The 1999 Formula One season started well for Ferrari, the team winning three of the first four races of the season. Eddie Irvine scored his maiden career win at the season-opening . Michael Schumacher scored back-to-back victories at the and the . The team's fortunes began to change in Canada, however, with Michael Schumacher retiring from the lead of the race after sliding into the wall at the exit of the final chicane of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, since known as the "Wall of Champions". On Lap 1 of the at Silverstone, Schumacher crashed heavily at "Stowe Corner" after his rear brake failed, sending him off the circuit after he locked up at approximately 130 mph. He broke his lower right leg as a result, forcing him to miss the next six races and ending his bid for the 1999 Drivers' Championship. Ferrari replaced him with Mika Salo. Irvine became Ferrari's main contender for the drivers' title. He won the next two rounds in Austria and in Germany. Schumacher returned for the final two races of the season, handing Irvine the race lead and eventual win at the inaugural . Both Ferrari drivers had been disqualified after the race as the side deflector panel on both cars was deemed to have been one centimetre too long, making Mika Häkkinen the provisional Drivers' Champion. However, both Ferrari cars were reinstated on appeal, and Irvine led the drivers' standings by four points over Häkkinen going into the final round. Irvine ultimately fell short of the 1999 Drivers' Championship at the season-ending , where he finished third, losing to Häkkinen by two points in the final standings. Schumacher's second place in the race helped Ferrari secure the 1999 Constructors' Championship, their first since 1983.