1998 Austrian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Mika Häkkinen restored McLaren‘s winning momentum at the Austrian Grand Prix at A1 Ring. David Coulthard recovered brilliantly to complete a one-two, while Michael Schumacher fought back from a damaging trip through the gravel to finish third.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton
Pole time	1:29.598
Fastest lap	David Coulthard	McLaren
Fastest-lap time	1:12.878 on lap 30
First	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren
Second	David Coulthard	McLaren
Third	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
24 July 1998	Practice 1	11:00
24 July 1998	Practice 2	13:00
25 July 1998	Practice 3	09:00
25 July 1998	Practice 4	10:15
25 July 1998	Qualifying	13:00
26 July 1998	Warm-up	09:30
26 July 1998	Race	14:00

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

Championship background

Mika Häkkinen arrived at round 10 leading the 1998 F1 World Championship on 56 points, with Michael Schumacher on 54. McLaren headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 86 points.

Race entries

There were no changes to the eleven teams’ driver line-ups. Alexander Wurz prepared for his first home Grand Prix, while Jacques Villeneuve arrived after confirming that he would leave Williams for the new British American Racing team the following season.

Free Practice

Overnight storms had washed rubber from the circuit, leaving little grip for opening practice. Giancarlo Fisichella displaced Schumacher near the end to set the fastest time. Jos Verstappen steadily improved as the session progressed, although Rubens Barrichello‘s late improvement again left the Brazilian ahead within Stewart.

David Coulthard edged Giancarlo Fisichella by just one thousandth of a second in the afternoon, with Benetton showing genuine pace on the dry track. Rubens Barrichello impressed in fifth. Williams had a more difficult day: Heinz-Harald Frentzen spun and finished seventeenth, while Jacques Villeneuve was thirteenth, leaving both drivers looking for a better balance.

Friday Practice Classification — Combined

1998 Austrian Grand Prix opening-day practice, 24 July 1998

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	7	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:13.703	36
2	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+0.001s	43
3	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.043s	30
4	15	Johnny Herbert	Sauber	+0.400s	45
5	18	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+0.599s	35
6	6	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+0.694s	34
7	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.708s	25
8	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+0.820s	31
9	9	Damon Hill	Jordan	+0.832s	46
10	14	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+0.924s	35
11	12	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+0.982s	44
12	11	Olivier Panis	Prost	+1.052s	50
13	1	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams	+1.117s	39
14	10	Ralf Schumacher	Jordan	+1.414s	28
15	21	Toranosuke Takagi	Tyrrell	+1.455s	48
16	19	Jos Verstappen	Stewart	+1.528s	35
17	2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams	+1.642s	25
18	17	Mika Salo	Arrows	+1.993s	31
19	22	Shinji Nakano	Minardi	+2.468s	43
20	16	Pedro Diniz	Arrows	+2.600s	35
21	23	Esteban Tuero	Minardi	+2.879s	28
22	20	Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell	+4.766s	36

Under overcast skies, Häkkinen headed Saturday’s first session and McLaren moved decisively clear of Ferrari. The dry running allowed teams to continue developing the setups tried on Friday, including Ferrari‘s revised aerodynamic and cooling arrangements. Eddie Irvine finished this session just ahead of Schumacher as the team sought to close the gap.

David Coulthard improved in final practice to beat Häkkinen, while Heinz-Harald Frentzen climbed to fourth behind Eddie Irvine. Jos Verstappen could not better his earlier time, in contrast to Rubens Barrichello‘s improvement. The dry-weather picture would soon become far less useful for qualifying, however, as heavy rain arrived before the afternoon session.

Saturday Practice Classification — Combined

1998 Austrian Grand Prix Saturday practice, 25 July 1998

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	7	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:11.655	37
2	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.164s	36
3	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+0.914s	40
4	2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams	+1.018s	33
5	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.035s	32
6	14	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+1.134s	37
7	9	Damon Hill	Jordan	+1.355s	35
8	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+1.419s	37
9	10	Ralf Schumacher	Jordan	+1.604s	41
10	1	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams	+1.699s	35
11	12	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+1.741s	33
12	15	Johnny Herbert	Sauber	+1.766s	35
13	6	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+2.016s	27
14	21	Toranosuke Takagi	Tyrrell	+2.075s	21
15	17	Mika Salo	Arrows	+2.147s	34
16	18	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+2.232s	22
17	11	Olivier Panis	Prost	+2.311s	33
18	16	Pedro Diniz	Arrows	+2.344s	34
19	19	Jos Verstappen	Stewart	+2.415s	29
20	20	Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell	+2.696s	36
21	23	Esteban Tuero	Minardi	+3.083s	39
22	22	Shinji Nakano	Minardi	+3.251s	34

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

Qualifying

A soaking circuit produced a very different grid. Damon Hill was among the first to venture out, and Schumacher later appeared well placed for pole. As the rain eased and the surface improved, the timing of the final runs became decisive.

