Rubens Barrichello claimed his maiden Formula One victory from 18th on the grid, tightening the 2000 World Championship battle.
Key Facts
- Race winner
- Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)
- Grid position of winner
- 18th
- Race distance
- 45 laps
- Attendance
- 102,000 people
- Championship round
- 11th of 2000 F1 World Championship
- Schumacher points lead after race
- 2 points
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
At the first corner, championship leader Michael Schumacher moved left and collided with Giancarlo Fisichella, retiring both. An unrelated track intruder later forced a safety car period, reshuffling pit strategies and allowing Barrichello, who had climbed from 18th to fifth, to stay out on dry slick tyres and inherit the lead.
The 2000 German Grand Prix was held on 30 July 2000 at the Hockenheimring before 102,000 spectators. Mika Häkkinen led much of the race until the safety car intervention. Barrichello stayed out during the safety car period, seized the lead after lap 27, and held it to the finish, securing Ferrari's win in his maiden Formula One victory.
Barrichello's victory reduced Michael Schumacher's World Drivers' Championship lead to just two points and drew Barrichello to within eight points of the McLaren drivers. McLaren closed to four points behind Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship. The track intruder, identified as 47-year-old Frenchman Robert Sehli, later apologised and was fined by circuit administration.