1998 Australian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Mika Häkkinen won the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit as McLaren opened the season with a commanding one-two. David Coulthard finished second after honouring a pre-race agreement with his team-mate, while Heinz-Harald Frentzen completed the podium a lap behind.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren
Pole time	1:30.010
Fastest lap	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren
Fastest-lap time	1:31.649 on lap 38
First	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren
Second	David Coulthard	McLaren
Third	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
6 March 1998	Practice 1	11:00
6 March 1998	Practice 2	13:00
7 March 1998	Practice 3	09:00
7 March 1998	Practice 4	10:15
7 March 1998	Qualifying	13:00
8 March 1998	Warm-up	09:30
8 March 1998	Race	14:00

All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.

Championship background

The 1998 F1 World Championship began with narrower cars and grooved dry-weather tyres replacing slicks. Williams defended its titles with Mecachrome engines after Renault‘s works withdrawal, while McLaren‘s switch to Bridgestone tyres added another new element to the leading teams’ contest.

Race entries

Damon Hill joined Ralf Schumacher at Jordan, while Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz formed Benetton‘s new pairing. Jean Alesi moved to Sauber alongside Johnny Herbert, Mika Salo joined Arrows, and Minardi paired Shinji Nakano with debutant Esteban Tuero. Tyrrell entered its final season with Ricardo Rosset and rookie Toranosuke Takagi.

Free Practice

Rain showers made opening practice difficult to interpret. Jean Alesi lost most of the session to an engine-electronics problem, while Eddie Irvine‘s visits to the pits left him out of step with the changing weather. Alexander Wurz concentrated on brake work as the teams began learning how their new cars behaved away from winter testing.

Michael Schumacher set the day’s fastest time in the second session, but wind and intermittent rain prevented a clear comparison. Eddie Irvine stayed out to gain laps, only to develop a persistent misfire. Tyrrell evaluated intermediate tyres on the slippery surface, and Damon Hill used the running to become more familiar with Jordan‘s hand clutch.

Friday Practice Classification — Combined

1998 Australian Grand Prix opening-day practice, 6 March 1998

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:33.826	15
2	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.606s	12
3	1	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams	+1.197s	24
4	6	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+1.444s	21
5	7	David Coulthard	McLaren	+1.583s	14
6	10	Ralf Schumacher	Jordan	+1.882s	14
7	15	Johnny Herbert	Sauber	+2.050s	10
8	14	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+2.269s	9
9	12	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+2.405s	17
10	2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams	+2.915s	17
11	17	Mika Salo	Arrows	+3.071s	16
12	18	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+3.197s	12
13	9	Damon Hill	Jordan	+3.276s	19
14	11	Olivier Panis	Prost	+3.276s	15
15	20	Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell	+3.318s	25
16	19	Jan Magnussen	Stewart	+3.779s	8
17	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+4.065s	14
18	16	Pedro Diniz	Arrows	+4.102s	8
19	21	Toranosuke Takagi	Tyrrell	+4.991s	26
20	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+5.034s	17
21	22	Shinji Nakano	Minardi	+5.218s	8
22	23	Esteban Tuero	Minardi	No time	5

Saturday’s dry running finally allowed the field to explore the cars’ limits more thoroughly. Lock-ups and excursions showed how much the drivers still had to learn about the narrower cars and grooved tyres. McLaren‘s winter promise began to translate into a clear advantage, while the Jordan looked less settled.

David Coulthard finished Saturday practice fastest as preparations turned towards the first qualifying session of the season. Jacques Villeneuve showed that Williams could still compete near the front, but McLaren looked the stronger package. After Friday’s disrupted programmes, the dry morning provided the clearest indication yet of the challenge facing Ferrari and the defending champions.

Saturday Practice Classification — Combined

1998 Australian Grand Prix Saturday practice, 7 March 1998

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	7	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:30.456	24
2	1	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams	+0.722s	23
3	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.976s	33
4	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.980s	25
5	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+1.125s	28
6	2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams	+1.168s	30
7	15	Johnny Herbert	Sauber	+1.414s	29
8	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+2.009s	25
9	14	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+2.058s	26
10	9	Damon Hill	Jordan	+2.062s	29
11	10	Ralf Schumacher	Jordan	+2.211s	20
12	6	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+3.132s	12
13	18	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+3.509s	23
14	19	Jan Magnussen	Stewart	+4.087s	16
15	21	Toranosuke Takagi	Tyrrell	+4.144s	17
16	12	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+4.381s	22
17	20	Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell	+4.554s	29
18	22	Shinji Nakano	Minardi	+4.613s	25
19	17	Mika Salo	Arrows	+5.083s	8
20	23	Esteban Tuero	Minardi	+5.394s	33
21	11	Olivier Panis	Prost	+5.457s	14
22	16	Pedro Diniz	Arrows	+5.895s	4

Each practice table combines that day’s two sessions, showing each driver’s best time and total laps.

