1998 Formula One Season

The 1998 Formula One Season was the 49th season of the Drivers' World Championship and the 40th season of the Constructors' Championship. It began on the March 8 in Australia and ended on the November 1 in Japan.
Mika Häkkinen was crowned the 1998 World Drivers' Champion after intense battles with rival Michael Schumacher.
==Teams and Drivers==
===Driver Changes===
====Exiting Formula One from 1997====
*Despite receiving a contract offer from for 1998, 1997 driver Gerhard Berger opted to retire for Formula One after a fourteen year career in the sport. Berger cited his dislike for new regulations in 1998 which included grooved tyres as the main reason for his retirement.
*Sauber's temporary replacement for Gianni Morbidelli in 1997, Norberto Fontana was not retained for 1998. Fontana came close to signing for in 1998 but lost out to Ricardo Rosset due to a lack of sponsership money. Fontana went on to compete in the Japanese Formula Nippon series for 1998.
*1997 driver Ukyo Katayama retired from Formula One at the end of 1997 after six years in the sport. Tarso Marques, whilst in the running to retain his Minardi seat for 1998 was replaced by Shinji Nakano. Marques would go on to take a sabbatical from racing for 1998.
*1997 Sauber driver, Gianni Morbidelli, was forced to retire from Formula One at the end of 1997. Morbidelli's two testing accidents saw severe injuries to his left arm which meant he was no longer able to compete competitively in Formula One. For 1998, Morbidelli moved into the British Touring Car Championship.
*Despite wanting to be retained by for 1998, Jos Verstappen was dropped by new owners, British American Tobacco in favour of pay driver Ricardo Rosset. This decision prompted team principal Ken Tyrrell to quit the team before the start of the season. Verstappen became the Benetton test driver for 1998 before making his return with Stewart at the French Grand Prix.
====Debutants for 1998====
*Japanese driver Toranosuke Takagi made his Formula One debut with the team for 1998. Takagi had served as the team's test driver for 1997 and after impressive performances he was promoted to the race seat for 1998. 1997 had seen Takagi compete in the Porsche Supercup and Formula Nippon, where he had taken one race win and four pole positions.
*Argentine driver Esteban Tuero would make his debut at for 1998. At only 19 years of age, Tuero would become the third youngest driver at the time to start a Formula One race. Tuero's results in Formula Nippon in 1997 as well as his work as a Minardi test driver, impressed Minardi sufficiently to be offered a race drive for 1998.
====Moved seats for 1998====
*After being dropped by Benetton, Jean Alesi signed to join the Sauber team for the 1998 season. Alesi had also been discussing a potential drive with Jordan. 
*Giancarlo Fisichella moved from to for 1998. His move to Benetton saw a legal dispute between Benetton and Jordan which saw Benetton have to pay Jordan $2.4 million to buy Fisichella out of his Jordan contract for 1998.
*After suffering a miserable season at Arrows in 1997, 1996 world champion Damon Hill signed to join the Jordan team for 1998. Hill had settled to join Jordan after negotiations with McLaren failed. Hill was also discussing potential drives with Sauber and Prost. 
*After being replaced at in 1997, by his then teammate Jarno Trulli who had substituted for the injured Olivier Panis, Shinji Nakano was forced to look to the back of the grid if he was to stay in F1 for 1998. Despite being offered a testing role by , Nakano preferred to continue racing in 1998 and signed for the backmarker Minardi team.
*After entering only one event in 1997 with the team before its premature demise, Ricardo Rosset had signed to join the team for 1998. Britsh American Tobacco signed Rosset purely for his sponsership money, a move that angered team principal Ken Tyrrell who would have preferred to have kept 1997 driver Jos Verstappen. Tyrrell quit the team shortly after Rosset's annoucement as race driver.
*After three unsuccessful years at Tyrrell, Mika Salo quit the team to join the Arrows team for 1998. Salo believed Arrows had a better chance of demonstrating his potential than at the failing Tyrrell team. 
*Benetton's 1997 test driver and replacement for Gerhard Berger in three of the 1997 races, Alexander Wurz had impressed the team with his performances enough to be promoted to race driver for 1998. 
