2001 Belgian Grand Prix Race Report
engine. Yet the Colombian remained up beat about his fortunes: "My car was pulling to one side and I was a bit scared something was going to break so on the first lap I took it quite easy. I was pushing pretty hard past three or four cars and past Ralf, it was kind of exciting. Then the engine just went. Weekends like this are just racing!"
Across the line for the first time, it was Schumacher, Fisichella, Barrichello, Coulthard, Hakkinen, Button with the leading Ferrari extending his lead to 5.2s as they started the third lap. His early form beginning to subside, Button was easily passed by the more powerful Jordan Honda's of Trulli and Alesi a lap later and slotted in 7th place. Back at the front, Schumacher's lead on lap 6 grew to an impressive 14 seconds whilst further back, Trulli commenced the first round of pit stops - dropping from 6th to 12th. Fifth placed Hakkinen and sixth-placed Alesi came in a lap later, re-joining without incident in 11th and 12th places respectively. Barrichello was next in on lap nine, followed by Villeneuve and Ralf Schumacher. His lead now up to 17.8s, Michael Schumacher brought his Ferrari in on lap 10, stationary for 9.2s, the German emerged in 2nd place; and this became first again with Fisichella stopping a lap later along with Coulthard and Button.
The first round of stops now complete, the order was Schumacher, Fisichella, Coulthard, Barrichello, Hakkinen, Trulli with the leading Ferrari pulling away at an impressive rate. Lap 17 and some 24 seconds up the road, Schumacher momentarily lost concentration at Stavelot and ran wide. "I was just playing with too many buttons at the same time," announced Michael. "I ran wide and almost went into the barrier. It didn't need much to do that. When you are on the limit, that's what can happen." Battling with Coulthard, Ferrari team mate Barrichello clipped a cone at the Bus Stop chicane and removed his front wing. The Brazilian needing to do a complete lap before being serviced by his crew, he emerged in 9th place. Meantime, Button went off in similar fashion at the same place but the Englishman was less fortunate - his left front crashing into the wall and sending Jenson into retirement. "The car was fine when I turned left," declared Button. "But it didn't want to turn right because the wing had
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