1999 French Grand Prix

The 1999 French Grand Prix, otherwise advertised as the LXXXV Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France, was the seventh round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in Magny-Cours, France, on the 27 June 1999.'French GP, 1999', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr637.html, (Accessed 27/08/2019) The race would see Heinz-Harald Frentzen claim a surprise victory for , who gambled on an ambitious fuel strategy in worsening conditions.
Qualifying would also produce a shock result, with heavy rain opening the door for Rubens Barrichello to claim the first pole position for . Jean Alesi was second ahead of Olivier Panis, while title contenders Mika Häkkinen and Michael Schumacher could only muster fourteenth and sixth respectively.
It was dry on race day but with dark clouds on the horizon, with Barricello sprinting into an early lead. Alesi, in contrast, made a poor start and ensured that the field got rather compressed, allowing David Coulthard to challenge for second.
Häkkinen was also the move early on, carving his way into the top ten before the end of the opening lap. Further overtakes carried him past Johnny Herbert and Panis to secure sixth, before catching fifth placed Schumacher on lap nine.
Häkkinen made his move around the outside of the German at the Adelaide hairpin, only for the to hold on with the inside line. A lap later and Häkkinen tried the same move, only to sell Schumacher a dummy and scythe across to the inside of the hairpin, and duly exited the corner ahead of the German.
Out front, meanwhile, Coulthard had managed to grab the lead from Barrichello with a lunge at the hairpin, only for an electrical failure to end his race on lap ten. Häkkinen, meanwhile, would drop Schumacher and attack Heinz-Harald Frentzen, and duly took third, before latching onto the back of Alesi to challenge for second.
It took several laps for Häkkinen to get past the , allowing Barrichello to increase his lead up ahead. Yet, once the Finn broke clear it was only a matter of time until the Stewart was caught, with the looking ominously quick.
It was at that moment that rain began to fall, with Eddie Irvine coming in so early that were caught out, costing him three quarters of a minute. Yet, the rest of the field would stay out on their grooved slicks, until Giancarlo Fisichella spun, with a downpour following as the leaders swept into the pits together.
The order remained unchanged after the stops, before Alesi spun out of the race to bring out the Safety Car, which stayed out as rain continued to pound the circuit. Indeed, it was only when the rain eased that the Mercedes slipped back into the pits, with Barrichello coming under immediate pressure from Häkkinen.
Ultimately, Häkkinen's attempted lunge into the Adelaide Hairpin at the first attempt failed, with the Finn clambering over the kerb and sending himself into a pirouette. He recovered having slipped to seventh, and would be well placed to see rival Schumacher ease past Frentzen up ahead.
A few laps later and Schumacher was attacking Barrichello for the lead, and duly made an aggressive lunge at Adelaide, only for the Brazilian to cut back inside as the German slid wide. He subsequently made the move stick on the following lap, only for an electrical failure a few laps later to end his hopes of the win.
Häkkinen picked his way through to the lead on lap 60, before he and Barrichello peeled off into the pits for a quick splash-and-dash. Frentzen, meanwhile, would stay out having saved fuel during the safety car period, with the Jordan suddenly holding a fair lead.
Ultimately Frentzen would cross the line to claim victory, his advantage over Häkkinen enough to ensure that he could save more fuel in the closing stages. Barrichello, meanwhile, was a distant third ahead of Ralf Schumacher, while Michael Schumacher claimed fifth ahead of teammate Irvine, still suffering from electrical issues.
==Background==
Mika Häkkinen overturned a six point deficit with victory to leave Canada with a four point lead, with the Finn holding 34 points at the end of the weekend. Indeed, had Michael Schumacher not crashed out the German would still have led the Championship, but would instead leave Canada in second, four off the leader. Eddie Irvine was still in third, nine behind the defending Champion, while Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Giancarlo Fisichella completed the top five.
