1999 Canadian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Mika Häkkinen won a chaotic Canadian Grand Prix after Michael Schumacher crashed out of the lead at Circuit Gilles-Jacques Villeneuve. Giancarlo Fisichella finished second and Eddie Irvine recovered to third as repeated accidents made the final chicane’s wall infamous.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Pole time	1:19.298
Fastest lap	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari
Fastest-lap time	1:20.382 on lap 62
First	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren
Second	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton
Third	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
11 June 1999	Practice 1	11:00
11 June 1999	Practice 2	13:00
12 June 1999	Practice 3	09:00
12 June 1999	Practice 4	10:15
12 June 1999	Qualifying	13:00
13 June 1999	Warm-up	08:30
13 June 1999	Race	13:00

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

Championship background

Michael Schumacher arrived at round 6 leading the 1999 F1 World Championship on 30 points, with Mika Häkkinen on 24. Ferrari headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 51 points.

Race entries

Ricardo Zonta returned to BAR after recovering from the injuries sustained in Brazil, rejoining Jacques Villeneuve for the team’s first Canadian Grand Prix. The other ten teams retained their regular pairings.

Free Practice

Ferrari led opening practice while testing new brake ducts and practising pit stops at the demanding Montréal circuit. Häkkinen spun into the gravel late in the session. Pedro Diniz crashed heavily under braking, while hydraulic and gearbox problems restricted both Williams drivers’ running.

Eddie Irvine remained fastest in the afternoon, with David Coulthard second. Häkkinen struggled to find a balance and then encountered gearbox trouble; Pedro Diniz could not run because his morning accident had damaged the chassis. Ricardo Zonta impressed on his return, while Benetton modified both cars after a rear-suspension failure earlier in the day.

Friday Practice Classification — Combined

1999 Canadian Grand Prix opening-day practice, 11 June 1999

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	1:20.576	35
2	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.088s	36
3	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.700s	35
4	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+0.934s	37
5	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+1.148s	27
6	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	+1.234s	31
7	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+1.374s	19
8	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	+1.426s	35
9	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.445s	40
10	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+1.591s	28
11	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+1.878s	41
12	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.930s	22
13	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+2.073s	31
14	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	+2.158s	36
15	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	+2.316s	18
16	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	+2.601s	40
17	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+3.202s	30
18	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	+3.248s	20
19	21	Marc Gene	Minardi	+3.250s	47
20	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	+3.420s	46
21	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	+3.555s	35
22	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	+3.886s	5

Heinz-Harald Frentzen set an early competitive time on Saturday before concentrating on race preparation, although an engine misfire interrupted his work. Gené lost much of the first session after spinning into the gravel. The changing track temperature complicated the balance for Damon Hill and the BAR drivers.

Michael Schumacher finished the morning fastest as Ferrari prepared its qualifying engines. McLaren‘s session included contact with the barriers, while Luca Badoer‘s engine failed and Jean Alesi reported gearbox trouble. Rubens Barrichello was pleased with the Stewart‘s handling but remained concerned about the brakes before the race.

Saturday Practice Classification — Combined

1999 Canadian Grand Prix Saturday practice, 12 June 1999

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:19.281	33
2	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	+0.262s	32
3	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.287s	27
4	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+0.350s	29
5	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	+0.659s	36
6	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+0.881s	33
7	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+0.980s	28
8	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+0.994s	35
9	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+1.115s	37
10	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+1.204s	25
11	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	+1.473s	35
12	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	+1.504s	40
13	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	+1.580s	30
14	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+1.638s	32
15	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+1.643s	33
16	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	+1.654s	28
17	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	+1.741s	34
18	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	+1.954s	22
19	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	+2.529s	29
20	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	+2.758s	31
21	21	Marc Gene	Minardi	+2.924s	24
22	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+3.449s	30

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

Qualifying

Michael Schumacher ended Häkkinen’s run of poles, securing his first of the season. Häkkinen joined him on the front row, ahead of Eddie Irvine and David Coulthard. Ferrari‘s strong practice form had carried through to the decisive session.

Rubens Barrichello qualified fifth ahead of Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Giancarlo Fisichella and Jean Alesi. Jarno Trulli and Johnny Herbert completed the top ten. Ricardo Zonta returned to qualifying after his injury layoff, while both Williams drivers and home favourite Jacques Villeneuve faced a race from further down the grid.

Qualifying Classification

1999 Canadian Grand Prix Qualifying, 12 June 1999

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	1:19.298	7
2	1	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	1:19.327	12
3	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	1:19.440	11
4	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:19.729	11
5	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	1:19.930	11
6	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	1:20.158	12
7	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	1:20.378	7
8	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	1:20.459	10
9	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	1:20.557	11
10	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	1:20.829	12
11	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	1:21.000	11
12	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	1:21.076	12
13	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	1:21.081	10
14	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	1:21.094	12
15	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	1:21.252	11
16	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	1:21.302	11
17	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	1:21.467	12
18	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	1:21.571	12
19	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	1:21.693	11
20	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	1:22.613	12
21	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	1:22.808	12
22	21	Marc Gené	Minardi	1:23.387	12

Sunday warm-up

David Coulthard topped warm-up, with the two Stewarts immediately behind him. Their pace offered Rubens Barrichello and Johnny Herbert encouragement before starting fifth and tenth respectively. Both Ferraris completed fourteen laps, while Giancarlo Fisichella managed nineteen as he prepared to recover from seventh on the grid.

