1998 Formula One season

1998 FIA Formula One World Championship season
Previous:	1997	Next:	1999
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.

Mid-season changes

At the end of the 1997 season, Renault withdrew as a direct engine supplier from Formula 1. As a result, the two teams running Renault engines were forced to source alternative suppliers. Williams opted to run engines supplied by Mecachrome who were working with Renault to develop the most recent iteration of their RS9 engine rebadged with the Mecachrome name. Benetton sourced a similar rebadged Renault engine from Playlife. Neither Williams or Benetton were competitive to the same level as in previous seasons. Renault themselves would invest in Benetton as of 2000, before buying the team outright in 2002. They would not supply engines to other competing teams again until 2007.

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 cleared the way for Damon Hill to take Jordan's first win.

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.

Drivers and constructors

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

Entrant	Constructor	Chassis	Engine †	Tyre	No	Driver	Rounds
Winfield Williams	Williams-Mecachrome	FW20	Mecachrome GC37-01	G	1	Jacques Villeneuve	All
					2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	All
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari	F300	Ferrari 047	G	3	Michael Schumacher	All
					4	Eddie Irvine	All
Mild Seven Benetton Playlife	Benetton-Playlife	B198	Playlife GC37-01	B	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	All
					6	Alexander Wurz	All
West McLaren Mercedes	McLaren-Mercedes	MP4-13	Mercedes FO110G	B	7	David Coulthard	All
					8	Mika Häkkinen	All
Benson and Hedges Jordan	Jordan-Mugen-Honda	198	Mugen-Honda MF-301 HC	G	9	Damon Hill	All
					10	Ralf Schumacher	All
Gauloises Prost Peugeot	Prost-Peugeot	AP01	Peugeot A16	B	11	Olivier Panis	All
					12	Jarno Trulli	All
Red Bull Sauber Petronas	Sauber-Petronas	C17	Petronas SPE-01D	G	14	Jean Alesi	All
					15	Johnny Herbert	All
Danka Zepter Arrows	Arrows	A19	Arrows T2-F1	B	16	Pedro Diniz	All
					17	Mika Salo	All
Stewart Ford	Stewart-Ford	SF02	Ford VJ Zetec-R	B	18	Rubens Barrichello	All
					19	Jan Magnussen	1–7
						Jos Verstappen	8–16
Tyrrell	Tyrrell-Ford	026	Ford JD Zetec-R	G	20	Ricardo Rosset	All
					21	Toranosuke Takagi	All
Fondmetal Minardi Team	Minardi-Ford	M198	Ford JD Zetec-R	B	22	Shinji Nakano	All
					23	Esteban Tuero	All

^† All engines were 3.0 litre, V10 configuration.

Formula One 1998 race schedule

Rnd	Race	Date	Location
1	Australian Grand Prix	8 March	Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
2	Brazilian Grand Prix	29 March	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo
3	Argentine Grand Prix	12 April	Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires
4	San Marino Grand Prix	26 April	Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola
5	Spanish Grand Prix	10 May	Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
6	Monaco Grand Prix	24 May	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo
7	Canadian Grand Prix	7 June	Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
8	French Grand Prix	28 June	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours
9	British Grand Prix	12 July	Silverstone Circuit
10	Austrian Grand Prix	26 July	A1-Ring, Spielberg, Styria
11	German Grand Prix	2 August	Hockenheimring
12	Hungarian Grand Prix	16 August	Hungaroring, Budapest
13	Belgian Grand Prix	30 August	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa
14	Italian Grand Prix	13 September	Autodromo Nazionale Monza
15	Luxembourg Grand Prix	27 September	Nürburgring
16	Japanese Grand Prix	1 November	Suzuka Circuit