In the Constructors Championship it was still who led the way, although had done a lot of damage. Indeed, the Anglo-German squad left Canada nine behind the Scuderia, with those two set to duel for the crown for a second straight season. Elsewhere, had retained third ahead of , while completed the top five.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Mika Häkkinen 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/14 	 	FO110H 3.0 V10 	
2 	David Coulthard 	West McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/14 	 	FO110H 3.0 V10 	
3 	Michael Schumacher 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F399 	 	048 3.0 V10 	
4 	Eddie Irvine 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F399 	 	048 3.0 V10 	
5 	Alessandro Zanardi 	Winfield Williams 	 	FW21 	 	FB01 3.0 V10 	
6 	Ralf Schumacher 	Winfield Williams 	 	FW21 	 	FB01 3.0 V10 	
7 	Damon Hill 	Benson & Hedges Jordan 	 	199 	 	MF-301HD 3.0 V10 	
8 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	Benson & Hedges Jordan 	 	199 	 	MF-301HD 3.0 V10 	
9 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Mild Seven Benetton Playlife 	 	B199 	 	FB01 3.0 V10 	
10 	Alexander Wurz 	Mild Seven Benetton Playlife 	 	B199 	 	FB01 3.0 V10 	
11 	Jean Alesi 	Red Bull Sauber Petronas 	 	C18 	 	SPE-03A 3.0 V10 	
12 	Pedro Diniz 	Red Bull Sauber Petronas 	 	C18 	 	SPE-03A 3.0 V10 	
14 	Pedro de la Rosa 	Repsol Arrows F1 Team 	 	A20 	 	T2-F1 3.0 V10 	
15 	Toranosuke Takagi 	Repsol Arrows F1 Team 	 	A20 	 	T2-F1 3.0 V10 	
16 	Rubens Barrichello 	HSBC Stewart Ford 	 	SF3 	 	CR-1 3.0 V10 	
17 	Johnny Herbert 	HSBC Stewart Ford 	 	SF3 	 	CR-1 3.0 V10 	
18 	Olivier Panis 	Gauloises Prost Peugeot 	 	AP02 	 	A18 3.0 V10 	
19 	Jarno Trulli 	Gauloises Prost Peugeot 	 	AP02 	 	A18 3.0 V10 	
20 	Luca Badoer 	Fondmetal Minardi Team 	 	M01 	 	VJM1 Zetec-R 3.0 V10 	
21 	Marc Gené 	Fondmetal Minardi Team 	 	M01 	 	VJM1 Zetec-R 3.0 V10 	
22 	Jacques Villeneuve 	British American Racing 	 	01 	 	FB01 3.0 V10 	
23 	Ricardo Zonta 	British American Racing 	 	01 	 	FB01 3.0 V10 	
Source:'France 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/engages.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Qualifying Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Gap 	Ave. Speed
1 	16 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:38.441 	— 	155.423 km/h
2 	11 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:38.881 	+0.440s 	154.731 km/h
3 	18 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:40.400 	+1.959s 	152.390 km/h
4 	2 	David Coulthard 	 	1:40.403 	+1.959s 	152.386 km/h
5 	8 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:40.690 	+2.249s 	151.952 km/h
6 	3 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:41.127 	+2.686s 	151.295 km/h
7 	9 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:41.825 	+3.384s 	150.258 km/h
8 	19 	Jarno Trulli 	 	1:42.096 	+3.655s 	149.859 km/h
9 	17 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:42.199 	+3.758s 	149.708 km/h
10 	23 	Ricardo Zonta 	 	1:42.228 	+3.787s 	149.665 km/h
11 	12 	Pedro Diniz 	 	1:42.942 	+4.501s 	148.627 km/h
12 	22 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:43.748 	+5.307s 	147.473 km/h
13 	10 	Alexander Wurz 	 	1:44.319 	+5.878s 	146.666 km/h
14 	1 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	1:44.368 	+5.927s 	146.597 km/h
15 	5 	Alex Zanardi 	 	1:44.912 	+6.471s 	145.837 km/h
16 	6 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	1:45.189 	+6.748s 	145.452 km/h
17 	4 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:45.218 	+6.777s 	145.412 km/h
107% Time: 1:45.331* 	107% Time: 1:45.331* 	107% Time: 1:45.331* 	107% Time: 1:45.331* 	107% Time: 1:45.331* 	107% Time: 1:45.331* 	107% Time: 1:45.331*
NC 	7 	Damon Hill 	 	1:45.334 	+6.893s 	145.252 km/h
NC 	21 	Marc Gené 	 	1:46.324 	+7.883s 	143.900 km/h
NC 	20 	Luca Badoer 	 	1:46.784 	+8.343s 	143.280 km/h
NC 	14 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	1:48.215 	+9.774s 	141.385 km/h
NC 	15 	Tora Takagi 	 	1:48.322 	+9.881s 	141.246 km/h
Source:'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/693/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 27/08/2019)'France 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/693/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 27/08/2019)'France 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/693/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 27/08/2019)'France 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/693/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 27/08/2019)'France 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/693/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 27/08/2019)'France 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/693/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 27/08/2019)'France 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'Mobil 1 Grand Prix de France 1999 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1999/races/693/france/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 27/08/2019)'France 1999: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
** The 107% Rule was not enforced due to the conditions, although the bottom five were instead ordered on practice times.