====Mid-Season Changes====
*After a disappointing run of results in the early half of the year, driver Jan Magnussen was replaced by Benetton test driver and out of work race driver Jos Verstappen from the French Grand Prix onwards. Magnussen had secured a single point in his final race at Canada, however it was not enough to convince Stewart to replace him, who had been lining Verstappen up as a replacement from as early as the San Marino Grand Prix. 
===Team Changes===
==Calendar==
===Schedule===
Round	Race Title 	Grand Prix 	Circuit 	Date
1 	Qantas Australian Grand Prix 	Australian GP	Albert Park, Melbourne 	March 8
2 	Grande Prêmio Marlboro do Brasil 	Brazilian GP 	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo 	March 29
3 	Gran Premio Marlboro Argentina 	Argentine GP 	Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires	April 12
4 	San Marino Grand Prix 	San Marino GP	Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola 	April 26
5 	Gran Premio Marlboro de España 	Spanish GP 	Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona 	May 10
6 	Grand Prix de Monaco 	Monaco GP 	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 	May 24
7 	Grand Prix du Canada 	Canadian GP 	Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal 	June 7
8 	Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 	French GP 	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours 	June 28
9 	RAC British Grand Prix 	British GP 	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 	July 12
10 	Grosser Preis von Österreich 	Austrian GP 	A1-Ring, Spielberg 	July 26
11 	Grosser Mobil 1 Preis von Deutschland	German GP 	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim 	August 2
12 	Marlboro Magyar Nagydij 	Hungarian GP 	Hungaroring, Budapest 	August 16
13 	Foster's Belgian Grand Prix 	Belgian GP 	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa 	August 30
14 	Gran Premio Campari d'Italia 	Italian GP 	Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza 	September 13
15 	Großer Warsteiner Preis von Luxemburg	Luxembourg GP	Nürburgring, Nürburg 	September 27
16 	Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix 	Japanese GP 	Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka 	November 1
==Results and Standings==
===Results===
Oultined below are the full results for the 1998 FIA Formula 1 World Championship:
===1998 Drivers Standings===
Oultined below are the full standings for the 1998 FIA Formula 1 World Championship for Drivers:
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	6 	7 	8 	9 	10 	11 	12 	13 	14 	15 	16 	Pts.
Pos. 	Driver 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pts.
 	Häkkinen 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	100
 	M. Schumacher 	 	 	 	 	 	10th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	86
 	Coulthard 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	7th 	 	 	 	56
4th 	Irvine 	 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	47
5th 	Villeneuve 	 	7th 	 	 	 	 	10th 	 	7th 	 	 	 	 	 	8th 	 	21
6th 	Hill 	8th 	 	8th 	10th† 	 	8th 	 	 	 	7th 	 	 	 	 	9th 	 	20
7th 	Frentzen 	 	 	9th 	 	8th 	 	 	15th† 	 	 	9th 	 	 	7th 	 	 	17
= 	Wurz 	7th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	9th 	11th 	16th† 	 	 	7th 	9th 	17
9th 	Fisichella 	 	 	7th 	 	 	 	 	9th 	 	 	7th 	8th 	 	8th 	 	8th 	16
10th 	R. Schumacher 	 	 	 	7th 	11th 	 	 	16th 	 	 	 	9th 	 	 	 	 	14
11th 	Alesi 	 	9th 	 	 	10th 	12th† 	 	7th 	 	 	10th 	7th 	 	 	10th 	7th 	9
12th 	Barrichello 	 	 	10th 	 	 	 	 	10th 	 	 	 	 	 	10th 	11th 	 	4
13th 	Salo 	 	 	 	9th 	 	 	 	13th 	 	 	14th 	 	 	 	14th 	 	3
= 	Diniz 	 	 	 	 	 	 	9th 	14th 	 	 	 	11th 	 	 	 	 	3
15th 	Herbert 	 	11th 	 	 	7th 	7th 	 	8th 	 	8th 	 	10th 	 	 	 	10th 	1
= 	Trulli 	 	 	11th 	 	9th 	 	 	 	 	10th 	12th 	 	 	13th 	 	12th† 	1
= 	Magnussen 	 	10th 	 	 	12th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	1
— 	Nakano 	 	 	13th 	 	14th 	9th 	7th 	17th† 	8th 	11th 	 	15th 	8th 	 	15th 	 	0
— 	Tuero 	 	 	 	8th 	15th 	 	 	 	 	 	16th 	 	 	11th 	 	 	0
— 	Rosset 	 	 	14th 	 	 	 	8th 	 	 	12th 	 	 	 	12th 	 	 	0
— 	Takagi 	 	 	12th 	 	13th 	11th 	 	 	9th 	 	13th 	14th 	 	9th 	16th 	 	0
— 	Panis 	9th 	 	15th† 	11th† 	16th† 	 	 	11th 	 	 	15th 	12th 	 	 	12th 	11th 	0
— 	Verstappen 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	12th 	 	 	 	13th 	 	 	13th 	 	0
Pos. 	Driver 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pts.
