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Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix 2001

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THE SUN OF SUZUKA

After horrible weeks Formula one went into the winter break in happy mood.

It was no christmas and no child´s birthday. Mika Hakkinen sat in a chair in front of the McLaren pit and the flood of gifts became bigger and bigger: Swimming belts and plastic balls - and everything else a young father needs for playing with his son. In the late summer of Japan, in the evening sun of the Suzuka Circuitland (that is owned by Honda) happiness came back to Formula One after terrible weeks, shortly before the whole circus disappeared into the winter break.

Together with Hakkinen also Oldie Jean Alesi, who declared his retirement from active competition in Japan, the home country of his wife Kumiko, will not be at grid in 2002. The Frenchman had been, a real sensation, fastest in Friday´s free practice sessions. But in the race he collided with Kimi Raikkonen, whose left rear suspension had broken at a speed of 250 km/h, after only 5 laps. The wheels were flying around like billiard balls and after that, the place of accident looked like after a terror attack, but there were only yellow flags waved, but no safety car. Kimi, the young lion, was shocked, but unhurt. Alesi, who had given his debut at Paul Ricard back in 1989 with a Tyrrell Ford, but winning only a single one out of 201 Grand Prix, later shook hands with the Finn to give him a little support.

Michael Schumacher had not got such a good start from pole position, but in spite that, he remained in the leading position. The whole distance the German fought with Hakkinen, his brother Ralf and finally with Montoya for victory. The fourtimes world champion scored a close but souvereign win. On the finish line the Ferrari no. 1 and the Williams BMW of the Colombian, both on 2 stop strategy, were separated by 3.2 seconds.

Ralf Schumacher had got brake problems, left the track threetimes for this reason and received a 10 seconds stop and go penalty for leaving out that chicane, once had become famous alll over the world by the 1989 collision of Senna and Prost.

Rubens Barrichello´s battle for the 2nd place in the drivers´worldchampionship failed definitely. The Brazilian, who was lead as the only driver on a 3 stop strategy by Ross Brawn, at the beginning had driven very aggressively, but later he dropped down successively, especially because his engine nearly had died at his first pit stop.

Michelin tyres become the better, the hotter the weather condtions are and the longer the race continues. At their first halt the Benetton drivers only changed their rear tyres. That the cars become always more reliable, the faster the end of the season comes nearer, is nothing new. In Suzuka 16 cars received the chequered flag, but it easily could have been 18. But when both the Jaguars came in for refuelling, no electricity was available to make both cars retire. "That had cost the team a minimum of a million US-$, because we had to stay ahead of the Benettons for next year´s constructors´ ranking," said an angry Niki Lauda after that. After 18 years in the business, the Italian fashion group said good bye to Grand Prix Racing, but the team, once founded as Toleman, will remain there, in 2002 renamed into Renault. If there will be a seat for Fernando Alonso at the side of Jarno Trulli has to be decided soon. Also at the season´s final the young Spaniard showed an excellent performance, when beating Honda´s works driver Olivier Panis in the BAR by one lap ahead, using a 4 year old Ford engine. It is not always easy for the Japanese to save face. Toyota, who will enter the scene with Mika Salo and Alan McNish in 2002, will be confronted with that, too, because the testing results, the crew lead by former rally star driver Ove Andersson, scored in 2001, only were of average quality.

In 2002, Formula One will be much, much younger, because Felipe Massa, Brazilian star in the European Formula 3000 and in the Alfa Romeo touring car, replacing Raikkonen at Sauber Petronas, is also only 19 years of age.

Together Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard have competed in 98 Grand Prix. That is more, than 2 drivers ever had done in the history of Grand Prix Racing. The Silver Arrows of the 3rd generation were formed by them, as Caracciola and von Brauchitsch had done in the pre-war era, and Fangio and Moss in the time after World War II. Instead of the McLaren Mercedes Mika Hakkinen will only drive the pushchair of his son Hugo Ronan. David Coulthard, who stays with the team, will be partnered by Kimi Raikkonen: After Ronnie Peterson, Keke Rosberg and Mika Häkkinen probably the next great Scandinavian in Grand Prix Racing.

Klaus Ewald

The season review you will read here at the middle of November !

© 2001 by researchracing

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