About the Ferrari F1-2000
On October 8th 2000, Japan&39;s Suzuka Circuit overflowed with jubilant cheers and crimson flags. They were directed at Ferrari driver, Michael Schumacher, as he blew across the finish line in first place to secure the first Driver&39;s Championship for a Ferrari driver since Jody Sheckter&39;s in 1979. In 1999, after taking the Constructors&39; Championship, Ferrari set their sights on bringing out a machine that could earn both the Constructors&39; and Drivers&39; Championships for 2000.
The new F1-2000 inherited many of the characteristics of the 1999 car, the F399, such as the high nose, side diffusers and exhaust port. Ferrari also brought out a new V-10 engine called the 3000 Ferrari (Type 049). The driving was left to Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. Schumacher took the opening three races, the Australian, Brazilian, and San Marino GP&39;s, and then the sixth, European GP and eighth, Canadian GP.
However, he was forced to retire in the following three races, and after the Belgian GP, McLaren driver, Mika Hakkinen took over the lead in points. Schumacher then bounced back to take the following two GP&39;s, putting the coveted Drivers&39; Championship in check before the Japanese GP. Led by Hakkinien early in the race, coolheaded driving and flawless pit work earned Schumacher the lead on lap 37, and eventually the season championship, even before the final Malaysian GP. He later went on to win that race too, for a total of 9 season victories. Combined with Barrichello&39;s one victory, this secured Ferrari with the 2000 Constructors&39; Championship.