Warm-up Classification

1999 Canadian Grand Prix Warm-up, 13 June 1999

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	1:20.614	15
2	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	+0.398s	15
3	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	+0.445s	13
4	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.630s	15
5	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	+0.916s	19
6	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	+0.920s	14
7	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	+0.946s	14
8	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	+1.095s	13
9	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	+1.231s	19
10	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	+1.336s	15
11	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	+1.370s	16
12	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	+1.413s	14
13	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	+1.542s	17
14	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	+1.614s	18
15	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	+1.709s	13
16	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	+1.855s	12
17	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	+1.858s	15
18	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	+1.921s	16
19	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+2.077s	16
20	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	+2.284s	12
21	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	+2.642s	9
22	21	Marc Gene	Minardi	+5.665s	5

What happened in the 1999 Canadian Grand Prix?

Schumacher led from the start, but contact involving Jarno Trulli, Jean Alesi and Rubens Barrichello brought out an early safety car. Further interruptions followed as Ricardo Zonta and later Jacques Villeneuve struck the final-chicane wall. Damon Hill also crashed there, before Schumacher made the same costly mistake while leading.

Häkkinen inherited first place, while David Coulthard and Eddie Irvine collided after a restart. Eddie Irvine recovered through the field, but David Coulthard also received a stop-go penalty for a pit-lane red-light infringement. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was heading for second when brake failure sent him into the barriers late in the race.

The race finished behind the safety car, with Häkkinen winning from Giancarlo Fisichella and Eddie Irvine. Ralf Schumacher, Johnny Herbert and Pedro Diniz took the remaining points. Häkkinen moved into the championship lead, while the accidents involving Schumacher, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve established the final chicane’s lasting association with the ‘Wall of Champions’.

After the race, Mika Häkkinen headed the drivers’ standings with 34 points, followed by Michael Schumacher on 30. Ferrari led the constructors’ table on 55, with McLaren on 46.

1999 Canadian Grand Prix race results

The 1999 Canadian Grand Prix was held on 13 June 1999, with a scheduled start of 13:00 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	1	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	69	1:41:35.727	10
2	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	69	+0.782	6
3	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	69	+1.797	4
4	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	69	+2.392	3
5	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	69	+2.805	2
6	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	69	+3.711	1
7	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	69	+5.004	0
8	21	Marc Gené	Minardi	68	+1 Lap	0
9	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	68	+1 Lap	0
10	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	67	+2 Laps	0
11	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	65	Brakes/accident	0
Ret	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	50	Brakes	0
Ret	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	41	Transmission	0
Ret	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	34	Accident	0
Ret	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	29	Accident	0
Ret	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	22	Transmission	0
Ret	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	14	Accident	0
Ret	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	14	Collision damage	0
Ret	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	2	Spun off	0
Ret	11	Jean Alesi	Sauber	0	Collision	0
Ret	19	Jarno Trulli	Prost	0	Collision	0
Ret	10	Alexander Wurz	Benetton	0	Transmission	0

1999 Canadian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time	Avg. Speed
1	4	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari	62	1:20.382	197.999
2	3	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	28	1:20.709	197.197
3	2	David Coulthard	McLaren	35	1:20.961	196.583
4	1	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	28	1:21.047	196.374
5	8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Jordan	65	1:21.284	195.802
6	9	Giancarlo Fisichella	Benetton	65	1:21.345	195.655
7	12	Pedro Diniz	Sauber	63	1:21.864	194.415
8	6	Ralf Schumacher	Williams	28	1:22.002	194.087
9	17	Johnny Herbert	Stewart	64	1:22.078	193.908
10	18	Olivier Panis	Prost	57	1:22.100	193.856
11	22	Jacques Villeneuve	BAR	29	1:22.283	193.425
12	15	Toranosuke Takagi	Arrows	26	1:22.792	192.235
13	21	Marc Gene	Minardi	60	1:22.888	192.013
14	14	Pedro de la Rosa	Arrows	19	1:23.280	191.109
15	20	Luca Badoer	Minardi	32	1:23.394	190.848
16	5	Alessandro Zanardi	Williams	27	1:23.442	190.738
17	16	Rubens Barrichello	Stewart	11	1:23.785	189.957
18	7	Damon Hill	Jordan	12	1:23.953	189.577
19	23	Ricardo Zonta	BAR	2	2:03.038	129.355

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 Canadian Grand Prix.

1999 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Mika Häkkinen	Finnish	McLaren	34
2	Michael Schumacher	German	Ferrari	30
3	Eddie Irvine	British	Ferrari	25
4	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Jordan	13
5	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian	Benetton	13
6	David Coulthard	British	McLaren	12
7	Ralf Schumacher	German	Williams	12
8	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Stewart	6
9	Damon Hill	British	Jordan	3
10	Johnny Herbert	British	Stewart	2
11	Alexander Wurz	Austrian	Benetton	1
12	Jarno Trulli	Italian	Prost	1
13	Olivier Panis	French	Prost	1
14	Pedro de la Rosa	Spanish	Arrows	1
15	Jean Alesi	French	Sauber	1
16	Pedro Diniz	Brazilian	Sauber	1
–	Toranosuke Takagi	Japanese	Arrows	0
–	Mika Salo	Finnish	BAR	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	55
2	McLaren	46
3	Jordan	16
4	Benetton	14
5	Williams	12
6	Stewart	8
7	Prost	2
8	Sauber	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