1998 Formula One season

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1998 FIA Formula One World Championship season
Previous: 1997 Next: 1999
Index: Races by country | Races by season
Mika Häkkinen won his first title with McLaren.
Michael Schumacher finished as runner-up with Ferrari.
Häkkinen's team-mate, David Coulthard (pictured in 2007), finished the season ranked third.

The 1998 Formula One season was the 49th FIA Formula One World Championship season. It commenced on March 8, 1998, and ended on November 1 after sixteen races.

Contents

[edit] Season summary

The season had many rule changes, including the introduction of grooved tyres and making the cars narrower to reduce downforce. It was clear that McLaren had adapted to the new rule changes best as Mika Häkkinen comfortably won the first two races, with team-mate David Coulthard finishing second in both. With Goodyear making steps forward before Argentina, Michael Schumacher was able to win there and take second at Imola, both slow and twisty circuits. At Spain, however, the fast corners favoured McLaren and again they raced away to another 1-2 finish. A further win for Häkkinen in Monaco gave him a 17 point lead over Coulthard with Schumacher a further 5 points behind.

Schumacher fought back to win the next 3 races, while mistakes and bad luck cost both Häkkinen and Coulthard points. After the British Grand Prix Schumacher had closed the gap to Häkkinen to just 2 points, while Coulthard was 26 points behind his team mate and looking unlikely to be able to fight for the championship. Wins in Austria and Germany for Häkkinen proved that McLaren still had the strongest car, but a strategic master stroke in Hungary allowed Schumacher to take the win and close the gap to Häkkinen to just 7 points.

The start of the Belgian Grand Prix saw one of the worst accidents in F1, with over half the cars on the grid involved, and four drivers unable to take the restart almost an hour later due to lack of spare cars. An action packed race saw Häkkinen spin out at the restart, whilst Schumacher was leading comfortably before crashing into David Coulthard's McLaren whilst trying to lap the Scotsman. This led the way for Damon Hill to take Jordan's first win, with his team mate Ralf Schumacher finishing second. The team made Ralf Schumacher hold station behind Hill to reduce any chance of a collision between the two Jordan drivers.

Schumacher bounced back to take a surprise victory at the Italian Grand Prix, and with Häkkinen finishing only fourth after brake problems the championship was level with 2 races to go. This result also brought Ferrari back into the constructors world championship, being just 10 points behind. However, Häkkinen managed to beat Schumacher in a straight fight in Luxembourg and win the final race in Japan, clinching his first world championship and the constructors championship for McLaren. Reigning champions Williams had a poor season overall, with only 3 podium finishes. However, in Japan they managed to secure 3rd in the constructors championship, ahead of Jordan and Benetton.

[edit] Drivers and constructors

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1998 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre No Driver Test driver(s)
Flag of the United Kingdom Winfield Williams Williams FW20 Mecachrome GC37-01 G 1 Flag of Canada Jacques Villeneuve Flag of Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya
Flag of Brazil Max Wilson
2 Flag of Germany Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Flag of Italy Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Ferrari F300 Ferrari 047 G 3 Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Italy Luca Badoer
4 Flag of the United Kingdom Eddie Irvine
Flag of Italy Mild Seven Benetton Playlife Benetton B198 Playlife GC37-01 B 5 Flag of Italy Giancarlo Fisichella n/a
6 Flag of Austria Alexander Wurz
Flag of the United Kingdom West McLaren Mercedes McLaren MP4-13 Mercedes FO110G B 7 Flag of the United Kingdom David Coulthard Flag of Brazil Ricardo Zonta
Flag of Germany Nick Heidfeld
8 Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen
Flag of Ireland Benson & Hedges Jordan Jordan 198 Mugen-Honda MF-301 HC G 9 Flag of the United Kingdom Damon Hill Flag of Spain Pedro de la Rosa
10 Flag of Germany Ralf Schumacher
Flag of France Gauloises Prost Peugeot Prost AP01 Peugeot A16 B 11 Flag of France Olivier Panis Flag of France Stéphane Sarrazin
12 Flag of Italy Jarno Trulli
Flag of Switzerland Red Bull Sauber Petronas Sauber C17 Petronas SPE-01D G 14 Flag of France Jean Alesi Flag of Germany Jörg Müller
15 Flag of the United Kingdom Johnny Herbert
Flag of the United Kingdom Danka Zepter Arrows Arrows A19 Arrows T2-F1 B 16 Flag of Brazil Pedro Diniz Flag of France Emmanuel Collard
Flag of South Africa Stephen Watson
17 Flag of Finland Mika Salo
Flag of the United Kingdom HSBC Stewart Ford Stewart SF02 Ford VJ Zetec-R B 18 Flag of Brazil Rubens Barrichello n/a
19 Flag of Denmark Jan Magnussen
Flag of the Netherlands Jos Verstappen
Flag of the United Kingdom PIAA Tyrrell Tyrrell 026 Ford JD Zetec-R G 20 Flag of Brazil Ricardo Rosset n/a
21 Flag of Japan Toranosuke Takagi
Flag of Italy Fondmetal Minardi Team SpA Minardi M198 Ford JD Zetec-R B 22 Flag of Japan Shinji Nakano Flag of France Laurent Redon
23 Flag of Argentina Esteban Tuero