Season review

Grands Prix

Round	Grand Prix	Pole Position	Fastest Lap	Winning Driver	Winning Constructor	Report
1	Australian Grand Prix	Mika Häkkinen	Mika Häkkinen	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Report
2	Brazilian Grand Prix	Mika Häkkinen	Mika Häkkinen	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Report
3	Argentine Grand Prix	David Coulthard	Alexander Wurz	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Report
4	San Marino Grand Prix	David Coulthard	Michael Schumacher	David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes	Report
5	Spanish Grand Prix	Mika Häkkinen	Mika Häkkinen	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Report
6	Monaco Grand Prix	Mika Häkkinen	Mika Häkkinen	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Report
7	Canadian Grand Prix	David Coulthard	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Report
8	French Grand Prix	Mika Häkkinen	David Coulthard	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Report
9	British Grand Prix	Mika Häkkinen	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Report
10	Austrian Grand Prix	Giancarlo Fisichella	David Coulthard	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Report
11	German Grand Prix	Mika Häkkinen	David Coulthard	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Report
12	Hungarian Grand Prix	Mika Häkkinen	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Report
13	Belgian Grand Prix	Mika Häkkinen	Michael Schumacher	Damon Hill	Jordan-Mugen-Honda	Report
14	Italian Grand Prix	Michael Schumacher	Mika Häkkinen	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	Report
15	Luxembourg Grand Prix	Michael Schumacher	Mika Häkkinen	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Report
16	Japanese Grand Prix	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes	Report

Drivers

Pos Driver AUS BRA ARG SMR ESP MON CAN FRA GBR AUT GER HUN BEL ITA LUX JPN Points 1 Mika Häkkinen 1 1 2 Ret 1 1 Ret 3 2 1 1 6 Ret 4 1 1 100 2 Michael Schumacher Ret 3 1 2 3 10 1 1 1 3 5 1 Ret 1 2 Ret 86 3 David Coulthard 2 2 6 1 2 Ret Ret 6 Ret 2 2 2 7 Ret 3 3 56 4 Eddie Irvine 4 8 3 3 Ret 3 3 2 3 4 8 Ret Ret 2 4 2 47 5 Jacques Villeneuve 5 7 Ret 4 6 5 10 4 7 6 3 3 Ret Ret 8 6 21 6 Damon Hill 8 DSQ 8 10† Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret 7 4 4 1 6 9 4 20 7 Heinz-Harald Frentzen 3 5 9 5 8 Ret Ret 15† Ret Ret 9 5 4 7 5 5 17 8 Alexander Wurz 7 4 4 Ret 4 Ret 4 5 4 9 11 16† Ret Ret 7 9 17 9 Giancarlo Fisichella Ret 6 7 Ret Ret 2 2 9 5 Ret 7 8 Ret 8 6 8 16 10 Ralf Schumacher Ret Ret Ret 7 11 Ret Ret 16 6 5 6 9 2 3 Ret Ret 14 11 Jean Alesi Ret 9 5 6 10 12† Ret 7 Ret Ret 10 7 3 5 10 7 9 12 Rubens Barrichello Ret Ret 10 Ret 5 Ret 5 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS 10 11 Ret 4 13 Mika Salo Ret Ret Ret 9 Ret 4 Ret 13 Ret Ret 14 Ret DNS Ret 14 Ret 3 14 Pedro Diniz Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 9 14 Ret Ret Ret 11 5 Ret Ret Ret 3 15 Johnny Herbert 6 11† Ret Ret 7 7 Ret 8 Ret 8 Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret 10 1 16 Jarno Trulli Ret Ret 11 Ret 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 12 Ret 6 13 Ret 12† 1 17 Jan Magnussen Ret 10 Ret Ret 12 Ret 6 1 18 Shinji Nakano Ret Ret 13 Ret 14 9 7 17† 8 11 Ret 15 8 Ret 15 Ret 0 19 Esteban Tuero Ret Ret Ret 8 15 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 16 Ret Ret 11 NC Ret 0 20 Ricardo Rosset Ret Ret 14 Ret DNQ DNQ 8 Ret Ret 12 DNQ DNQ DNS 12 Ret DNQ 0 21 Toranosuke Takagi Ret Ret 12 Ret 13 11 Ret Ret 9 Ret 13 14 Ret 9 16 Ret 0 22 Olivier Panis 9 Ret 15† 11† 16† Ret Ret 11 Ret Ret 15 12 DNS Ret 12 11 0 23 Jos Verstappen 12 Ret Ret Ret 13 Ret Ret 13 Ret 0 Pos Driver AUS BRA ARG SMR ESP MON CAN FRA GBR AUT GER HUN BEL ITA LUX JPN Points