===Grid===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	8 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	72 	1:58:24.343 	5 	10
2 	1 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	72 	+11.092s 	14 	6
3 	16 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	72 	+43.432s 	1 	4
4 	6 	Ralf Schumacher 	 	72 	+45.475s 	16 	3
5 	3 	Michael Schumacher 	 	72 	+47.881s 	6 	2
6 	4 	Eddie Irvine 	 	72 	+48.901s 	17 	1
7 	19 	Jarno Trulli 	 	72 	+57.771s 	8 	
8 	18 	Olivier Panis 	 	72 	+58.531s 	3 	
9 	23 	Ricardo Zonta 	 	72 	+1:28.764 	10 	
10 	20 	Luca Badoer 	 	71 	+1 Lap 	21 	
11 	14 	Pedro de la Rosa 	 	71 	+1 Lap 	19 	
DSQ* 	15 	Tora Takagi 	 	71 	Disqualified 	20 	
Ret 	9 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	42 	Spin 	7 	
Ret 	7 	Damon Hill 	 	31 	Electrical 	18 	
Ret 	5 	Alex Zanardi 	 	26 	Engine 	15 	
Ret 	22 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	25 	Spin 	12 	
Ret 	10 	Alexander Wurz 	 	25 	Spin 	13 	
Ret 	21 	Marc Gené 	 	25 	Spin 	22 	
Ret 	11 	Jean Alesi 	 	24 	Spin 	2 	
Ret 	2 	David Coulthard 	 	9 	Electrical 	4 	
Ret 	12 	Pedro Diniz 	 	6 	Transmission 	11 	
Ret 	17 	Johnny Herbert 	 	4 	Gearbox 	9 	
Source:'France 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)	Source:'France 1999: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france/classement.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Takagi was disqualified from the race after using an illegal set of tyres.
==Milestones==
* 100th Grand Prix to feature a engine.'7. France 1999', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1999/france.aspx, (Accessed 27/08/2019)
* Rubens Barrichello claimed the first (and only) pole position for .
** This was also the 139th and final pole for a engine.
** Also the twentieth pole for Bridgestone as a tyre supplier.'1999 French GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1999&gp=French%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 27/08/2019)
* Second career victory for Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
* Second win for as a constructor.
** secured their third win as a registered engine supplier.
==Standings==
Mika Häkkinen extended his Championship lead over Michael Schumacher after his podium finish, leaving France with an eight point advantage. The German himself had reduced the damage by limping across the line in fifth, with teammate Eddie Irvine losing more ground in third. Behind Heinz-Harald Frentzen had moved onto the Brit's tail after his second win, while Ralf Schumacher completed the top five.
In the Constructors Championship had just held onto their lead, leaving France on 58 points and with a six point lead. were their closest challengers, having chipped away at the Scuderia's lead, with those two both holding double the points of in third. The Irish squad themselves were in a lonely third after claiming victory, as moved ahead of in the latest round of leap-frog between the two former Champions.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Mika Häkkinen 	40 	
2 	Michael Schumacher 	32 	
3 	Eddie Irvine 	26 	
4 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	23 	
5 	Ralf Schumacher 	15 	2
6 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	13 	1
7 	David Coulthard 	12 	1
8 	Rubens Barrichello 	10 	
9 	Damon Hill 	3 	
10 	Johnny Herbert 	2 	
11 	Alexander Wurz 	1 	
12 	Jarno Trulli 	1 	
13 	Pedro de la Rosa 	1 	
14 	Olivier Panis 	1 	
15 	Jean Alesi 	1 	
16 	Pedro Diniz 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	58 	
2 	 	52 	
3 	 	26 	
4 	 	15 	1
5 	 	14 	1
6 	 	12 	
7 	 	2 	
8 	 	2 	
9 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
*
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:1999 Grands Prix
Category:French Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in France