Mika Hakkinen retired on the final lap of the 2001 Spanish GP, with Michael Schumacher going to console him on the finish.
What ought to have been Mika Hakkinen’s nineteenth victory in his Formulation One profession dramatically was Michael Schumacher’s 47th when the Ferrari driver emerged victorious from the battle on the Spanish grand Prix.
2001 wasn’t the very best season for Mika Hakkinen, who couldn’t even end on the rostrum within the first 4 races. However he was at all times a beast on the Circuit de Catalunya.
He’d received there in 1998, 1999, and 2000 and regardless of a troublesome begin to his 2001 season, he was set so as to add a fourth Spanish Grand Prix victory to the listing.
Michael Schumacher had led from pole, however Hakkinen took the lead through the second cease, having trailed the Ferrari driver the entire race. In the meantime, Schumacher had uncharacteristically settled for a second as a result of a priority concerning a vibration.
Then again, Hakkinen was completely targeted. He had lapped everybody on the observe apart from Schumacher and because the race entered its final lap, he appeared set to assert a commanding first victory of the yr.
Simply when his McLaren-Mercedes MP4-16 confronted a clutch failure, leaving the Mercedes engine to “flutter” towards its digital rev-limited. Whereas the Finn crossed his fingers that it will proceed for a minimum of 2.9 miles.
Nonetheless, the clutch in the end flew aside with belching smoke and two corners remaining. Placing an finish to Hakkinen’s gallant race.
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Michael Schumacher overtly consoles Mika Hakinnen
Schumacher finally got here by to prevail over Juan Pablo Montoya, who scored his first podium; and Jacques Villeneuve, who scored BARs first podium.
Nonetheless, the German didn’t appear to take a lot pleasure in it claiming that Hakkinen ought to have received and was sorry for what occurred. He mentioned that he had been “bloody fortunate,” and was embarrassed to win within the circumstances.
Nonetheless reeling from what had simply occurred, Hakkinen graciously waved to the sympathetic crowd. As he made his manner again to parc ferme on the sidepod of teammate David Coulthard’s automotive.
Schumacher, who had settled for second place, was so thrilled he may hardly include himself as he rounded the previous couple of corners and waved his arm from the cockpit earlier than the end line. The reigning champion, although, was fast to acknowledge his luck.
“We now have been bloody fortunate,” he instructed Ferrari’s chief strategist Ross Brawn, moments after crossing the end line. Though delighted to have earned the utmost variety of factors for the third time in 5 races.
Schumacher’s happiness was tempered by large sympathy for his most feared adversary. He overtly consoled Hakkinen after the race, even breaking the principles of the parc ferme.
“I really feel very sorry for Mika,” Schumacher said. “We had a really entertaining race after which he jumped me on the final pit cease. It jogs my memory of the previous days, final yr, and seeing him retiring on the final lap; 5 corners from the top or no matter, it’s simply, I imply, it’s surprising.”
Sadly for Hakkinen, there could be loads extra heartbreak to come back in what turned out to be his remaining season in Formulation One. Nonetheless, nothing may fairly match Spain for pure, gut-wrenching drama.
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