Temperatures had dropped as drivers came out onto the circuit for a few last minute laps before lining up on the grid, with a few grey clouds threatening to give us the rain that was predicted earlier in the week. With track temperature at a low 17 degrees and the air an even cooler 13, pit lane closes and all the cars are ready to begin the formation lap. Yellow flag! McLaren driver, David Coulthard, holds up his hand as his MP4-16 stalls on the grid.

The other cars leave on the parade lap and David is now forced to start from the back of the grid. A devastating blow for the Scot, who had been hoping to take the overall lead in the driver's championship here today. He had problems in the morning warm-up as well, however he gets going and catches up to the rest of the field. The lights go out and Michael Schumacher takes to the lead followed by the McLaren of Mika Hakkinen. Heinz-Harald Frentzen is very slow off the mark, the German losing several places and registering in 17th by the time he completes the first lap.

More disaster for Coulthard who makes contact with another car and is forced into the pits for a new nosecone and it appears as if the contact was with the Arrows of Enrique Bernoldi, the Brazilian entering the pits as well. Ralf Schumacher has moved up in fourth after David drops out of contention and teammate Juan Pablo Montoya has made up several places to claim sixth.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen, desperate to climb back up through the field, attempts an overtaking manoeuvre on the Jaguar of Pedro de la Rosa and the two make contact! They are both in the gravel and de la Rosa's maiden race with Jaguar on his home ground is over along with Frentzen's. Meanwhile, further back, Coulthard catches up to Enrique Bernoldi, the duo running just over a minute behind leader Michael Schumacher. Mika Hakkinen remains second, 1.8 seconds back with Rubens Barrichello in third.

Coulthard gets past the Arrows, however Bernoldi becomes the next retirement, his Orange Arrows now on the side of the circuit and out of the race. Lap 11 and Giancarlo Fisichella passes the only remaining Spaniard, Fernando Alonso for 15th place as David Coulthard closes in on Tarso Marques. He eventually passes the Minardi and closes in on Jenson Button who is a further 6 seconds up the road. Meanwhile, his teammate Mika Hakkinen continues to sit in second place, 2 seconds behind Michael Schumacher who sets the fastest lap of 1:22.224.

Lap 16 and Coulthard passes Button and the Scot moves into 16th place after the Minardi of Fernando Alonso comes in for his first stop. Fisichella is next on the list and the McLaren passes the Italian to gain another spot, however he is 1:09.900 behind Michael Schumacher. Mika Hakkinen closes the gap to the Ferrari, bringing it down to a second and a half. Jenson Button comes into the pits for his first stop and it's a long one, over 18 seconds for the Englishman.

Michael Schumacher is really on a charge, responding to Hakkinen slowly eating into his lead and sets a new lap record of 1:21.832! Lap 20 and Juan Pablo Montoya is all over the back of Jarno Trulli, the Colombian desperately wanting to take the Jordan drivers fifth spot. He gets fifth, but not by passing Trulli, but because his teammate Ralf Schumacher, who was running in fourth, puts his BMW Williams into the gravel after braking for a corner. Trulli and Montoya pit and the Colombian comes out in front of the Jordan, however he has now dropped to ninth.

Michael Schumacher comes in for his first stop, handing the lead of the race to Mika Hakkinen. Jacques Villeneuve, who was in fourth, pits as well. Several drivers follow suit and come in for their first stop, including the BAR of Olivier Panis. The Frenchman stalls, making for a long stop. Fisichella is also in, the Benetton mechanics changing the nose on his B201.

Lap 24 and Mika Hakkinen sets the fastest lap of the race, however Schumacher goes one better the next time around, clocking a 1:21.151. The Finn pits and Michael reclaims the lead by two and a half seconds. Rubens Barrichello has had his first pit, the Brazilian in third with the sole remaining Williams of Juan Pablo Montoya in fourth. David Coulthard pits, the Scot was running in eighth place and drops back to 11th after the stop, the last driver to be lapped.

With over half the race completed, things settle down with Schumacher maintaining a steady lead over Hakkinen, who in turn has a good gap back to third placed Barrichello. Further back in the field, David Coulthard begins to close on tenth placed Olivier Panis. Kimi Raikkonen comes in from eighth for his second stop as Jos Verstappen goes onto the dirt, however no damage done and the Dutchman continues on.

Montoya comes in for his second stop, the Colombian rejoining the circuit right in front of David Coulthard. Michael Schumacher is also in the pits, 9.3 seconds, and Hakkinen leads the Spanish Grand Prix for the second time this afternoon. However, Schumacher is only 23 seconds behind, not enough for the Finn to have his second stop and come out in front. Another long stop for Button, the Benetton driver is last and two laps down on the leaders. David pits from seventh and Barrichello comes in from third.

Lap 49 and Barrichello has a problem. The Brazilian goes off into the gravel before touring around to the pits with a puncture. Mika Hakkinen sets the fastest first sector time, pushing as hard as he can to get enough time over his Ferrari rival to get in and out of the pits in the lead. Eddie Irvine retires, the Jaguar sits by the side of the circuit with smoke coming from the engine. Hakkinen pits and he does it! The Finn gets back out and reclaims the lead of the Spanish GP after Schumacher gets caught behind a backmarker!

Rubens Barrichello retires with a suspension problem, opening the door for Montoya's first podium finish. With twelve laps remaining, Hakkinen leads Schumacher by 3.5 seconds, Montoya is in third, Villeneuve fourth, Trulli fifth and Nick Heidfeld in sixth. Coulthard is out of the points in eighth behind the BAR of Olivier Panis. Only the top five drivers remain on the lead lap.

Schumacher is losing time, the German now over six seconds behind Hakkinen. Coulthard gets past Panis for seventh and is only just over three seconds behind the Sauber of Nick Heidfeld. Hakkinen now laps the fifth placed Jordan of Jarno Trulli, his lead over Schumacher now up to fifteen seconds, however third placed man, Juan Pablo Montoya is over a minute behind him. Coulthard catches the Sauber, the Scot has six laps to pass Heidfeld to at least score one point from today's disaster. He gets past and moves up and takes the place at the end of pit straight. Michael Schumacher is just cruising, however he is in no real danger of losing his second place. Hakkinen has now lapped third placed Montoya with Schumacher now over half a minute behind. The Finn comes up for his final lap and he is slowing down! Smoke is coming out of the back of the McLaren and Schumacher closes in! The Finn pulls over to the side of the track and Schumacher crosses the line to take victory in Spain! Montoya is second in his first F1 finish while Jacques Villeneuve takes third for BAR, the Canadian's first podium finish since 1998!

The top three from the Spanish Grand Prix were Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jacques Villeneuve.