2000 Australian Grand Prix

The 2000 Australian Grand Prix, otherwise officially advertised LXV Qantas Australian Grand Prix, was the opening round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, on the 12 March 2000.'Australian GP, 2000', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr647.html, (Accessed 30/08/2019) The race would see Michael Schumacher sweep to victory ahead of new teammate Rubens Barrichello, signalling the start of a new era of domination.
It had been a winter with a lot of changes on the driver front, with Barrichello joining the Scuderia, while Eddie Irvine took the Brazilian's old seat at the new team. Elsewhere, hired promising British youth Jenson Button to partner Ralf Schumacher, while World Champion Damon Hill was replaced by Jarno Trulli at .
There would also be a new team and two returning engine suppliers on the grid, with Ford taking full control of the , and duly reforging them as Jaguar Racing. Williams, meanwhile, secured a multi-year deal with for engines and sponsorship, while made their full F1 return, partnering with . , meanwhile, were plotting their return to F1, having purchased a controlling stake in .
Qualifying, however, had seen the status-quo of effectively maintained, for defending World Champion Mika Häkkinen claimed pole position ahead of his teammate David Coulthard. Schumacher would hence start from third ahead of Barrichello, while Heinz-Harald Frentzen was a strong fifth for Jordan ahead of new teammate Trulli.
The start saw the two carry on their strong form, sweeping into the first corner in grid order. In contrast the two Ferraris would make poor starts, allowing Frentzen to sprint ahead of Barrichello, before entertaining an ambitious lunge around the outside of Schumacher into turn one.
Häkkinen and Coulthard quickly established a lead out front, while Schumacher tried in vain to keep pace behind them. Elsewhere, debutante Button made a strong start, gaining six places off the grid, fellow debutante Nick Heidfeld received a welcoming whack from Marc Gené, while Johnny Herbert became the first retirement of the year with a clutch failure.
Back with the leaders and Coulthard's pace suddenly collapsed on lap ten, his Mercedes engine having picked up a misfire. He pitted at the end of the lap, only for McLaren to send him back out again having been unable to find a quick cure. The Scot's race was over soon after.
There would be more bad news for McLaren just moments later, for Häkkinen's race lead would be completely wiped out by the first appearance of the Mercedes-Benz Safety Car. The cause was Pedro de la Rosa, who had left bits of his littering the back of the circuit after a steering failure, with Eddie Irvine also retiring having been struck by the debris.
When the race resumed Häkkinen immediately sprinted clear to rebuild his lead, and hence had Schumacher already settling for second. That was, until his Mercedes engine cried enough on lap nineteen, with an identical failure to that of Coulthard ending his race in a cloud of white smoke.
Schumacher duly moved into the lead ahead of Frentzen and Barrichello, with the Brazilian unable to find a way past the Jordan. Ferrari hence opted to alter his pitstop strategy, short-fuelling the #4 Ferrari in a switch to a two-stop in order to leap frog a one-stopping Frentzen.
The plan looked to have backfired when Barrichello rejoined behind Button, and he would lose a lot of time dealing with the Williams-BMW. Yet, once clear the Brazilian would deliver a series of impressive laps, although his efforts proved to be in vain when Frentzen suffered a hydraulic leak.
With that the race was over, with Schumacher cruising across the line with an eleven second lead over Barrichello. Ralf Schumacher, meanwhile, would survive a series of retirements to claim third for Williams-BMW, while Jacques Villeneuve scored the first ever points finish for BAR with fourth. Giancarlo Fisichella was next ahead of Mika Salo, although a post-race disqualification for the Finn promoted Ricardo Zonta into the points.