Key Colour Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green Points finish Blue Non-points finish Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Did not finish (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Race cancelled (C) Light blue Practiced only (PO) Friday test driver (TD) (from 2003 onwards) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Excluded (EX) Did not arrive (DNA) Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest lap

^† Drivers did not finish the Grand Prix, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

Constructors

McLaren won the Constructors' Championship (their last to date) with the MP4/13.

Pos	Constructor	Car no.	AUS	BRA	ARG	SMR	ESP	MON	CAN	FRA	GBR	AUT	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	LUX	JPN	Points
1	McLaren-Mercedes	7	2	2	6	1	2	Ret	Ret	6	Ret	2	2	2	7	Ret	3	3	156
		8	1	1	2	Ret	1	1	Ret	3	2	1	1	6	Ret	4	1	1
2	Ferrari	3	Ret	3	1	2	3	10	1	1	1	3	5	1	Ret	1	2	Ret	133
		4	4	8	3	3	Ret	3	3	2	3	4	8	Ret	Ret	2	4	2
3	Williams-Mecachrome	1	5	7	Ret	4	6	5	10	4	7	6	3	3	Ret	Ret	8	6	38
		2	3	5	9	5	8	Ret	Ret	15	Ret	Ret	9	5	4	7	5	5
4	Jordan-Mugen-Honda	9	8	DSQ	8	10	Ret	8	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	4	4	1	6	9	4	34
		10	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	11	Ret	Ret	16	6	5	6	9	2	3	Ret	Ret
5	Benetton-Playlife	5	Ret	6	7	Ret	Ret	2	2	9	5	Ret	7	8	Ret	8	6	8	33
		6	7	4	4	Ret	4	Ret	4	5	4	9	11	16	Ret	Ret	7	9
6	Sauber-Petronas	14	Ret	9	5	6	10	12	Ret	7	Ret	Ret	10	7	3	5	10	7	10
		15	6	11	Ret	Ret	7	7	Ret	8	Ret	8	Ret	10	Ret	Ret	Ret	10
7	Arrows	16	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	6	9	14	Ret	Ret	Ret	11	5	Ret	Ret	Ret	6
		17	Ret	Ret	Ret	9	Ret	4	Ret	13	Ret	Ret	14	Ret	DNS	Ret	14	Ret
8	Stewart-Ford	18	Ret	Ret	10	Ret	5	Ret	5	10	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	DNS	10	11	Ret	5
		19	Ret	10	Ret	Ret	12	Ret	6	12	Ret	Ret	Ret	13	Ret	Ret	13	Ret
9	Prost-Peugeot	11	9	Ret	15	11	16	Ret	Ret	11	Ret	Ret	15	12	DNS	Ret	12	11	1
		12	Ret	Ret	11	Ret	9	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	10	12	Ret	6	13	Ret	12
10	Minardi-Ford	22	Ret	Ret	13	Ret	14	9	7	17	8	11	Ret	15	8	Ret	15	Ret	0
		23	Ret	Ret	Ret	8	15	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	16	Ret	Ret	11	NC	Ret
11	Tyrrell-Ford	20	Ret	Ret	14	Ret	DNQ	DNQ	8	Ret	Ret	12	DNQ	DNQ	DNS	12	Ret	DNQ	0
		21	Ret	Ret	12	Ret	13	11	Ret	Ret	9	Ret	13	14	Ret	9	16	Ret
Pos	Constructor	Car no.	AUS	BRA	ARG	SMR	ESP	MON	CAN	FRA	GBR	AUT	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	LUX	JPN	Points

External links

• formula1.com – 1998 official driver standings
• formula1.com – 1998 official team standings
• 1998 Formula One Sporting Regulations Retrieved from web.archive.org on 4 June 2012
• 1998 Formula One Technical Regulations Retrieved from web.archive.org on 4 June 2012