All engines were 3.0 litre, V10 configuration.

[edit] Season review

[edit] Grands Prix

Round Grand Prix Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Constructor Report
1 Flag of Australia Australian Grand Prix Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of the United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
2 Flag of Brazil Brazilian Grand Prix Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of the United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
3 Flag of Argentina Argentine Grand Prix Flag of the United Kingdom David Coulthard Flag of Austria Alexander Wurz Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Italy Ferrari Report
4 Flag of San Marino San Marino Grand Prix Flag of the United Kingdom David Coulthard Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of the United Kingdom David Coulthard Flag of the United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
5 Flag of Spain Spanish Grand Prix Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of the United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
6 Flag of Monaco Monaco Grand Prix Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of the United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
7 Flag of Canada Canadian Grand Prix Flag of the United Kingdom David Coulthard Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Italy Ferrari Report
8 Flag of France French Grand Prix Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of the United Kingdom David Coulthard Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Italy Ferrari Report
9 Flag of the United Kingdom British Grand Prix Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Italy Ferrari Report
10 Flag of Austria Austrian Grand Prix Flag of Italy Giancarlo Fisichella Flag of the United Kingdom David Coulthard Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of the United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
11 Flag of Germany German Grand Prix Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of the United Kingdom David Coulthard Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of the United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
12 Flag of Hungary Hungarian Grand Prix Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Italy Ferrari Report
13 Flag of Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of the United Kingdom Damon Hill Flag of Ireland Jordan-Mugen-Honda Report
14 Flag of Italy Italian Grand Prix Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Italy Ferrari Report
15 Flag of Luxembourg Luxembourg Grand Prix Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of the United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report
16 Flag of Japan Japanese Grand Prix Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen Flag of the United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes Report

[edit] 1998 Constructors Championship final standings

The results of the 1998 FIA Formula One World Championship for Constructors were determined by awarding points on a 10-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the top six finishers in each championship race.

Pos Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Points Wins Podiums Poles
1 Flag of the United Kingdom McLaren-Mercedes MP4-13 B 156 9 20 12
2 Flag of Italy Ferrari F300 G 133 6 19 3
3 Flag of the United Kingdom Williams-Mecachrome FW20 G 38 3
4 Flag of Ireland Jordan-Mugen-Honda 198 G 34 1 3
5 Flag of Italy Benetton-Playlife B198 B 33 2 1
6 Flag of Switzerland Sauber-Petronas C17 G 10 1
7 Flag of the United Kingdom Arrows A19 B 6
8 Flag of the United Kingdom Stewart-Ford SF02 B 5
9 Flag of France Prost-Peugeot AP01 B 1
10 Flag of the United Kingdom Tyrrell-Ford 026 G
11 Flag of Italy Minardi-Ford M198 B

[edit] 1998 Drivers Championship final standings

The results of the 1998 FIA Formula One World Championship for Drivers were determined by awarding points on a 10-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the top six finishers in each championship race.

