Ralf Schumacher took his maiden Formula One victory, ending Williams's four-year win drought since the 1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix.
Key Facts
- Race winner
- Ralf Schumacher (Williams)
- Race length
- 62 laps
- Pole position
- David Coulthard (McLaren)
- Winning margin
- 4.3 seconds over Coulthard
- Spectators
- 80,000–100,000
- Championship round
- 4th of 2001 Formula One season
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Heading into the race, Michael Schumacher led the World Drivers' Championship with Ferrari ahead of McLaren in the Constructors' standings. David Coulthard had taken pole position after recording the fastest lap in qualifying, lining up alongside teammate Mika Häkkinen on the front row.
At the start, Ralf Schumacher, starting from third, overtook both McLaren drivers into the Tamburello chicane and led every subsequent lap. Coulthard finished 4.3 seconds behind in second, while Rubens Barrichello claimed third after switching from a two-stop to a one-stop strategy during the 62-lap race at Imola.
Ralf Schumacher's win moved him from seventh to fourth in the Drivers' Championship, while Coulthard's second place put him level with Michael Schumacher at the top of the standings. McLaren reduced Ferrari's Constructors' Championship lead to ten points, and Williams climbed from sixth to third with 13 races remaining.