1999 Austrian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Eddie Irvine won a tense Austrian Grand Prix at the A1-Ring after a first-lap collision between the McLarens opened the door for Ferrari. David Coulthard finished second, while Mika Häkkinen recovered from the back of the field to complete the podium.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren
Pole time	1:10.954
Fastest lap	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren
Fastest-lap time	1:12.107 on lap 39
First	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari
Second	David Coulthard	McLaren
Third	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
23 July 1999	Practice 1	11:00
23 July 1999	Practice 2	13:00
24 July 1999	Practice 3	09:00
24 July 1999	Practice 4	10:15
24 July 1999	Qualifying	13:00
25 July 1999	Warm-up	09:30
25 July 1999	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 9 leading the 1999 F1 World Championship on 40 points, with Michael Schumacher on 32. Ferrari headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 64 points.

Race entries

Mika Salo took over Michael Schumacher‘s Ferrari while the German recovered from his broken leg. Having already deputised for Ricardo Zonta at BAR earlier in the year, Mika Salo now joined Eddie Irvine at a crucial stage of Ferrari‘s championship campaign.

Free Practice

David Coulthard led opening practice as grip improved following rain before the weekend. Eddie Irvine survived a spin to finish second, while Mika Salo began learning the Ferrari with twenty-three laps. Ralf Schumacher struggled with front-tyre graining, and an engine problem interrupted Pedro de la Rosa‘s running. Jean Alesi lost time to a troublesome wheel nut.

Damon Hill put Jordan on top in the afternoon despite several excursions. Mika Salo‘s setup changes proved less successful: a spin into the gravel curtailed his work, although he also practised pit stops with his new team. Heinz-Harald Frentzen stopped with gearbox trouble, while an engine failure sent Toranosuke Takagi spinning on oil and Alexander Wurz damaged his Benetton‘s nose in another off.

Friday Practice Classification — Combined

1999 Austrian Grand Prix opening-day practice, 23 July 1999

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	1:13.303	49
2	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.022s	34
3	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.073s	37
4	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	+0.382s	43
5	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+0.393s	36
6	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.408s	39
7	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	+0.437s	46
8	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+0.537s	43
9	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+0.580s	41
10	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+0.620s	35
11	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	+0.705s	47
12	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	+0.746s	53
13	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+0.900s	44
14	21	Marc Gene	Minardi	+1.030s	45
15	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	+1.255s	27
16	3	Mika Salo	Ferrari	+1.305s	32
17	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+1.421s	50
18	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+1.482s	35
19	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	+1.725s	36
20	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+1.804s	32
21	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	+2.348s	26
22	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	+2.764s	19

Ferrari devoted the first Saturday session to its race preparation, with Mika Salo rebuilding confidence after his Friday excursion. Johnny Herbert showed useful early speed after overnight changes to the Stewart. The team was evaluating its latest Ford engine as well as refining the car’s balance ahead of qualifying.

David Coulthard finished Saturday practice fastest, with Eddie Irvine close behind as the leading teams moved towards qualifying runs. Giancarlo Fisichella spun repeatedly while trying a lower-downforce setup, and Alexander Wurz struggled with understeer. Further down the field, Luca Badoer‘s fire extinguisher discharged inside his Minardi, while Toranosuke Takagi lost running after a front-wing and brake-line problem.

Saturday Practice Classification — Combined

1999 Austrian Grand Prix Saturday practice, 24 July 1999

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:11.801	39
2	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.053s	32
3	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+0.125s	43
4	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	+0.338s	36
5	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+0.878s	44
6	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	+0.892s	44
7	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+0.944s	30
8	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.000s	36
9	3	Mika Salo	Ferrari	+1.031s	41
10	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+1.127s	40
11	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.145s	33
12	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+1.165s	34
13	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+1.264s	44
14	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	+1.461s	40
15	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	+1.469s	38
16	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	+1.515s	31
17	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	+1.525s	40
18	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	+1.549s	43
19	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+1.752s	23
20	21	Marc Gene	Minardi	+2.050s	40
21	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	+2.140s	27
22	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	+2.290s	29

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

Qualifying

Häkkinen recovered from an engine failure on his first run to take pole in the spare McLaren, recording a 1:10.954. David Coulthard secured second to complete a McLaren front row, with Eddie Irvine and Heinz-Harald Frentzen next. The champion’s afternoon had begun badly but ended with the best possible starting position.

Rubens Barrichello and Johnny Herbert filled the third row for Stewart. Mika Salo qualified seventh on his Ferrari debut, ahead of Ralf Schumacher. Eddie Irvine would have to find a way past both McLarens if he was to take another significant step towards the championship lead.

Qualifying Classification

1999 Austrian Grand Prix Qualifying, 24 July 1999

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	1	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	1:10.954	10
2	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:11.153	12
3	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	1:11.973	12
4	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	1:12.266	12
5	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	1:12.342	12
6	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	1:12.488	12
7	3	Mika Salo	Ferrari	1:12.514	12
8	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:12.515	10
9	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:12.833	11
10	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	1:12.850	12
11	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	1:12.901	11
12	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	1:12.924	11
13	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	1:12.999	11
14	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	1:13.101	12
15	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	1:13.172	12
16	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	1:13.223	12
17	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	1:13.226	11
18	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	1:13.457	12
19	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	1:13.606	12
20	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	1:13.641	12
21	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	1:14.139	11
22	21	Marc Gené	Minardi	1:14.363	10

Sunday warm-up

Häkkinen led the Sunday warm-up ahead of David Coulthard. Jacques Villeneuve‘s third place and the two Saubers immediately behind him provided encouragement away from the championship battle. Mika Salo completed sixteen laps in his final running before his first Ferrari start, with Eddie Irvine seventh and the Finn fifteenth.

