1998 F1 Season

The 1998 Formula One World Championship, the 52nd season of FIA Formula One motor racing, was a pivotal year in the sport. The season, which ran from 8 March to 1 November, consisted of sixteen races. Mika Häkkinen of Finland clinched his first Drivers’ Championship, while McLaren-Mercedes secured the Constructors’ Championship, their first since 1991. This season was marked by a significant reshuffling in the competitive hierarchy, with McLaren-Mercedes emerging as the dominant force.

Häkkinen’s impressive start, winning four of the first six races, set a strong foundation for his championship bid. However, Michael Schumacher and Ferrari mounted a formidable mid-season comeback, including five victories, bringing Schumacher level with Häkkinen in the points standings with just two races left. The championship battle reached its climax at the Luxembourg Grand Prix, where Häkkinen triumphed over Schumacher, and then at the Japanese Grand Prix, where Schumacher’s pole position was undermined by a grid stall and a puncture, paving the way for Häkkinen to win both the race and the championship. David Coulthard, Häkkinen’s teammate, finished third in the overall standings, while Eddie Irvine, Schumacher’s teammate, came in fourth. McLaren ultimately outpaced Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship by 23 points.

Significant changes were evident elsewhere in the field. The Williams team, impacted by the departure of Renault and designer Adrian Newey, and with Jacques Villeneuve unable to defend his title, experienced their first winless season since 1988, yet managed to finish third in the Constructors’ Championship. Benetton, despite Giancarlo Fisichella’s promising performances, also failed to secure a race win. Jordan, led by former champion Damon Hill, had a lackluster first half but rebounded remarkably in the second half, with Hill achieving the team’s first F1 victory in Belgium, supported by teammate Ralf Schumacher’s second-place finish, helping Jordan to fourth in the Constructors’ standings. The 1998 season also marked the end of an era for the Tyrrell team, as it was their final season following the sale by Ken Tyrrell to British American Tobacco.