Pos Driver AUS
Flag of Australia
BRA
Flag of Brazil
ARG
Flag of Argentina
SMR
Flag of San Marino
ESP
Flag of Spain
MON
Flag of Monaco
CAN
Flag of Canada
FRA
Flag of France
GBR
Flag of the United Kingdom
AUT
Flag of Austria
GER
Flag of Germany
HUN
Flag of Hungary
BEL
Flag of Belgium
ITA
Flag of Italy
LUX
Flag of Luxembourg
JPN
Flag of Japan
Points
1 Flag of Finland Mika Häkkinen 1 1 2 Ret 1 1 Ret 3 2 1 1 6 Ret 4 1 1 100
2 Flag of Germany Michael Schumacher Ret 3 1 2 3 10 1 1 1 3 5 1 Ret 1 2 Ret 86
3 Flag of the United Kingdom David Coulthard 2 2 6 1 2 Ret Ret 6 Ret 2 2 2 7 Ret 3 3 56
4 Flag of the United Kingdom Eddie Irvine 4 8 3 3 Ret 3 3 2 3 4 8 Ret Ret 2 4 2 47
5 Flag of Canada Jacques Villeneuve 5 7 Ret 4 6 5 10 4 7 6 3 3 Ret Ret 8 6 21
6 Flag of the United Kingdom Damon Hill 8 DSQ 8 10 Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret 7 4 4 1 6 9 4 20
7 Flag of Germany Heinz-Harald Frentzen 3 5 9 5 8 Ret Ret 15 Ret Ret 9 5 4 7 5 5 17
8 Flag of Austria Alexander Wurz 7 4 4 Ret 4 Ret 4 5 4 9 11 16 Ret Ret 7 9 17
9 Flag of Italy Giancarlo Fisichella Ret 6 7 Ret Ret 2 2 9 5 Ret 7 8 Ret 8 6 8 16
10 Flag of Germany Ralf Schumacher Ret Ret Ret 7 11 Ret Ret 16 6 5 6 9 2 3 Ret Ret 14
11 Flag of France Jean Alesi Ret 9 5 6 10 12 Ret 7 Ret Ret 10 7 3 5 10 7 9
12 Flag of Brazil Rubens Barrichello Ret Ret 10 Ret 5 Ret 5 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS 10 11 Ret 4
13 Flag of Finland Mika Salo Ret Ret Ret 9 Ret 4 Ret 13 Ret Ret 14 Ret DNS Ret 14 Ret 3
14 Flag of Brazil Pedro Diniz Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 9 14 Ret Ret Ret 11 5 Ret Ret Ret 3
15 Flag of the United Kingdom Johnny Herbert 6 11 Ret Ret 7 7 Ret 8 Ret 8 Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret 10 1
16 Flag of Italy Jarno Trulli Ret Ret 11 Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 12 Ret 6 13 Ret 12 1
17 Flag of Denmark Jan Magnussen Ret 10 Ret Ret 12 Ret 6 1
NC Flag of Japan Shinji Nakano Ret Ret 13 Ret 14 9 7 17 8 11 Ret 15 8 Ret 15 Ret 0
NC Flag of Argentina Esteban Tuero Ret Ret Ret 8 15 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 Ret Ret 11 NC Ret 0
NC Flag of Brazil Ricardo Rosset Ret Ret 14 Ret DNQ DNQ 8 Ret Ret 12 DNQ DNQ DNS 12 Ret DNQ 0
NC Flag of Japan Toranosuke Takagi Ret Ret 12 Ret 13 11 Ret Ret 9 Ret 13 14 Ret 9 16 Ret 0
NC Flag of France Olivier Panis 9 Ret 15 11 16 Ret Ret 11 Ret Ret 15 12 DNS Ret 12 11 0
NC Flag of the Netherlands Jos Verstappen 12 Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret Ret 13 Ret 0
Pos Driver AUS
Flag of Australia
BRA
Flag of Brazil
ARG
Flag of Argentina
SMR
Flag of San Marino
ESP
Flag of Spain
MON
Flag of Monaco
CAN
Flag of Canada
FRA
Flag of France
GBR
Flag of the United Kingdom
AUT
Flag of Austria
GER
Flag of Germany
HUN
Flag of Hungary
BEL
Flag of Belgium
ITA
Flag of Italy
LUX
Flag of Luxembourg
JPN
Flag of Japan
Points