Warm-up Classification

1999 Austrian Grand Prix Warm-up, 25 July 1999

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	1:13.264	14
2	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.339s	16
3	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+0.381s	16
4	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	+0.532s	18
5	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+0.815s	18
6	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	+0.855s	16
7	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+0.972s	11
8	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	+1.002s	20
9	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+1.131s	19
10	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+1.168s	18
11	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+1.294s	19
12	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+1.321s	16
13	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	+1.349s	19
14	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	+1.360s	13
15	3	Mika Salo	Ferrari	+1.437s	16
16	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	+1.571s	15
17	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	+1.586s	17
18	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+1.652s	18
19	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.873s	15
20	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	+2.126s	14
21	21	Marc Gene	Minardi	+2.341s	15
22	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	+2.475s	17

What happened in the 1999 Austrian Grand Prix?

McLaren‘s front-row advantage unravelled almost immediately. David Coulthard made contact with Häkkinen on the opening lap, spinning the championship leader to the back. David Coulthard continued in front, but Eddie Irvine stayed close enough to turn the pit-stop sequence into a fight for victory.

Ferrari kept Eddie Irvine out longer, and his pace before stopping helped him emerge ahead of David Coulthard. The McLaren driver remained a threat, but Eddie Irvine held him off to secure his second win of the season. Behind them, Häkkinen worked his way through the field and salvaged third after his early setback.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen finished fourth, with Alexander Wurz taking fifth at his home race and Pedro Diniz collecting the final point. Eddie Irvine‘s victory reduced Häkkinen’s championship advantage to just two points, giving Ferrari an immediate success in its first race without Michael Schumacher.

After the race, Mika Häkkinen headed the drivers’ standings with 44 points, followed by Eddie Irvine on 42. Ferrari led the constructors’ table on 74, with McLaren on 72.

1999 Austrian Grand Prix race results

The 1999 Austrian Grand Prix was held on 25 July 1999, with a scheduled start of 14:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	71	1:28:12.438	10
2	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	71	+0.313	6
3	1	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	71	+22.282	4
4	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	71	+52.803	3
5	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	71	+1:06.358	2
6	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	71	+1:10.933	1
7	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	70	+1 Lap	0
8	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	70	+1 Lap	0
9	3	Mika Salo	Ferrari	70	+1 Lap	0
10	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	70	+1 Lap	0
11	21	Marc Gené	Minardi	70	+1 Lap	0
12	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	68	Engine	0
13	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	68	+3 Laps	0
14	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	67	+4 Laps	0
15	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	63	Clutch	0
Ret	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	55	Engine	0
Ret	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	49	Out of fuel	0
Ret	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	38	Spun off	0
Ret	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	35	Out of fuel	0
Ret	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	34	Halfshaft	0
Ret	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	25	Engine	0
Ret	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	8	Spun off	0

1999 Austrian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	39	1:12.107	215.629
2	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	67	1:12.641	214.044
3	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	43	1:12.787	213.615
4	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	69	1:12.855	213.415
5	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	49	1:13.093	212.720
6	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	42	1:13.176	212.479
7	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	47	1:13.228	212.328
8	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	36	1:13.278	212.183
9	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	67	1:13.465	211.643
10	3	Mika Salo	Ferrari	67	1:13.481	211.597
11	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	41	1:13.579	211.315
12	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	42	1:13.654	211.100
13	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	63	1:13.960	210.227
14	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	33	1:13.977	210.178
15	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	36	1:14.063	209.934
16	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	37	1:14.112	209.795
17	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	31	1:14.381	209.037
18	21	Marc Gene	Minardi	34	1:14.517	208.655
19	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	63	1:14.622	208.362
20	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	29	1:14.914	207.549
21	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	25	1:15.361	206.318
22	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	8	1:16.173	204.119

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

1999 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 1999 Austrian Grand Prix.

1999 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Mika Häkkinen	Finnish	McLaren	44
2	Eddie Irvine	British	Ferrari	42
3	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	32
4	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Jordan	29
5	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	28
6	Ralf Schumacher	German	Williams	19
7	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Benetton	13
8	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Stewart	10
9	Damon Hill	British	Jordan	5
10	Alexander Wurz	Austrian	Benetton	3
11	Pedro Diniz	Brazilian	Sauber	3
12	Johnny Herbert	British	Stewart	2
13	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Prost	1
14	Olivier Panis	French	Prost	1
15	Pedro de la Rosa	Spanish	Arrows	1
16	Jean Alesi	French	Sauber	1
–	Mika Salo	Finnish	BAR / Ferrari	0
–	Toranosuke Takagi	Japanese	Arrows	0
–	Marc Gené	Spanish	Minardi	0
–	Luca Badoer	Italian	Minardi	0
–	Alessandro Zanardi	Italian	Williams	0
–	Ricardo Zonta	Brazilian	BAR	0
–	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	BAR	0
–	Stéphane Sarrazin	French	Minardi	0

1999 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Ferrari	74
2	McLaren	72
3	Jordan	34
4	Williams	19
5	Benetton	16
6	Stewart	12
7	Sauber	4
8	Prost	2
9	Arrows	1
–	BAR	0
–	Minardi	0

1999 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	1999 Australian Grand Prix	Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne	7 March
2	1999 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	11 April
3	1999 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	2 May
4	1999 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	16 May
5	1999 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	30 May
6	1999 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	13 June
7	1999 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	27 June
8	1999 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	11 July
9	1999 Austrian Grand Prix	A1-Ring, Spielberg	25 July
10	1999 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	1 August
11	1999 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	15 August
12	1999 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	29 August
13	1999 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	12 September
14	1999 European Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	26 September
15	1999 Malaysian Grand Prix	Sepang International Circuit, Sepang	17 October
16	1999 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	31 October