==Background==
=== Press Conference ===
The mood for 's start of year press conference was both calm and relaxed as ahead of the serious business of the press grilling at the Shell House, both Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello arrived cheerfully pushing 7 year old younger Teaghan Santamaria into the room onboard a miniature Ferrari model.https://web.archive.org/web/20150906082655/https://forums.autosport.com/topic/37234-schumacher-gives-away-a-ferrari/ Following Schumacher's assurances that the $900 Ferrari be offered to her, Santamaria commented that Schumacher was "really nice" From a distance, observer and new rival, Jenson Button simply observed that the whole incident was rather "cute" 
=== Entry list ===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Mika Häkkinen 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/15 	 	FO110J 3.0 V10 	
2 	David Coulthard 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/15 	 	FO110J 3.0 V10 	
3 	Michael Schumacher 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F399 	 	049 3.0 V10 	
4 	Rubens Barrichello 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F399 	 	049 3.0 V10 	
5 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	Benson & Hedges Jordan 	 	EJ10 	 	MF-301HE 3.0 V10 	
6 	Jarno Trulli 	Benson & Hedges Jordan 	 	EJ10 	 	MF-301HE 3.0 V10 	
7 	Eddie Irvine 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R1 	 	CR-2 3.0 V10 	
8 	Johnny Herbert 	Jaguar Racing 	 	R1 	 	CR-2 3.0 V10 	
9 	Ralf Schumacher 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW22 	 	E41 3.0 V10 	
10 	Jenson Button 	BMW Williams F1 Team 	 	FW22 	 	E41 3.0 V10 	
11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Mild Seven Benetton Playlife 	 	B200 	 	FB02 3.0 V10 	
12 	Alexander Wurz 	Mild Seven Benetton Playlife 	 	B200 	 	FB02 3.0 V10 	
14 	Jean Alesi 	Gauloises Prost Peugeot 	 	AP03 	 	A20 3.0 V10 	
15 	Nick Heidfeld 	Gauloises Prost Peugeot 	 	AP03 	 	A20 3.0 V10 	
16 	Pedro Diniz 	Red Bull Sauber Petronas 	 	C19 	 	SPE-04A 3.0 V10 	
17 	Mika Salo 	Red Bull Sauber Petronas 	 	C19 	 	SPE-04A 3.0 V10 	
18 	Pedro de la Rosa 	Arrows F1 Team 	 	A21 	 	FB02 3.0 V10 	
19 	Jos Verstappen 	Arrows F1 Team 	 	A21 	 	FB02 3.0 V10 	
20 	Marc Gené 	Telefonica Minardi Fondmetal 	 	M02 	 	RV10 3.0 V10 	
21 	Gastón Mazzacane 	Telefonica Minardi Fondmetal 	 	M02 	 	RV10 3.0 V10 	
22 	Jacques Villeneuve 	Lucky Strike Reynard BAR Honda 	 	002 	 	RA000E 3.0 V10 	
23 	Ricardo Zonta 	Lucky Strike Reynard BAR Honda 	 	002 	 	RA000E 3.0 V10 	
Source:'Australia 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Qualifying Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Gap 	Ave. Speed
1 	1 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	1:30.556 	— 	210.778 km/h
2 	2 	David Coulthard 	 	1:30.910 	+0.354s 	209.957 km/h
3 	3 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:31.075 	+0.519s 	209.577 km/h
4 	4 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:31.102 	+0.546s 	209.515 km/h
5 	5 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:31.359 	+0.803s 	208.925 km/h
6 	6 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:31.504 	+0.948s 	208.594 km/h
7 	7 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:31.514 	+0.958s 	208.571 km/h
8 	22 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:31.968 	+1.412s 	207.542 km/h
9 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:31.992 	+1.436s 	207.488 km/h
10 	17 	Mika Salo 	 	1:32.018 	+1.462s 	207.429 km/h
11 	9 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:32.220 	+1.664s 	206.975 km/h
12 	18 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	1:32.323 	+1.767s 	206.744 km/h
13 	19 	Jos Verstappen 	 	1:32.477 	+1.921s 	206.399 km/h
14 	12 	Alexander Wurz 	 	1:32.775 	+2.219s 	205.736 km/h
15 	15 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	1:33.024 	+2.468s 	205.186 km/h
16 	23 	Ricardo Zonta 	 	1:33.117 	+2.561s 	204.981 km/h
17 	14 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:33.197 	+2.641s 	204.805 km/h
18 	20 	Marc Gené 	 	1:33.261 	+2.705s 	204.664 km/h
19 	16 	Pedro Diniz 	 	1:33.378 	+2.822s 	204.408 km/h
20 	8 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:33.638 	+3.082s 	203.840 km/h
21 	10 	Jenson Button 	 	1:33.828 	+3.272s 	203.428 km/h
22 	21 	Gastón Mazzacane 	 	1:34.705 	+4.149s 	201.544 km/h
107% Time: 1:36.895 	107% Time: 1:36.895 	107% Time: 1:36.895 	107% Time: 1:36.895 	107% Time: 1:36.895 	107% Time: 1:36.895 	107% Time: 1:36.895