Giancarlo Fisichella crossed the line late enough to snatch his first pole, ahead of Jean Alesi. Häkkinen recovered third and Schumacher slipped to fourth, with Rubens Barrichello and Mika Salo completing an unusual top six. David Coulthard was caught out and qualified fourteenth; Alexander Wurz could manage only seventeenth at his home race.

Qualifying Classification

1998 Austrian Grand Prix Qualifying, 25 July 1998

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	1:29.598	12
2	14	Jean Alesi	Sauber	1:30.317	12
3	8	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	1:30.517	12
4	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:30.551	10
5	18	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	1:31.005	12
6	17	Mika Salo	Arrows	1:31.028	11
7	2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams	1:31.515	11
8	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	1:31.651	9
9	10	Ralf Schumacher	Jordan	1:31.917	12
10	11	Olivier Panis	Prost	1:32.081	12
11	1	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams	1:32.083	11
12	19	Jos Verstappen	Stewart	1:32.099	12
13	16	Pedro Diniz	Arrows	1:32.206	12
14	7	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:32.399	12
15	9	Damon Hill	Jordan	1:32.718	11
16	12	Jarno Trulli	Prost	1:32.906	12
17	6	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	1:33.185	10
18	15	Johnny Herbert	Sauber	1:33.205	10
19	23	Esteban Tuero	Minardi	1:33.399	12
20	21	Toranosuke Takagi	Tyrrell	1:34.090	12
21	22	Shinji Nakano	Minardi	1:34.536	9
22	20	Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell	1:34.910	11

Sunday warm-up

Sunshine returned for warm-up and the teams reduced downforce for dry conditions. Häkkinen led David Coulthard, but pole-sitter Giancarlo Fisichella went into the gravel and both Williams drivers suffered electronic problems. Toranosuke Takagi‘s sixth place offered Tyrrell some encouragement before the race.

Warm-up Classification

1998 Austrian Grand Prix Warm-up, 26 July 1998

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	1:13.301	16
2	7	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.301s	15
3	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+1.006s	17
4	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+1.049s	16
5	14	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+1.173s	17
6	21	Toranosuke Takagi	Tyrrell	+1.179s	16
7	18	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+1.580s	17
8	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+1.640s	14
9	6	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+1.641s	18
10	10	Ralf Schumacher	Jordan	+1.785s	13
11	12	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+1.796s	17
12	9	Damon Hill	Jordan	+1.861s	10
13	15	Johnny Herbert	Sauber	+2.067s	15
14	2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams	+2.075s	9
15	17	Mika Salo	Arrows	+2.273s	16
16	16	Pedro Diniz	Arrows	+2.337s	14
17	19	Jos Verstappen	Stewart	+2.401s	18
18	23	Esteban Tuero	Minardi	+2.487s	17
19	11	Olivier Panis	Prost	+2.705s	19
20	22	Shinji Nakano	Minardi	+2.841s	20
21	1	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams	+2.858s	12
22	20	Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell	+3.008s	13

What happened in the 1998 Austrian Grand Prix?

Häkkinen surged into the lead at the start. Behind him, separate incidents left Toranosuke Takagi stranded and damaged David Coulthard‘s front wing. A safety-car period allowed David Coulthard to make repairs and rejoin the back of the pack without losing a lap.

Schumacher challenged Häkkinen but ran wide, then suffered a more costly excursion that tore off his front wing. While he recovered, Giancarlo Fisichella and Jean Alesi collided after the Benetton‘s pit stop, ending both front-row starters’ races. David Coulthard charged through the field and moved into second.

