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Sunday, 29 April, 2001, 15:04 GMT 16:04 UK
Spanish Grand Prix: Your verdict

Michael Schumacher has won the Spanish Grand Prix after race leader Mika Hakkinen's engine dramatically failed on the final lap.

With Schumacher stretching his championship lead to 12 points, and Juan Pablo Montoya finishing a creditable second, we asked for your verdict on the Spanish Grand Prix


On what turned out to be a dismal day for McLaren, Michael Schumacher took advantage of Mika Hakkinen's apalling luck to claim a last-gasp victory in Spain.

Amidst the final lap drama surrounding Schumacher and Hakkinen, Juan Pablo Montoya cruised to his first ever Grand Prix finish - coming home in second place.

After some superb displays in previous races, the Colombian has finally been rewarded with a podium finish in his debut season.

Can Montoya gain a Grand Prix win this season? And will he challenge for the title in years to come?

David Coulthard's fighting fifth-place finish leaves him trailing Schumacher by 12 points in the Drivers Championship. Can the German be caught? Or is he destined for yet another title?

Scroll down to view your responses.



I thought the only truly outstanding performance of the day was from David Coulthard
  Matt Dowson, UK
Hakkinen's untimely demise was the only moment of excitement from undoubtedly the most boring Grand Prix of the season so far.
Denver, UK

I thought the only truly outstanding performance of the day was from David Coulthard. The rest of the race was quite dull. As for the Mika\Michael question, both drivers know that sometimes it comes down to Lady Luck to decide the winner, having both been on either end of a lucky win in the past. I was just relieved that Hakkinen didn't repeat his tearful histrionics of a year or two back. Oh, and well done to Juan Pablo Montoya on a well deserved podium finish (at last!)
Matt Dowson, UK


It's a shame that Mika's breakdown has distracted people from the fact that Michael led for most of the race
  Mike Okhertz, UK
The McLaren pitting strategy put Mika in front...not Schuey's tire "problem". Mika had a great race and I just wish people would stop writing him off as a driver.This is the 2nd season where the people have written him off. Spain would have been his had his engine not died...LEAVE HIM ALONE!
TERESA BOSLEY, ENGLAND

Hakkinen benefited from Schumacher's troubles after his second pit stop and Schumacher benefited from Hakinnen's last lap retirement.

It's a shame that Mika's breakdown has distracted people from the fact that Michael led for most of the race and would have won at a canter had he not had his tyre problem.
Mike Okhertz, UK


Mika deserved to win, but the racing Gods have shown that this will not be his year
  Mike, UK
I think we saw an example of a true sportsman in Spain, that many in other sports would do well to follow. Mika must have been absolutely gutted inside over what happened, but he didn't sulk, or the kick the car or anything.

He just quietly got out and showed his appreciation to the crowd, he was even smiling. If only more sporting heroes were like that.
Jason Mawer, United Kingdom

I believe that Schumacher will now win the championship as he had the great fortune of winning the Spanish Grand Prix. I also must say that I was impressed with the way Hakkinen handled his misfortunes.
Hassan, UK

Bad luck in races does usually even out over the course of a few seasons, and this is the case with Mika and Michael.

It was certainly good to see Michael seeking out Mika after the race, but the respect these two guys have for each other has never been in any doubt.


Has there ever been such a forlorn sight as that of both David and Schuey paying honour to Hakkinen, the rightful winner?
  Peter, UK
Dramas on the very last lap are not new, although fairy rare (fortunately for the drivers as they do cause some heartache), although it does make the season seem more interesting for the armchair spectator.

My feelings on this race are that Michael was a major contender for the win for most of the race so "thats motor racing".
John Carter, UK

It was a fantastic race from start to finish. Sure Mika deserved to win, but the racing gods have shown that this will not be his year.

Has there ever been such a forlorn sight as that of both David and Schuey paying honour to Hakkinen, the rightful winner? Sometimes, these things happen. After all, Hakkinen only took the lead because of Schuey's technical problems.
Peter, UK

Fantastic GP from start to finish. What impressed me the most was Schuey going up to Mika at the end! How many other drivers would have done that? None! And its not the first time he has done it either.
Duncan, UK


Hakkinen has benefitted from other's bad luck in the past
  Harpreet, India
While Michael Schumacher won today's race on paper, the real winner was of course Mika Hakkinen. Hakkinen and McLaren out-smarted Ferrari, had the pace to win and were robbed by the worst luck.

Mika was the gentleman through and through - how does Schumacher celebrate such an ill-deserved victory? Mika may not win this year's championship, but he is by far the best sportsman on the track.
Matt, United Kingdom

Hakkinen has benefitted from other's bad luck in the past (three times last year, when Schuey got hit/shunted out of the races) so it had to go the other way sometime.

Bad luck for him, but then he really has been off colour this year, but seemed to have snapped out in this race. Let's hope he stays sharp from now on and makes the races more exciting, as Schuey is just walking away with things so far.
Harpreet, India

Williams will push the top two teams this year but the title is between Schumy, DC and Hakkinen. Williams are not ready this season, but will give Ralf a good crack at the title next year.

I see Michael Schumacher winning the drivers' championship, with Coulthard second and Hakkinen third. Constructors title will be close, with Ferrari just pipping it. Barrichello is not realistically a threat to these three drivers, but is good for a fourth place finish in the title race.
Mark, England

In any form of sport you need a little bit of luck combined with your sporting abilties in order to win, and thats what Micheal Schumacher had. I see him top of the drivers standing at the end of this year too.
Ali, Pakistan

As all of you saw today Mika Hakkinen showed Schuey and the world who is the best driver. He had certainly worked hard to gain the lead and truly deserved the record of four consecutive wins in Spain.

It is a shame that his car broke down due to a mechanical failure. It is really disheartening and is bad for the drivers morale to lose in such a way.

He has been consistently been a victim of unreliabilty of the car and is about time the Mclaren MP4-16 improved in that area so that Hakkinen or DC could win the championship.

And after all that to the heart to wave the crowd is truly amazing and shows that Mika Hakkinen is a true sportsman and a winner. Schuey got lucky this time and, now knows that Hakkinen is still a big threat to his position at the top.
Fahd Ali, Pakistan

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