Year 2000 news about drivers, teams and events

The Malaysian Grand Prix marked a disappointing last race of a very successful season for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team, as neither of the drivers saw the checkered flag. Despite this, the team confirmed anyway its third position in the constructors' championship with Ralf Schumacher retaining his fifth place in the divers' championship. Starting from 16th on the grid, Jenson Button made early inroads, carving his way up to 10th by lap three. Alas, his race was also to be cut short by an engine failure on lap 20.

Jenson Button helped cement third place in the constructors’ title for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team by finishing fifth in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. Starting from fifth on the grid, Jenson did not get off to the best of starts, but soon made amends on a circuit he has unbelievably never raced on before. Ralf did not enjoy such a productive race, spinning out of a potential points finish on lap 41 on the day his brother clinched his third drivers’ title. 

Michael Schumacher scored a victory in the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis, with Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello in second place. For a while, BMW WilliamsF1 Team driver Ralf Schumacher gave chase to his brother and the team was anxious for its best result of the season, but Ralf was struck down by technical problems. Neither BMW WilliamsF1 Team car finished the race.

Michael Schumacher scored an historic Italian Grand Prix victory, as he equaled the late Ayrton Senna’s tally of grand prix victories. Ralf Schumacher finished third for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team, collecting his second podium finish in as many races, and his third of the season. 

In his first grand prix victory at Spa, Mika Hakkinen beat rival Michael Schumacher in one of the most exciting races in years. Hakkinen chased Schumacher over the last 17 laps before finally passing him with just three laps remaining in the race. Ralf Schumacher placed third for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team.

The McLaren Mercedes and Ferrari teams dominated at Budapest, Hungary, as Mika Hakkinen, Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard, and Rubens Barrichello finished in the top four positions. For the BMW WilliamsF1 Team, Ralf Schumacher finished fifth, just 6 seconds behind Ferrari's Barrichello. 

Rubens Barrichello came from 18th position to score his first ever victory in an incident packed German Grand Prix. It was a great tactical win for the driver from Brazil and for Ferrari. Jenson Button finished fourth and Ralf Schumacher seventh for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team.

Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard finished one and two for the McLaren Mercedes team in winning the Austrian Grand Prix at the A1-Ring. Jenson Button finished fifth for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team

David Coulthard secured his third victory of the season, after winning the French Grand Prix from team-mate Mika Hakkinen. After harrying championship leader and pole sitter Michael Schumacher for 24 laps, the Scotsman made his move by passing Schumacher in the Adelaide curve. Ralf Schumacher secured a deserved fifth position for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team. Teammate Jenson Button finished in eighth position.

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