Häkkinen won ahead of his team-mate. Schumacher passed Ralf and then Eddie Irvine to claim third; Ferrari reported brake difficulties as Eddie Irvine‘s pace dropped late on. Eddie Irvine finished fourth, Ralf fifth and Jacques Villeneuve sixth, giving McLaren a timely response to Ferrari‘s three consecutive victories.

After the race, Mika Häkkinen headed the drivers’ standings with 66 points, followed by Michael Schumacher on 58. McLaren led the constructors’ table on 102, with Ferrari on 90.

1998 Austrian Grand Prix race results

The 1998 Austrian Grand Prix was held on 26 July 1998, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	8	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	71	1:30:44.086	10
2	7	David Coulthard	McLaren	71	+5.289	6
3	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	71	+39.092	4
4	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	71	+43.976	3
5	10	Ralf Schumacher	Jordan	71	+50.654	2
6	1	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams	71	+53.202	1
7	9	Damon Hill	Jordan	71	+1:13.624	0
8	15	Johnny Herbert	Sauber	70	+1 lap	0
9	6	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	70	+1 lap	0
10	12	Jarno Trulli	Prost	70	+1 lap	0
11	22	Shinji Nakano	Minardi	70	+1 lap	0
12	20	Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell	69	+2 laps	0
Ret	19	Jos Verstappen	Stewart	51	Engine	0
Ret	23	Esteban Tuero	Minardi	30	Spun off	0
Ret	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	21	Collision	0
Ret	14	Jean Alesi	Sauber	21	Collision	0
Ret	2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams	16	Engine	0
Ret	18	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	8	Brakes	0
Ret	16	Pedro Diniz	Arrows	3	Collision	0
Ret	17	Mika Salo	Arrows	1	Collision	0
Ret	11	Olivier Panis	Prost	0	Clutch	0
Ret	21	Toranosuke Takagi	Tyrrell	0	Collision	0

1998 Austrian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	7	David Coulthard	McLaren	30	1:12.878	213.348
2	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	41	1:13.029	212.907
3	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	31	1:13.412	211.796
4	1	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams	66	1:13.730	210.882
5	10	Ralf Schumacher	Jordan	69	1:13.972	210.193
6	6	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	70	1:14.040	210.000
7	5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	20	1:14.044	209.988
8	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	58	1:14.066	209.926
9	9	Damon Hill	Jordan	63	1:14.135	209.730
10	15	Johnny Herbert	Sauber	63	1:14.639	208.314
11	14	Jean Alesi	Sauber	21	1:14.791	207.891
12	2	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Williams	16	1:15.446	206.086
13	22	Shinji Nakano	Minardi	37	1:15.575	205.734
14	19	Jos Verstappen	Stewart	43	1:15.610	205.639
15	12	Jarno Trulli	Prost	59	1:15.709	205.370
16	23	Esteban Tuero	Minardi	19	1:15.769	205.207
17	20	Ricardo Rosset	Tyrrell	28	1:16.100	204.315
18	18	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	5	1:16.822	202.395
19	16	Pedro Diniz	Arrows	2	2:02.090	127.351

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 Austrian Grand Prix.

1998 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Mika Häkkinen	Finnish	McLaren	66
2	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	58
3	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	36
4	Eddie Irvine	British	Ferrari	32
5	Alexander Wurz	Austrian	Benetton	17
6	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Benetton	15
7	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	Williams	12
8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Williams	8
9	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Stewart	4
10	Mika Salo	Finnish	Arrows	3
11	Jean Alesi	French	Sauber	3
12	Ralf Schumacher	German	Jordan	3
13	Johnny Herbert	British	Sauber	1
14	Pedro Diniz	Brazilian	Arrows	1
15	Jan Magnussen	Danish	Stewart	1
–	Damon Hill	British	Jordan	0
–	Shinji Nakano	Japanese	Minardi	0
–	Ricardo Rosset	Brazilian	Tyrrell	0
–	Esteban Tuero	Argentine	Minardi	0
–	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Prost	0
–	Olivier Panis	French	Prost	0
–	Toranosuke Takagi	Japanese	Tyrrell	0
–	Jos Verstappen	Dutch	Stewart	0

1998 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	McLaren	102
2	Ferrari	90
3	Benetton	32
4	Williams	20
5	Stewart	5
6	Arrows	4
7	Sauber	4
8	Jordan	3
–	Minardi	0
–	Tyrrell	0
–	Prost	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