2001 Belgian Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = Belgium
Grand Prix = Belgium


Official name = LIX Foster's Belgian Grand Prix
date = September 2
Year = 2001
Race_No = 14
Season_No = 17
Location = Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Course = Permanent racing facility
Course_mi = 4.33
Course_km = 6.98
Distance_laps = 36
Distance_mi = 155.88
Distance_km = 251.28
Weather = Overcast, mild, dry
Pole_Driver = Juan Pablo Montoya
Pole_Team = Williams-BMW
Pole_Time = 1:52.072
Pole_Country = Colombia
Fast_Driver = Michael Schumacher
Fast_Team = Ferrari
Fast_Time = 1:49.758
Fast_L

Fast_Country = Germany
First_Driver = Michael Schumacher
First_Team = Ferrari
First_Country = Germany
Second_Driver = David Coulthard
Second_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
Second_Country= UK
Third_Driver = Giancarlo Fisichella
Third_Team = Benetton-Renault
Third_Country = ItalyThe 2001 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on September 2, 2001 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The race was the 14th race of the 2001 Formula One season, and the penultimate European round of the season. The race is notable for the accident of Brazilian Luciano Burti who crashed into a tyre barrier at the "Blanchimont" corner following a collision with Eddie Irvine and for Michael Schumacher overtaking Alain Prost's previous record of 51 Grand Prix victories.

Juan Pablo Montoya took pole position for the race, the second of his Formula One career. But an engine failure on lap two left Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, who also took the fastest lap, to win the race by 10 seconds from the McLaren of David Coulthard. Giancarlo Fisichella completed the podium in third, the final podium finish of the Benetton Team prior to their renaming to Renault F1.

Classification

Notes

*Last race: Tarso Marques, Luciano Burti
*Both Arrows and Minardi drivers were qualified outside of the 107% time. However, because the qualifying section was held in rainy conditions, they were allowed to race.
*The first start was aborted because Heinz-Harald Frentzen stalled on the grid. The formation lap went again without him.
*The second start saw Heinz-Harald Frentzen start at the back of the grid.
*At the start of the third formation lap, Ralf Schumacher couldn't leave the grid, due to the pit jack being left onto his car. He was forced to start at the back of the grid.
*It was the all Williams front row start. However, both were forced to start at the back of the grid by the third formation lap.
*This was the last podium finish and points finish for the Benetton team.
*Jean Alesi was able to hold off Ralf Schumacher to score his first point for Jordan which was also the final World Championship point of his career.
*Schumacher's win in this race was the 52nd of his career, surpassing Alain Prost's record for the greatest number of wins.
*On lap four, Luciano Burti, while speeding through Blanchimont, made contact with Eddie Irvine's rear wheel, causing his front wing to break off. He lost grip and speared straight into the tyre barrier at over 180mph. The resulting injuries caused him to miss the rest of the season. The race restarted for 36 laps, with the result of the 2nd race counted as the overall results.
*Kimi Räikkönen, Eddie Irvine, Luciano Burti and Fernando Alonso didn't take part in the restart.

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Belgian Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 2001
Previous_race_in_season = 2001 Hungarian Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 2001 Italian Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 2000 Belgian Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 2002 Belgian Grand Prix