Ferrari got the present they wanted for their 600th Grand Prix party, although today was the 601st Grand Prix, with a one-two. Michael Schumacher controlled the race after both Mclaren's had problems.
Ferrari got the present they wanted for their 600th Grand Prix party, although today was the 601st Grand Prix, with a one-two. Michael Schumacher controlled the race after both Mclaren's had problems.
Schumacher started from pole but had a very bad start en entered the first corner fifth. Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard got away clean, one and two, and looked very strong for the rest of the race.
Hakkinen, who was leading the race, had to let his team-mate go by because he had some handling problems, especially under braking. After that Coulthard took off but saw his engine and chances go up in smoke on lap 16. Schumacher, who already was in third place, immediately tries to overtake Hakkinen for the lead and succeeds.
Hakkinen was able to hang on to Schumacher but near the end of the race he suffered from severe brake problems, which even resulted in a recoverable spin. His tyres were so badly damaged that he had to let Eddie Irvine and Ralph Schumacher overtake him.
"This race was especially disappointing because I experienced a brake problem in the last phase of the race, with seven laps to go, which was the reason for my high speed spin - I was lucky to come out of that without stalling. Whilst I was spinning I was thinking 'this will mean zero points', but fortunately I managed to keep going and score three points. Up to that point I was competitive and on my second set of tyres I was reeling in Michael. Now I am looking ahead to the final two races and I am confident that we will do a much better job at the home Grands Prix of Mercedes and Bridgestone in Germany and Japan. I am still very positive and will fight to win the championship," Hakkinen stated after the race.
Both rivals are now on 80 points in the championship and McLaren has to work hard on it's reliability. Ron Dennis said: "Well that's motor racing - but it is not over yet!"
Michael Schumacher stated: "My compliments go to the team, who have worked night and day to make this great victory possible. After Hockenheim we thought Monza would be very difficult for us, but all this hard work paid off today. I also thank Eddie and Ralf for helping me get on equal terms with Hakkinen in the Championship."
A team, which is looking very strong, is Jordan. After last race's one-two they had another good showing today. Ralf Schumacher clinched third, he started sixth on the grid, while Damon Hill ended sixth from fourteenth. The German driver said: "I am very happy with this. It is a great day for Jordan and it is great to see us closing in on Benetton and Williams. Both Damon and I are fighting to help Jordan be third in the championship."
Benetton team-boss David Richards acknowledges the Jordan threat in the championship standings: "The championship position has got very tight, not just at the front for first and second, but for us to retain the third position we achieved last year and have maintained most of this season. Clearly the next two races - and the work that we have to do in the next few weeks - is critical to our performance."
A lengthy race report will follow on Atlas F1 this Wednesday.
Timing
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
World Championship of Drivers, Round 14
Monza, Milan, September 13th, 1998
53 laps, 305.810 kms.
POS DRIVER NATION TEAM TIME
1 Michael Schumacher GER Ferrari F300 1h 17:09.672
2 Eddie Irvine GBR Ferrari F300 + 37.977
3 Ralf Schumacher GER Jordan-Mugen-Honda 198 + 41.152
4 Mika Hakkinen FIN McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13 + 55.671
5 Jean Alesi FRA Sauber-Petronas C17 + 1:01.872
6 Damon Hill GBR Jordan-Mugen-Honda 198 + 1:06.688
7 Heinz-Harald Frentzen GER Williams-Mecachrome FW20 1 lap
8 Giancarlo Fisichella ITA Benetton-Mecachrome B198 1 lap
9 Toranosuke Takagi JPN Tyrrell-Ford 026 1 lap
10 Rubens Barrichello BRA Stewart-Ford SF2 1 lap
11 Esteban Tuero ARG Minardi-Ford M198 2 laps
12 Ricardo Rosset BRA Tyrrell-Ford 026 2 laps
13 Jarno Trulli ITA Prost-Peugeot AP01 3 laps
Not Classified
14 Jos Verstappen NED Stewart-Ford SF2 14 laps gearbox
15 Jacques Villeneuve CAN Williams-Mecachrome FW20 16 laps spin
16 Mika Salo FIN Arrows A19 21 laps hydraulics
17 Alexander Wurz AUT Benetton-Mecachrome B198 29 laps gearbox
18 David Coulthard GBR McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13 37 laps engine
19 Olivier Panis FRA Prost-Peugeot AP01 38 laps rear suspension
21 Sinji Nakano JPN Minardi-Ford M198 40 laps engine
20 Johnny Herbert GBR Sauber-Petronas C17 41 laps spin
22 Pedro Diniz BRA Arrows A19 43 laps spin
All timing is unofficial
Fastest Lap: Mika Hakkinen Lap 45, 1m 25,139s, 243.977 kph.
Temps:
Air 20C
Track 30C
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