The 2001 Formula 1 season might have been one of the best from Michael Schumacher after he smashed records and wrapped up a fourth title early.
The Ferrari F2001 was unbeatable with Schumacher winning the opening two races of the season in Australia and Malaysia, before going on to grab victories in Spain and Monaco.
Along with podiums in Brazil, Austria and Canada, by the midway point of the season, it was looking like Schumacher was unstoppable. He was 24 points ahead of main title rival David Coulthard after his win at the European Grand Prix, while Ferrari were 41 points ahead of McLaren.
Schumacher and Ferrari’s wins were partially helped by Mika Hakkinen’s poor form that year, which tailed off following a series of retirements due to reliability and incidents.
By the time they reached the 13th round, Schumacher went on to seal his fourth title, leaving only the Constructors’ Championship left.
2 Sep 2001: Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher of Germany in action during the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix held at the Spa-francorchamps circuit in Spa, Belgium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Thompson /AllsportFerrari wins Constructors’ title after Michael Schumacher ‘blitzed’ field in Belgium 2001
It was the second year in a row that Schumacher had sealed a title for Ferrari after doubts over whether he could get it over the line. At the following race in Belgium, he would go on to completely dominate the race after taking the lead from third on the grid.
Schumacher built up a lead of 20 seconds, but would briefly lose concentration when he braked at the Bus Stop Chicane just 17 laps into the race, while teammate Rubens Barrichello damaged his front wing after hitting a bollard.
The incident wasn’t seen on TV, with Martin Brundle commenting afterwards: “We hear from the pits that he [Schumacher] did go off the track, but at that point, Michael was still pushing like crazy and building his lead more and more. Since that incident, he’s really backed off, cruised home and ended up 10 seconds ahead of Coulthard.”
The loss of concentration reminded Schumacher to stay conservative, which he did ahead of Coulthard for the remaining laps as he brought his Ferrari home to another victory by 10 seconds. After Barrichello recovered to fifth, it sealed a second Constructors’ Championship in a row for Ferrari.
Murray Walker was quick to highlight the German’s record-breaking year: “Eight wins this season for Michael, the most wins in any season for a driver is nine, and that was Nigel Mansell. There are three races left, and if Michael wins two of them, it looks like he’ll add another record.”
Brundle: “Michael still has the rip off on his visor; he didn’t really follow anything today. He blitzed past a few backmarkers but absolutely clear car, helmet and visor.”
Michael Schumacher equals Nigel Mansell’s feat and takes all-time record at the end of 2001
Walker’s prediction would come true later in the season at the Japanese Grand Prix when Schumacher put in another dominant performance from pole.
The win enabled Schumacher to equal Mansell’s record of nine victories in a single season, later surpassed by the German in 2004 and by Max Verstappen in 2022, and move ahead in the all-time win list.
Schumacher had clocked up 53 victories, which put him ahead of Alain Prost, who had 51 victories, by the end of the 2001 season.
It was also the ninth victory for the F2001, a car that Ferrari would go on to use at the start of the 2002 season and take a 10th victory at the season opener in Melbourne with Schumacher at the wheel.