Finnish fan's David Coulthard blog: F1-SEASON 2001

AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 4.3.01, Melbourne

"YOU EITHER HAVE IT - OR YOU DON'T!"

The first qualifying session of the F1-season 2001 didn't work out well for DC. After having problems during the hour his position at the starting grid was 6th. The Ferraris were fast - Michael Schumacher took the pole and Rubens Barrichello was second.

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS THING?"

The Australian GP was eventful from start to finish. DC took a good start but hit then gently to the rear tyres of two other cars. After the first lap DC was 7th, but after the second lap he was already 5th. On the third lap Barrichello tried to overtake Frenzen, but managed only to send H-H off the circuit. At this point DC was 4th... On the next lap Ralf Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve collided badly, and the safety car came out. And for the second time within six months a marshall died, and several spectators were hurt.

On lap 26 Häkkinen drove off the track and retired. Because of this DC took the 3rd place. A few laps later DC overtook Rubens and had the 2nd place. After the pitstops the gap between the leader - Schumi - and David was 15 seconds, but at the finishline the gap was just 1.7 seconds...

The most positive thing about the first race of the 2001 season was McLaren's reliability. The two previous years both cars retired, and the pre-season tests had indicated that also this year that might be the case. And even though victory was the only goal, second place feels especially good because of Mika's retirement. Next stop: Malaysia...

PROFESSIONAL

Despite of all the distraction, in Melbourne DC showed what he's made of: he's a professional to the bone, as already season 2000 proved us. A lot has changed since 1999...

MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX 18.3.01, Sepang