2001 Italian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Both championships are settled. In the Drivers’ fight for second, Coulthard holds a slim advantage over Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher.

Previous race

At Spa, Schumacher broke Alain Prost’s all-time record of 51 Formula One victories. A first-lap collision between Irvine and Burti — with Burti’s car hitting the tyre barrier head-on at high speed — led to the race being suspended and shortened to 36 laps. Ralf Schumacher was still on his jacks when the warm-up lap began and had to start from the back. Coulthard and Fisichella completed the podium behind Schumacher.

Between-race developments

Luciano Burti is sidelined with concussion and facial bruising from his Spa crash. Czech Formula 3000 driver and Prost test driver Tomáš Enge replaces him for the remaining races. Minardi replaces Tarso Marques with Alex Yoong — backed by the Magnum Corporation — who becomes Malaysia’s first Formula One driver after a two-day test at Mugello earned him a super licence. Marques moves to a reserve/test role.

The September 11 attacks on New York and Washington occurred two days before this race weekend. The FIA confirmed the race would proceed as scheduled. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo directed his team to approach the weekend as a normal racing event; the Automobile Club d’Italia urged fans to behave in keeping with the gravity of the situation. Podium celebrations are cancelled and all pre-race ceremonies, including a flypast by the Italian Tricolour Arrows display team, are called off. Ferrari stripped their cars of all advertising and painted their nose cones black. Jaguar fitted black engine covers. Jordan replaced Deutsche Post branding on their engine cover with the flag of the United States on Sunday morning. Michael Schumacher was reluctant to take part and his brother Ralf felt the event should not have gone ahead.

Practice

Team principals agreed to move the Friday morning session start from 11:00 to 10:50 to comply with a one-minute silence observed at midday across Europe. Schumacher led FP1. Heidfeld crashed his Sauber into the wall at Variante Ascari with 15 minutes left. Räikkönen locked up at Variante Goodyear, removing his right-front wheel and wing and narrowly avoiding the stationary Yoong. Verstappen hit the tyre barrier at Curva di Lesmo on his first quick lap after 10 minutes of FP1, setting no times. Ralf Schumacher set the day’s fastest time in FP2. Irvine spun into the gravel at Ascari five minutes in and did not return. A thunderstorm overnight left the circuit damp for FP3; Montoya led on intermediates before a dry line appeared. Schumacher set the weekend’s fastest time in FP4 at 1:23.178 — faster than his 2000 pole lap.