The 1998 Austrian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the A1-Ring on 26 July 1998. It was the tenth round of the 1998 FIA Formula One World Championship. A wet-dry qualifying session resulted in a mixed-up grid order, with Giancarlo Fisichella taking the first pole position of his career. The 71-lap race was won by Mika Häkkinen for McLaren, with teammate David Coulthard recovering to finish second, having been involved in two collisions during the race, and Michael Schumacher finishing third for Ferrari.
| 1998 Austrian Grand Prix | |||||
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Race 10 of 16 in the 1998 Formula One World Championship
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| Race details | |||||
| Date | 26 July 1998 | ||||
| Official name | XXVII Grosser Preis von Österreich | ||||
| Location | A1-Ring, Spielberg, Styria, Austria | ||||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
| Course length | 4.319 km (2.684 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 71 laps, 307.146 km (190.564 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Sunny | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Benetton-Playlife | ||||
| Time | 1:29.598 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver |
 David Coulthard | McLaren-Mercedes | |||
| Time | 1:12.878 on lap 30 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | McLaren-Mercedes | ||||
| Second | McLaren-Mercedes | ||||
| Third | Ferrari | ||||
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Lap leaders | |||||
Report
editQualifying
editThe qualifying session led to an unusual grid due to wet conditions, which dried out towards the end, with Fisichella taking his first ever pole and Jean Alesi alongside him in the Sauber.[1][2]
Race
editHäkkinen started well to lead into the first corner but several cars collided at the first corner behind them, with Toranosuke Takagi's car ending up stranded. Olivier Panis was left immobile on the line with clutch failure. At the second corner, there was another accident, with both Arrows drivers colliding, hitting Coulthard in the process and knocking off his wing after he had qualified in 14th. Coulthard entered the pit lane for a new nose as a safety car was deployed to allow the debris from the collisions to be cleaned up, and he was able to catch up to the back of the field.[1]
At the restart, Häkkinen led away again with Schumacher close behind him. Schumacher attempted to pass Häkkinen but ran wide, allowing Fisichella in the Benetton past him and almost Rubens Barrichello in the Stewart as well. Barrichello soon dropped out with brake problems, while Schumacher overtook Fisichella again. Schumacher was already on a disadvantage with a two-stop strategy and Häkkinen on just one; his situation got worse when he ran very wide, bouncing violently through the gravel trap and ripping off his front wing. He was able to reach the pits and fit a new wing but rejoined almost a lap behind. Around the same time, Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the Williams experienced an engine failure, which caught fire; he was able to escape from the car unharmed.[1]
Twenty-one laps in, Fisichella and Alesi clashed at the second corner, with both having to retire. Coulthard and Schumacher were both quickly moving back up through the field; he had a lot of trouble passing his brother Ralf Schumacher in the Jordan Grand Prix, finally succeeding after several laps. Schumacher then started to catch up to teammate Eddie Irvine, who was slowing; although Irvine said after it was due to marginal brakes, some suggested he was given a team order and asked to move over for his team leader. In the end, Häkkinen took an easy victory. His teammate Coulthard finished second after being last at the start, and Schumacher took third aided by Irvine.[1]
Classification
editQualifying
edit- This was the last pole position of Benetton in Formula One.
Race
editChampionship standings after the race
edit- Bold text indicates who still has a theoretical chance of becoming World Champion.
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- Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
References
edit- ^ a b c d Galvin, Max (26 July 1998). "Austrian Grand Prix Review". Autosport. Retrieved 14 February 2024 – via Atlas F1.
- ^ "1998 F1 World Championship | Motorsport Database". Motor Sport. 1998. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "Austria 1998 – Qualifications • STATS F1". Stats F1. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- ^ "1998 Austrian Grand Prix". Formula 1. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Austria 1998 – Championship • STATS F1". Stats F1. Retrieved 7 March 2019.