TOP DRIVERS OF THE 2000 SEASON

2
Second Place Driver

Mika Häkkinen

1
First Place Driver

Michael Schumacher

3
Third Place Driver

David Coulthard

2000 Season Details

Formula 1 in 2000. It was a season pregnant with anticipation, a year that felt like the cusp of something significant. For Ferrari, it was the year the dam finally broke. After years of near misses, of tantalizing potential, 2000 marked the beginning of their era of dominance, the season where Michael Schumacher finally secured his third World Championship, and Ferrari ended a painful 21-year drought in the Drivers' title race. It wasn't just a championship win; it was a symbolic victory, a declaration that the Prancing Horse was back at the very pinnacle of Formula 1, ready to reign.

The narrative of 2000 is centered around the intense, season-long battle between Ferrari and McLaren. These two giants of the sport, each with legendary histories and cutting-edge technology, were locked in a fierce struggle for supremacy. McLaren, with the reigning World Champion Mika Häkkinen and the consistent David Coulthard, entered the season as the team to beat, having won the previous two Drivers' Championships. Ferrari, however, with Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, were determined to finally overthrow McLaren's reign and claim their own era of glory.

The Ferrari F1-2000 was the weapon in Ferrari's arsenal. Designed under the technical direction of Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne, it was a car built for purpose – to win championships. It was powered by a potent V10 engine, the Tipo 049, renowned for its power and driveability. Aerodynamically, it was a refined evolution of previous Ferrari designs, offering a balanced package suited to a wide range of circuits. Crucially, Ferrari and Bridgestone worked in close partnership, developing tires that worked exceptionally well with the F1-2000 chassis, giving them a performance edge in many races.

Michael Schumacher in 2000 was a driver at the peak of his powers, driven by an almost palpable desire to bring the championship back to Maranello. He drove with a blend of raw speed, strategic brilliance, and unwavering determination. His season was characterized by aggressive drives, calculated race management, and an ability to extract the absolute maximum from the car in every situation. He secured nine victories, demonstrating his dominance and consistency throughout the year.

The challenge from McLaren-Mercedes was formidable and sustained throughout the season. The McLaren MP4/15, driven by Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard, was a highly competitive car, often matching or even exceeding the Ferrari in outright pace at certain circuits. McLaren’s strength lay in their aerodynamic efficiency and the powerful Mercedes engine.

Mika Häkkinen, the reigning two-time World Champion, was determined to defend his title and secure a historic third consecutive championship. While he experienced some uncharacteristic mechanical retirements early in the season, Häkkinen demonstrated his class with four victories, including a masterful win at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, often considered one of his finest drives. He pushed Schumacher hard throughout the season, taking the championship battle down to the wire.

David Coulthard also played a crucial role for McLaren, enjoying a strong and consistent season. He secured three victories and consistently scored points, providing valuable support to Häkkinen's title challenge and contributing to McLaren's Constructors' Championship fight. Coulthard emerged as a genuine contender in his own right, demonstrating his speed and racecraft.

Beyond Ferrari and McLaren, Williams-BMW continued their upward trajectory, establishing themselves as the clear third force in Formula 1. The Williams FW22, powered by the powerful BMW engine, showed improved performance and reliability. Ralf Schumacher secured three podium finishes, demonstrating his growing talent, while Jenson Button, in his debut Formula 1 season, impressed with his maturity and consistent points-scoring performances, laying the foundation for his future success.

Other teams, such as Benetton-Playlife with Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz, Jordan-Mugen Honda with Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jarno Trulli, and BAR-Honda with Jacques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta, populated the midfield, occasionally scoring points but generally unable to challenge the dominance of Ferrari, McLaren, and Williams.

Technically, the 2000 season was a continuation of the V10 engine era, with teams pushing for ever greater power and efficiency. Aerodynamic development remained relentless, with intricate wing designs and bargeboards becoming increasingly complex. The tire war between Bridgestone and Michelin intensified, with tire performance playing a crucial role in race strategy and outcomes.

The races of 2000 were often thrilling and strategically complex. The Australian Grand Prix saw a dramatic first-corner pile-up and a Ferrari 1-2 victory. The Brazilian Grand Prix was a chaotic wet race won by Schumacher. The Spanish Grand Prix witnessed a strategic masterclass from McLaren, with Häkkinen winning. The Austrian Grand Prix saw a controversial team order incident at Ferrari. The German Grand Prix was a strategic thriller won by Barrichello from 18th on the grid. And the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa provided Häkkinen's stunning overtake on Schumacher, often hailed as one of the greatest in Formula 1 history.

The championship battle reached its climax at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, the penultimate race of the season. Schumacher and Häkkinen lined up on the front row, setting the stage for a direct showdown. In a tense and strategic race, Schumacher held off Häkkinen to win, securing the World Championship title and ending Ferrari's long wait. The final race in Malaysia was won by Schumacher again, cementing Ferrari's dominance and celebrating their Constructors' Championship victory.

