2001 British Grand Prix

Championship standings

Schumacher leads with 78 points, thirty-one clear of Coulthard. Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher are tied in third and fourth on 30 each. Montoya is fifth on 12.

Previous race

At Magny-Cours, Schumacher won from Ralf, with Barrichello holding off Coulthard for third. Ralf took his first career pole; Montoya, running quickly, could have challenged for second had his engine not failed.

Practice

Schumacher led FP1. Heavy clouds gathered during FP2 and rain fell in the final ten minutes, creating a slippery surface; Häkkinen set the day’s fastest time before the rain arrived. Villeneuve lost the rear at Copse Corner due to a front suspension failure, spinning 360 degrees. Alonso spun twice — at Copse and on the Hangar straight — damaging his undertray in the grass and ending his session. De la Rosa stopped in the centre of the track in FP1 with a fuel supply issue.

Saturday morning was wet, further restricting running. Schumacher led both Saturday sessions. Rain returned late in FP3, with Räikkönen spinning at Abbey but continuing.