Source:'2000 Qantas Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/47/australia/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 30/08/2019)'Australia 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'2000 Qantas Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/47/australia/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 30/08/2019)'Australia 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'2000 Qantas Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/47/australia/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 30/08/2019)'Australia 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'2000 Qantas Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/47/australia/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 30/08/2019)'Australia 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'2000 Qantas Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/47/australia/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 30/08/2019)'Australia 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'2000 Qantas Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/47/australia/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 30/08/2019)'Australia 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'2000 Qantas Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2000/races/47/australia/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 30/08/2019)'Australia 2000: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
===Grid===
** Alesi would start the race from the pitlane.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	3 	Michael Schumacher 	 	58 	1:34:01.987 	3 	10
2 	4 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	58 	+11.415s 	4 	6
3 	9 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	58 	+20.009s 	11 	4
4 	22 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	58 	+44.447s 	8 	3
5 	11 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	58 	+45.165s 	9 	2
6 	23 	Ricardo Zonta 	 	58 	+46.468s 	16 	1
7 	12 	Alexander Wurz 	 	58 	+46.915s 	14 	
8 	20 	Marc Gené 	 	57 	+1 Lap 	18 	
9 	15 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	56 	+2 Laps 	15 	
DSQ* 	17 	Mika Salo 	 	58 	Disqualified 	10 	
Ret 	10 	Jenson Button 	 	46 	Engine 	21 	
Ret 	16 	Pedro Diniz 	 	41 	Transmission 	19 	
Ret 	21 	Gastón Mazzacane 	 	40 	Gearbox 	22 	
Ret 	5 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	39 	Hydraulics 	5 	
Ret 	6 	Jarno Trulli 	 	35 	Engine 	6 	
Ret 	14 	Jean Alesi 	 	27 	Hydraulics 	17 	
Ret 	1 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	18 	Engine 	1 	
Ret 	19 	Jos Verstappen 	 	16 	Suspension 	13 	
Ret 	2 	David Coulthard 	 	11 	Engine 	2 	
Ret 	18 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	6 	Suspension 	12 	
Ret 	7 	Eddie Irvine 	 	6 	Accident 	7 	
Ret 	8 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1 	Clutch 	20 	
Source:'Australia 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)	Source:'Australia 2000: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Salo was disqualified from the race for using illegal bodywork.
==Milestones==
* Ralf Schumacher started his 50th Grand Prix.'1. Australia 2000', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2000/australie.aspx, (Accessed 30/08/2019)
* made their 50th Grand Prix appearance as a constructor.
* 50th race for as an engine supplier.
* Grand Prix debuts for Jenson Button, Nick Heidfeld and Gastón Mazzacane.
* made their debut as a constructor.
* made their first Grand Prix appearance as an engine supplier since the 1987 Australian Grand Prix.
* Michael Schumacher secured his 36th career victory.
* claimed their 126th win as a constructor and engine supplier.
* Ralf Schumacher secured the 25th podium finish for a BMW engine.
* Maiden fastest lap recorded by Rubens Barrichello.
** Also the 140th fastest lap to be set using a Ferrari engine and chassis.
==Standings==
Michael Schumacher started the season as the man to beat with victory in Australia, leaving the opening round with ten points. Rubens Barrichello opened his account in second ahead of Ralf Schumacher, while Jacques Villeneuve was on the board for the first time since the 1998 Japanese Grand Prix. The other drivers on the scoresheet after the opening race were Giancarlo Fisichella and Ricardo Zonta.
There were just four scorers in the Constructors Championship after the opening race of the season, with already holding a daunting lead of twelve points. Behind, were in second, level with but ahead courtesy of Ralf Schumacher's podium, while rounded out the scorers.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Michael Schumacher 	10 	
2 	Rubens Barrichello 	6 	
3 	Ralf Schumacher 	4 	
4 	Jacques Villeneuve 	3 	
5 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	2 	
6 	Ricardo Zonta 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	16 	
2 	 	4 	
3 	 	4 	
4 	 	2 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2000 Grands Prix
Category:Australian Grand Prix