Ferrari replaced Irvine with Rubens Barrichello ahead of the 2000 Formula One season. The season started well, with Schumacher and Barrichello scoring a 1–2 finish in Australia after both McLaren drivers retired from the race. Schumacher followed his Australian win with consecutive victories in Brazil and in San Marino, to lead the drivers' standings by 21 points after only three races. Schumacher's early points lead was minimised, however, after a string of consecutive retirements in France, Austria, and Germany left him with only a two-point lead over reigning world champion Mika Häkkinen. At the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, Barrichello scored his maiden career win after starting 18th on the grid. At the 2000 Italian Grand Prix, Schumacher scored his 41st career victory to match the victory tally of Ayrton Senna. During the post-race press conference, he burst into tears when asked if the record "meant a lot" to him. Schumacher won the 2000 Drivers' Championship in the F1-2000 at the , becoming Ferrari's first Drivers' Champion since Jody Scheckter in 1979. Barrichello was classified fourth in the final standings, and Ferrari took its second consecutive Constructors' Championship.