Former champion Mika Hakkinen today won his first race of the season and his first ever race at Silverstone.Championship leader Michael Schumacher was second with his Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello in third. It’s the third year in a row that McLaren have won their home race.
Williams’ Juan Pablo Montoya took fourth with the two Saubers of Kimi Raikkonen and Nick Heidfeld taking the remaining points. Heinz-Harald Frentzen finished just outside the points on what was another disappointing day for Jordan.
Championship challenger David Coulthard had a disastrous afternoon. He retired on lap two withsuspension failure after a first lap collision with Jordan’s Jarno Trulli.Trulli went out on the first corner as did OlivierPanis in his BAR.
Eddie Irvine’s frustration continued as he failed to get the best out of his Jaguar and finished in ninth behind former championJacques Villeneuve in the ineffective BAR.
Hakkinen dominated from early in the race as he hurtled pastMichael Schumacher on lap 5.The Finn was on a two stop strategy while the Ferrari number one was on a one stopper.The lighter fuel load of the McLaren let Hakkinen open up a substantial gap. Montoya was also on a two stop strategy and quickly moved up the field to threaten and eventually pass Schumacher.
As Hakkinen made the first of his pit-stops the rookie Colombian briefly led the race.However, Montoya lost out in the second round of pit-stops and emerged behind his slower team-mate Ralf Schumacher.Ralf then retired with technical problems leaving Montoya in fourth.
Frentzen briefly got into the points but he was no match for the Saubers who looked strong today.
Coulthard’s challenge for the championship now looks all but over as Schumacher is 37 points ahead with just six races left.