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Formula One: M. Schumacher stalking Hakkinen, Points lead at Spa

26 August 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium - Michael Schumacher is going hunting on one of his favorite hunting grounds this weekend-the daunting and challenging Spa-Francorchamps circuit, home of the Belgian Grand Prix.

After leading the Formula One World Championship since the first Grand Prix of the season, Schumacher arrives in Belgium two points behind new leader Mika Hakkinen.

"I have always been a good hunter," Schumacher said. "It should concern me but, honestly, the differences (between the performance of the Ferrari and West McLaren-Mercedes cars) are in such an area that if you get it right at the next race, the advantage can easily be the other way around."

After 12 of 17 races, McLaren-Mercedes driver Hakkinen has 64 points while Schumacher has earned 62 in his Ferrari. Hakkinens teammate, David Coulthard, is third in the standings with 58 followed by Ferraris Barrichello with 49.

Schumacher will attempt to regain the championship lead at Spa-Francorchamps, a circuit has played an important role in his Formula One career.

The track is closer to his hometown of Kerpen, Germany, than is the Hockenheim circuit that plays host to the German Grand Prix. Schumacher made his F1 debut at Spa, driving for Jordan, in 1991 and won his first Grand Prix at the same track a year later behind the wheel of a Benetton. He also scored three consecutive Belgian Grand Prix victories from 1995 through 1997.

Now that he is the hunted, Hakkinen knows he will have to work hard to keep his championship lead.

"To keep that lead is going to be hard work," Hakkinen said. "The pressure is getting higher and higher on everybody.. Its tough. Ive been in this position before. Its a terrible feeling! Leading the championship is a great feeling, but you have to stay there."

One reason Coulthard has slipped from second to third in the points is that, even though he has been qualifying on the front row, he has been losing positions to Hakkinen and Schumacher at the start.

"My last couple of starts have not been good enough," Coulthard said. "Its not just about qualifying at the front, its about getting away at the front, as well."

Coulthard said he has been studying the telemetry data from Hakkinens start to see why his teammate has been having quicker getaways.

As for whom he considers his main rival in the championship, Coulthard said: "Who ever is in front of me in the championship is my rival, and so is anybody close behind me."

The Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which sweeps and plunges through the mountain regions of the Ardennes Forest, is mostly made up of actual roads. "I love coming to Spa," Schumacher said. "Its my favorite circuit."

Most of the drivers relish the thought of tackling the intimidating and demanding Eau Rouge corner, a difficult left/right swerve at the bottom of a steep hill. The drivers barely lift off the throttle, and sometimes keep their foot flat to the floor through the bend, which they approach faster than 190 mph (310 km/h).

"Eau Rouge presents itself as a new challenge lap after lap," Schumacher said. "When you have a good car, when you can go flat out and when you realize that you have done a good job, then its the ultimate joy."

Barrichello commented, "This circuit is one of the most difficult on the calendar with corners like Eau Rouge and Blanchimont, which are really tough but fascinating."

Besides the challenging corners and high speeds, rain almost always plays a part during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.

"The weather is always unpredictable at Spa," said Willy Rampf, technical director of the Red Bull Sauber Petronas team," so you need to prepare both dry and wet setups. By its very nature, this is a track where not only the drivers are put to an ultimate test but also the engineers, who must set up their cars to cope with a wide range of circumstances over a long lap."

Text provided by Paul Kelly

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