The 2000 Formula 1 season, therefore, stands as a pivotal moment in the sport's history. It was the year Ferrari finally broke through, with Michael Schumacher leading the charge, to claim both Drivers' and Constructors' Championships, signaling the dawn of their era of dominance. While McLaren provided a fierce and sustained challenge, ultimately, 2000 belonged to the Prancing Horse. It was the season where Ferrari returned to the summit, ready to embark on a period of unprecedented success that would define the early years of the new millennium.

Statistics

Drivers

  • Most Wins
    Michael Schumacher(9)
  • Most Podiums
    Michael Schumacher (12)
  • Most Poles
    Michael Schumacher (9)
  • Most Laps Led
    Michael Schumacher (548)
  • Most In Points
    David Coulthard (14)
  • Most DNFs
    Jean Alesi (12)
  • Most Fastest Laps
    None

Constructors

  • Most Wins
    Ferrari(10)
  • Most Podiums
    McLaren (22)
  • Most Poles
    Ferrari (10)
  • Most Laps Led
    Ferrari (606)
  • Most In Points
    McLaren (28)
  • Most DNFs
    Prost (22)
  • Most Fastest Laps
    None

Drivers Championship Standings

Pos Driver Constructor Points Wins
1
German Michael Schumacher
Italian Ferrari
108.0 9
2
Finnish Mika Häkkinen
British McLaren
89.0 4
3
British David Coulthard
British McLaren
73.0 3
4
Brazilian Rubens Barrichello
Italian Ferrari
62.0 1
5
German Ralf Schumacher
British Williams
24.0 0
6
Italian Giancarlo Fisichella
Italian Benetton
18.0 0
7
Canadian Jacques Villeneuve
British BAR
17.0 0
8
British Jenson Button
British Williams
12.0 0
9
German Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Irish Jordan
11.0 0
10
Italian Jarno Trulli
Irish Jordan
6.0 0
11
Finnish Mika Salo
Swiss Sauber
6.0 0
12
Dutch Jos Verstappen
British Arrows
5.0 0
13
British Eddie Irvine
British Jaguar
4.0 0
14
Brazilian Ricardo Zonta
British BAR
3.0 0
15
Austrian Alexander Wurz
Italian Benetton
2.0 0
16
Spanish Pedro de la Rosa
British Arrows
2.0 0
17
British Johnny Herbert
British Jaguar
0.0 0
18
Brazilian Pedro Diniz
Swiss Sauber
0.0 0
19
Spanish Marc Gené
Italian Minardi
0.0 0
20
German Nick Heidfeld
French Prost
0.0 0
21
Argentine Gastón Mazzacane
Italian Minardi
0.0 0
22
French Jean Alesi
French Prost
0.0 0
23
Brazilian Luciano Burti
British Jaguar
0.0 0

Constructors Championship Standings

Pos Constructor Points Wins
1
Italian Ferrari
170.0 10
2
British McLaren
162.0 7
3
British Williams
36.0 0
4
Italian Benetton
20.0 0
5
British BAR
20.0 0
6
Irish Jordan
17.0 0
7
British Arrows
7.0 0
8
Swiss Sauber
6.0 0
9
British Jaguar
4.0 0
10
Italian Minardi
0.0 0
11
French Prost
0.0 0

Driver Points Distribution

Constructor Points Distribution

Driver Points Evolution

Constructor Points Evolution

Australian Grand Prix

Australian Grand Prix

March 12, 2000

Brazilian Grand Prix

Brazilian Grand Prix

March 26, 2000

San Marino Grand Prix

San Marino Grand Prix

April 9, 2000

British Grand Prix

British Grand Prix

April 23, 2000

Spanish Grand Prix

Spanish Grand Prix

May 7, 2000

European Grand Prix

European Grand Prix

May 21, 2000

Monaco Grand Prix

Monaco Grand Prix

June 4, 2000

Canadian Grand Prix

Canadian Grand Prix

June 18, 2000

French Grand Prix

French Grand Prix

July 2, 2000

Austrian Grand Prix

Austrian Grand Prix

July 16, 2000

German Grand Prix

German Grand Prix

July 30, 2000

Hungarian Grand Prix

Hungarian Grand Prix

Aug. 13, 2000

Belgian Grand Prix

Belgian Grand Prix

Aug. 27, 2000

Italian Grand Prix

Italian Grand Prix

Sept. 10, 2000

United States Grand Prix

United States Grand Prix

Sept. 24, 2000

Japanese Grand Prix

Japanese Grand Prix

Oct. 8, 2000

Malaysian Grand Prix

Malaysian Grand Prix

Oct. 22, 2000