2001 Australian Grand Prix

Entrants

Four drivers make their Formula One debuts at Albert Park. Juan Pablo Montoya joins Williams alongside Ralf Schumacher, having been loaned to Chip Ganassi Racing since 1998 to compete in CART — where he took the championship at his first attempt in 1999 — and then won the Indianapolis 500 in 2000. Enrique Bernoldi replaces Pedro de la Rosa at Arrows. Fernando Alonso takes a race seat at Minardi having previously been a test driver. Kimi Räikkönen partners Nick Heidfeld at Sauber; critics including FIA president Max Mosley and Eddie Irvine questioned Sauber’s decision to give Räikkönen a race seat with only 23 car races of experience before his debut. He passed a test in December 2000 at Jerez before 25 FIA commission members and was granted his super licence by a 24-to-1 vote.

Michelin competes as a tyre supplier for the first time since 1984, supplying Williams, Benetton, Prost, Jaguar and Minardi. Their tyres bring more tread area into contact with the road, and top speeds in pre-season testing exceeded 2000 levels despite a reduction in permitted downforce.

Michael Schumacher arrives as the heavy favourite after completing his most thorough pre-season ever. He said the F2001 “has performed brilliantly at Fiorano and Mugello. I can say again that never before have I been able to carry out such a preparation in my career.”

Practice

Four practice sessions preceded the race — two one-hour sessions on Friday and two 45-minute sessions on Saturday. Rubens Barrichello led both Friday sessions, but the afternoon session was disrupted when Michael Schumacher missed waved yellows at turn five for Nick Heidfeld’s off, drove over oil at turn six, spun backwards into the gravel at 190 km/h and barrel-rolled twice before landing against a tyre barrier. He was unhurt and returned to inspect the corner later that day.

In the Saturday sessions, Schumacher led FP3, with Coulthard fastest in the final session. Tarso Marques’ engine failed on his out lap in FP1, spreading oil. Luciano Burti locked up into turn one in FP2, spun, and hit a barrier — removing the front-left corner of his Jaguar. Heidfeld also damaged his front wing in an excursion. Heinz-Harald Frentzen beached his car in the turn six gravel trap late in FP2.