feeling when I came here, but now with pole and the win which makes me equal with Alain Prost on 51 and the fourth championship, it is all too much for me. It is a great achievement for the team.. In the early part of the race, I was trying to preserve my tyres for later. Towards the end, I was worried about making a mistake, as one car was leaving oil on the track. I am very happy for Rubens' second place, for himself, for the fact it gave us the Constructors' title and for the fact he was a cushion between me and David. As for the rest of the season, I plan to keep winning races. Rubens has been a very important part of the team and if I can help him, I will."

Rubens Barrichello: "I am very proud of my contribution to this result, proud to be Michael's team-mate and of being part of this success. I think it is not a coincidence that Ferrari has won the championship in the two years I have been with the team. As for the race, I had a wonderful start, but on my first set of tyres the car was a bit difficult. At the first pit stop I was so disappointed to lose second place and then at the second one I was so happy to get it back again. I pushed hard and got a very good "out" lap and that's how it happened. I never felt under much pressure towards the end, because it is impossible to overtake here."

RACE RESULTS
Hungarian GP
Budapest, Hungary;
77 laps. Weather: hot, sunny.


Classified:
Pos  Driver        Team                       Time  
 1.  M. Schumacher Ferrari            (B)     1h41:49.675
 2.  Barrichello   Ferrari            (B)     +  0:03.363
 3.  Coulthard     McLaren Mercedes   (B)     +  0:03.940
 4.  R. Schumacher Williams BMW       (M)     +  0:49.687
 5.  Hakkinen      McLaren Mercedes   (B)     +  1:10.293
 6.  Heidfeld      Sauber Petronas    (B)     +  1 Lap
 7.  Raikkonen     Sauber Petronas    (B)     +  1 Lap
 8.  Montoya       Williams BMW       (M)     +  1 Lap
 9.  Villeneuve    BAR Honda          (B)     +  2 Laps
10.  Alesi         Jordan Honda       (B)     +  2 Laps
11.  de la Rosa    Jaguar Cosworth    (M)     +  2 Laps
12.  Verstappen    Arrows             (B)     +  3 Laps


World Championship Standing, Round 13:
Drivers:                     Constructors:             
 1.  M.Schumacher  94         1.  Ferrari       140
 2.  Coulthard     51         2.  McLaren        72
 3   Barrichello   46         3.  Williams       59
 4.  R. Schumacher 44         4.  Sauber         20
 5.  Hakkinen      21         5.  BAR            16
 6.  Montoya       15         6.  Jordan         15
 7.  Villeneuve    11         7.  Benetton        6
 =.  Heidfeld      11         8.  Jaguar          5
 9.  Trulli         9         9.  Prost           4
 =.  Raikkonen      9        10.  Arrows          1
11.  Frentzen       6         =.  Minardi         1
12.  Panis          5
13.  Irvine         4
 =.  Fisichella     4
 =.  Alesi          4
16.  Button         2
17.  de la Rosa     1
 =.  Verstappen     1

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