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Ferrari F1-2000 - 2000
Having come tantalisingly close to ending Ferrari’s championship drought in 1997 and 1998 - a broke leg sustained at the British GP sidelining him halfway through the 1999 campaign - Schumacher entered the new millennium with renewed pressure to deliver Maranello’s first Drivers’ title since Jody Scheckter in 1979. A perfect start saw the German win the opening three races with the F1-2000 before adding a pair of victories to lead by over 20 points after the Canadian Grand Prix (under the old 10-6-4-3-2-1 points system).
However, Schumacher then endured a frustrating summer with three consecutive retirements in France, Austria, and Germany before losing the championship lead to McLaren’s Mika Hakkinen in Hungary. The reigning double world champion dealt another blow to Schumacher's hopes in Belgium when he pulled off a thrilling overtaking move at Les Combes and denied the Ferrari ace another win on his happy hunting ground of Spa.
Schumacher did not let another title slip away from his grasp though, as he recovered to end the season with four wins on the trot, sealing his third championship in Japan. A final win in Malaysia ensured the Scuderia’s second consecutive Constructors’ title.
