David Coulthard won the 2001 Austrian Grand Prix from seventh on the grid, closing to within four points of championship leader Michael Schumacher.
Key Facts
- Race winner
- David Coulthard (McLaren)
- Race distance
- 71 laps
- Spectators
- 76,000
- Championship round
- 6th of 17
- Coulthard career wins
- 11th career victory
- Pole position
- Michael Schumacher (37th career pole)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Michael Schumacher held the championship lead entering the Austrian Grand Prix, having taken pole position. Williams drivers Montoya and Ralf Schumacher led early, but a botched pass by Schumacher on lap 16 disrupted the race order, and Ferrari's pit stop strategy ultimately failed to secure the lead for Barrichello.
Held at the A1-Ring on 13 May 2001, Coulthard exploited a longer stint to overtake Barrichello and win from seventh on the grid. Barrichello was controversially ordered by Ferrari to yield second place to Michael Schumacher on the final lap, while both Williams drivers retired with mechanical failures.
Coulthard closed the Drivers' Championship gap to four points behind Schumacher. Ferrari maintained an 18-point lead over McLaren in the Constructors' Championship, and Williams held third despite both drivers failing to score. Eleven races remained in the season.