Qualifying

Häkkinen took pole with a 1:30.010, only 0.043 seconds faster than David Coulthard. McLaren secured its first front-row lockout since 1991, with Michael Schumacher third and Jacques Villeneuve fourth. Johnny Herbert impressed by putting Sauber fifth, ahead of Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

Olivier Panis spun and left his car in a position that interrupted the session. His two best times were subsequently deleted, dropping him to the back of the grid. Toranosuke Takagi qualified thirteenth on his debut, while Esteban Tuero also made the field for Minardi.

Qualifying Classification

1998 Australian Grand Prix Qualifying, 7 March 1998

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	8	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	1:30.010	10
2	7	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:30.053	10
3	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:30.767	11
4	1	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams	1:30.919	12
5	15	Johnny Herbert	Sauber	1:31.384	12
6	2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams	1:31.397	12
7	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	1:31.733	12
8	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	1:31.767	11
9	10	Ralf Schumacher	Jordan	1:32.392	11
10	9	Damon Hill	Jordan	1:32.399	12
11	6	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	1:32.726	9
12	14	Jean Alesi	Sauber	1:33.240	11
13	21	Toranosuke Takagi	Tyrrell	1:33.291	11
14	18	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	1:33.383	8
15	12	Jarno Trulli	Prost	1:33.739	11
16	17	Mika Salo	Arrows	1:33.927	8
17	23	Esteban Tuero	Minardi	1:34.646	12
18	19	Jan Magnussen	Stewart	1:34.906	9
19	20	Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell	1:35.119	11
20	16	Pedro Diniz	Arrows	1:35.140	7
21	11	Olivier Panis	Prost	1:33.851	12
22	22	Shinji Nakano	Minardi	1:35.301	12

Sunday warm-up

Häkkinen led David Coulthard in warm-up, with Michael Schumacher close behind. The Jordans also appeared competitive, although Damon Hill later explained that they had been running with very light fuel loads. That qualification mattered before a race in which sustained speed and reliability would be more revealing than a single quick lap.

Warm-up Classification

1998 Australian Grand Prix Warm-up, 8 March 1998

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	1:34.126	12
2	7	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.131s	11
3	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.220s	12
4	10	Ralf Schumacher	Jordan	+0.904s	15
5	9	Damon Hill	Jordan	+0.907s	12
6	15	Johnny Herbert	Sauber	+0.955s	12
7	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+1.066s	11
8	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+1.089s	14
9	1	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams	+1.275s	12
10	17	Mika Salo	Arrows	+1.285s	13
11	2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams	+1.371s	9
12	23	Esteban Tuero	Minardi	+1.895s	10
13	14	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+1.955s	11
14	19	Jan Magnussen	Stewart	+2.034s	8
15	12	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+2.120s	15
16	6	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+2.131s	13
17	18	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+2.564s	7
18	16	Pedro Diniz	Arrows	+2.742s	9
19	11	Olivier Panis	Prost	+3.089s	11
20	21	Toranosuke Takagi	Tyrrell	+3.356s	15
21	22	Shinji Nakano	Minardi	+3.646s	12
22	20	Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell	+4.361s	11

What happened in the 1998 Australian Grand Prix?

Häkkinen led away and David Coulthard resisted Michael Schumacher‘s early challenge. The Ferrari retired with engine failure, leaving McLaren to pull clear. Behind them, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Eddie Irvine fought for the remaining podium place as Jacques Villeneuve and Johnny Herbert stayed in contention for points.

A misunderstood radio message brought Häkkinen into the pit lane when the team was not expecting him, costing him the lead. David Coulthard later allowed him back through in accordance with their agreement that the driver leading at the first corner would have priority if the pair controlled the race.

Häkkinen won ahead of David Coulthard, with Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Eddie Irvine, Jacques Villeneuve and Johnny Herbert completing the points. McLaren lapped every other finisher and delivered Bridgestone’s first Formula 1 victory, but the way the team settled the order prompted controversy and an official complaint from the event organisers.

After the race, Mika Häkkinen headed the drivers’ standings with 10 points, followed by David Coulthard on 6. McLaren led the constructors’ table on 16, with Williams on 6.

