Going into the race, Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher led the Drivers' Championship with 56 points, ahead of David Coulthard on 44 points and his teammate Mika Häkkinen on 38 points. Rubens Barrichello was fourth on 32 points while Giancarlo Fisichella was fifth with 18 points. In the Constructors' Championship, Ferrari were leading with 88 points, six points ahead of their rivals McLaren in second. Benetton on 18 points and Williams with 17 points contended for third place, while Jordan were fifth on eleven points. McLaren and Ferrari had so far dominated the championship, winning the previous nine races. Championship participants Barrichello and Fisichella had each gained second place podium finishes while Ralf Schumacher and Heinz-Harald Frentzen had achieved third place podium finishes.