Race Summary
Launch control was a concern as four cars were left on the grid as they stalled as the race started. There were no incidents or accidents as a result of the cars stalled on the grid. The two Williams drivers were in first and second position after the start: Juan Pablo Montoya was leading and Ralf Schumacher was second. Michael Schumacher in his Ferrari was in third position.
The safety car was deployed on the first lap as two of the cars which stalled could not be removed from the grid before the race completed the first lap. Jarno Trulli, one of the drivers that stalled their car but who had been recovered to the pit lane, was disqualified for leaving the pit lane while the red light was on as the safety car and the cars behind it passed the pit lane exit.
At the re-start Montoya was in lead again while Ralf Schumacher retired soon after with brake problems. Soon afterwards, Montoya began to experience tyre graining, which allowed Michael Schumacher to close on him. Furthermore Rubens Barrichello got closer to his team mate and was followed by Jos Verstappen, David Coulthard and Kimi Räikkönen causing a line of cars behind Montoya.
Montoya tried to hold them all off but then Michael Schumacher made his move on the outside of the tight second corner. Montoya outbraked himself, this resulted in both of them running off the track, leaving Barrichello in the lead. Both Montoya and Schumacher went back on the track but were down the field now. Verstappen meanwhile pitted soon after with a much lighter fuel load.
Schumacher fought his way back up to third, while Montoya was able to get up to fourth before retiring with hydraulic fauliure.
At the sole round of pit stops, Coulthard jumped Rubens Barrichello to lead the race, but appeared to be struggling during the closing stages, allowing both Ferraris to close right up to the McLaren.
During the last lap, Barrichello was ordered by the Ferrari team to cede second position to Schumacher, so that he could gain points to defend the driver's title. Barrichello did not comply until the final corner of the last lap. A similar situation happened at the following year's event, and the ensuing podium procedure in which Schumacher ushered Barrichello to the top step resulted in a heavy fine for the Ferrari team, Schumacher and Barrichello, as well as the FIA later banning "team orders" altogether.
In the end David Coulthard finished first, just ahead of both Ferraris and a fourth place for Kimi Räikkönen in his Sauber.
Read more about this topic: 2001 Austrian Grand Prix
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