1998 Australian Grand Prix race results

The 1998 Australian Grand Prix was held on 8 March 1998, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	8	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	58	1:31:45.996	10
2	7	David Coulthard	McLaren	58	+0.702	6
3	2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams	57	+1 Lap	4
4	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	57	+1 Lap	3
5	1	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams	57	+1 Lap	2
6	15	Johnny Herbert	Sauber	57	+1 Lap	1
7	6	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	57	+1 Lap	0
8	9	Damon Hill	Jordan	57	+1 Lap	0
9	11	Olivier Panis	Prost	57	+1 Lap	0
Ret	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	43	Broken Wing	0
Ret	14	Jean Alesi	Sauber	41	Engine	0
Ret	12	Jarno Trulli	Prost	26	Gearbox	0
Ret	20	Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell	25	Gearbox	0
Ret	17	Mika Salo	Arrows	23	Gearbox	0
Ret	23	Esteban Tuero	Minardi	22	Engine	0
Ret	22	Shinji Nakano	Minardi	8	Halfshaft	0
Ret	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	5	Engine	0
Ret	16	Pedro Diniz	Arrows	2	Gearbox	0
Ret	10	Ralf Schumacher	Jordan	1	Collision	0
Ret	19	Jan Magnussen	Stewart	1	Collision	0
Ret	21	Toranosuke Takagi	Tyrrell	1	Spun off	0
Ret	18	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	0	Gearbox	0

1998 Australian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	38	1:31.649	208.303
2	7	David Coulthard	McLaren	24	1:32.356	206.708
3	2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams	33	1:33.554	204.061
4	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	33	1:33.790	203.548
5	9	Damon Hill	Jordan	55	1:34.196	202.671
6	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	40	1:34.319	202.406
7	11	Olivier Panis	Prost	55	1:34.319	202.406
8	6	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	54	1:34.738	201.511
9	14	Jean Alesi	Sauber	28	1:34.878	201.214
10	12	Jarno Trulli	Prost	25	1:34.885	201.199
11	15	Johnny Herbert	Sauber	24	1:35.624	199.644
12	1	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams	53	1:35.661	199.567
13	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	3	1:35.774	199.331
14	17	Mika Salo	Arrows	18	1:36.032	198.796
15	23	Esteban Tuero	Minardi	19	1:36.475	197.883
16	20	Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell	20	1:38.116	194.573
17	22	Shinji Nakano	Minardi	3	1:39.676	191.528
18	16	Pedro Diniz	Arrows	2	1:39.916	191.068

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. Average speeds are in km/h. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.

1998 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 1998 Australian Grand Prix.

1998 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Mika Häkkinen	Finnish	McLaren	10
2	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	6
3	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Williams	4
4	Eddie Irvine	British	Ferrari	3
5	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	Williams	2
6	Johnny Herbert	British	Sauber	1
–	Alexander Wurz	Austrian	Benetton	0
–	Damon Hill	British	Jordan	0
–	Olivier Panis	French	Prost	0
–	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Benetton	0
–	Jean Alesi	French	Sauber	0
–	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Prost	0
–	Ricardo Rosset	Brazilian	Tyrrell	0
–	Mika Salo	Finnish	Arrows	0
–	Esteban Tuero	Argentine	Minardi	0
–	Shinji Nakano	Japanese	Minardi	0
–	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	0
–	Pedro Diniz	Brazilian	Arrows	0
–	Ralf Schumacher	German	Jordan	0
–	Jan Magnussen	Danish	Stewart	0
–	Toranosuke Takagi	Japanese	Tyrrell	0
–	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Stewart	0

1998 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	McLaren	16
2	Williams	6
3	Ferrari	3
4	Sauber	1
–	Benetton	0
–	Jordan	0
–	Prost	0
–	Tyrrell	0
–	Arrows	0
–	Minardi	0
–	Stewart	0

1998 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	1998 Australian Grand Prix	Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne	8 March
2	1998 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	29 March
3	1998 Argentine Grand Prix	Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires	12 April
4	1998 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	26 April
5	1998 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	10 May
6	1998 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	24 May
7	1998 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	7 June
8	1998 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	28 June
9	1998 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	12 July
10	1998 Austrian Grand Prix	A1-Ring, Spielberg	26 July
11	1998 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	2 August
12	1998 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	16 August
13	1998 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	30 August
14	1998 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	13 September
15	1998 Luxembourg Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	27 September
16	1998 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	1 November