Pos. 	Driver 	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	6 	7 	8 	9 	10 	11 	12 	13 	14 	15 	16 	Pts.
*Italic donates as the fastest lap.
* Indicates a driver who qualified pole position.
*† Indicates a driver who was still classified despite retiring as they had completed 90% or more of the race distance.
===1998 Constructors Standings===
Oultined below are the full standings for the 1998 FIA Formula 1 World Championship for Constructors:
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	No. 	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	6 	7 	8 	9 	10 	11 	12 	13 	14 	15 	16 	Pts.
Pos. 	Team 	No. 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pts.
rowspan=2 	 	7 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	7th 	 	 	 	156
8 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	156
rowspan=2 	 	3 	 	 	 	 	 	10th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	133
4 	 	 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	8th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	133
rowspan=2 	 	1 	 	7th 	 	 	 	 	10th 	 	7th 	 	 	 	 	 	8th 	 	38
2 	 	 	 	9th 	 	8th 	 	 	15th† 	 	 	9th 	 	 	7th 	 	 	 	38
4th 	 	9 	8th 	 	8th 	10th† 	 	8th 	 	 	 	7th 	 	 	 	 	9th 	 	34
4th 	 	10 	 	 	 	7th 	11th 	 	 	16th 	 	 	 	9th 	 	 	 	 	34
5th 	 	5 	 	 	7th 	 	 	 	 	9th 	 	 	7th 	8th 	 	8th 	 	8th 	33
5th 	 	6 	7th 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	9th 	11th 	16th† 	 	 	7th 	9th 	33
6th 	 	14 	 	9th 	 	 	10th 	12th† 	 	7th 	 	 	10th 	7th 	 	 	10th 	7th 	10
6th 	 	15 	 	11th 	 	 	7th 	7th 	 	8th 	 	8th 	 	10th 	 	 	 	10th 	10
7th 	 	16 	 	 	 	 	 	 	9th 	14th 	 	 	 	11th 	 	 	 	 	6
7th 	 	17 	 	 	 	9th 	 	 	 	13th 	 	 	14th 	 	 	 	14th 	 	6
8th 	 	18 	 	 	10th 	 	 	 	 	10th 	 	 	 	 	 	10th 	11th 	 	5
8th 	 	19 	 	10th 	 	 	12th 	 	 	12th 	 	 	 	13th 	 	 	13th 	 	5
9th 	 	11 	9th 	 	15th† 	11th† 	16th† 	 	 	11th 	 	 	15th 	12th 	 	 	12th 	11th 	1
9th 	 	12 	 	 	11th 	 	9th 	 	 	 	 	10th 	12th 	 	 	13th 	 	12th† 	1
— 	 	22 	 	 	13th 	 	14th 	9th 	7th 	17th† 	8th 	11th 	 	15th 	8th 	 	15th 	 	0
— 	 	23 	 	 	 	8th 	15th 	 	 	 	 	 	16th 	 	 	11th 	 	 	0
— 	 	20 	 	 	14th 	 	 	 	8th 	 	 	12th 	 	 	 	12th 	 	 	0
— 	 	21 	 	 	12th 	 	13th 	11th 	 	 	9th 	 	13th 	14th 	 	9th 	16th 	 	0
Pos. 	Team 	No. 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Pts.
Pos. 	Team 	No. 	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	6 	7 	8 	9 	10 	11 	12 	13 	14 	15 	16 	Pts.
*Italic donates as the fastest lap.
* Indicates a driver who qualified pole position.
*† Indicates a driver who was still classified despite retiring as they had completed 90% or more of the race distance.
Category:Formula One Seasons
Category:1998 Formula One Season
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