The 1999 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 53rd season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1999 Formula One World Championship for Drivers and the 1999 Formula One World Championship for Constructors, which were contested concurrently over a sixteen-race series that commenced on 7 March and ended on 31 October.
Defending champion Mika Häkkinen was again awarded the World Drivers’ Championship. His team McLaren just missed out: it was Ferrari that clinched the World Constructors’ Championship by a margin of four points.[2] It would be the last Drivers’ title for a McLaren driver until 2008. It was Ferrari’s first Constructors’ title since 1983, but would also mark the first of six successive titles up to 2004.
[Music] I couldn’t afford to sit behind them operator there are some Italian friends they are quite good in comp know Michael’s a very aggressive driver we want to win the championship I mean that’s our ambition 10 5 [Music] [Music] 4 follow one [Music] L I don’t care [Music] [Music] care [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] I want to to be world champion together with Ferrari [Music] [Applause] [Music] the new world champion MAA hackin the 98 season’s over but there’s no break for the teams as they begin offseason testing with Bridgestone the sold Tire supplier the test allowed Michael schumacker to get to grips with the new rubber the first impression was actually quite positive because when I remember first time going to groove tires it was a big disappointment for me and uh very difficult to handle very slippery and very slow lap times today with with the tires we we have the difference was not so big not compared to what we expected we feeling fairly comfortable we have to see how we can develop from there the test also gave Schumaker the opportunity to build working relationships with his new partners which will be instrumental in any future success hinal fren now with Jordan and Ralph Schumaker driving the Williams have swapped seats for 1999 and used the test as an opportunity to familiarize themselves with their new teams mikah hakan was busy performing his world championship duties visiting woking the home of McLaren it’s a very unusual occasion when the people people can go so close to Grand Prix car and look at the car when it goes and accelerates it’s just unbelievable as December descends teams head for Barcelona where Winter testing begins in Earnest and Alexandro zady makes his return to the series it’s still a new new toy for me and uh I still to practice a little more in order to be more familiar with a car but I’m sure they’ll come the double World Cup champion has signed up with Williams while Johnny Herbert leaves cber for Stuart Ford in an attempt to revitalize his career Olivier panis stays with Prost and has had the pins removed from his legs which have been there since his accident in 97 for me this season is very important season because now I completely new legs and new car no maybe it’s quite good the Frenchman’s looking forward to the year ahead after a disappointing season in ’98 another driver who’d rather forget last year is Jack VV the ex- world champion assigned for the allnew British American Racing team which despite this setback had a successful initial test as 1998 draws to a close Monte Carlo plays host to the FIA Awards Mika hakin it’s a chance for the new world champion to enjoy his well-earned success and for Ron Dennis to celebrate his team’s return to the top as we enjoy the Christmas Vacation the work continues into the night at the teen factories the winter months being as busy as the Summer with the race on to get the new car ready I think the trle needs to go away from me otherwise the pedal position seems quite good technical tuning is important but so is driver training I start training at 9:00 in the morning on my bike and um come back have some late lunch relax a little bit in the afternoon with my girlfriend or on the beach CU it is quite warm down in Monaco so that’s nice do some rock climbing or just something fun like that and then go to the gym at 5:00 in the evening and then work up an appetite for a nice dinner just very straightforward simple life the post Christmas period sees the start of the launch season British American Racing were first and face a TP test in their inaugural year it’s a great challenge but it’s very exciting because it’s all built from scratch and uh we’re free we’re free to go uh anywhere we want to and uh and to build on it so so that’s very very exciting how does Ricardo Zant to feel about driving with the 97 Champion he’s a world champion he is very experienc drive and I can learn a lot with him Stuart Ford launched their new car at the Auto Sport show in January with drivers Johnny Herbert and Ruben barello we’ve done it wrong but we have money we have the uh Engineers we have the talents we have everything the organization so we must do right in 99 Ford have built a lighter engine for the forthcoming season this year we go into the season knowing that we’re very very good and I think that can only help us and it will certainly help Stuart Grand PRI and the Stuart full package as a whole a Ferrari engine Powers Peter saber’s new car with Jean Ai and Pedro Denis at the wheel I think the team is very professional and works pretty well so I was very impressing over the first test and apparently this car with this engine is a big step forward and I think this is my best chance in Formula 1 will this be the car to Kickstart Pedro’s career and rekindle Je an upbeat launch for Benetton Who start the year with a new chief executive as well as a totally new car I have a huge passion for Formula 1 I think everybody brings a little bit of his own person you know so David Rich has brought himself I would bring myself I feel very confident the car on the Wind Tunnel show us a good performance if the car is good hope to win some races it’s my dream it’s my target but we’ll see Jano viy Kella and Alexander verts remain at Benetton meanwhile arrows have yet to decide on their driver lineup Pedro dear Roa is in the frame the 29-year-old Spaniard has won the Formula nipon championship before becoming Jordan’s test driver last year mikalo is also a candidate for the drive although it’s thought that exteral pilot Tor Takagi is more likely to fill the seat Williams have a radical new design for 99 powered by the super tech Ralph Schumaker hopes it’ll Vanquish memories of last year the Jordan was um a car which was until the LI until the limit was easy to drive but if you then lost it it was difficult to get back whether the Williams if it steps out is always nice and controllable Ralph is one of formula 1’s brightest stars Alex zard on the other hand has been out of the series for a long time how will he C you know it’s actually not so difficult to win a race all you have to do is your best and if you’re good enough your best is going to be good enough to producing a winning effort I did it in the past few times Williams did it many many times so on paper there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to do it again while many teams were concentrating on the serious business of testing Ferrari found time to relax at the Italian ski resort of Madonna de cilo Michael Schumaker Eddie Irvine and test driver Luca bad couldn’t resist the chance to race and as usual Michael showed off his Mastery of slippery conditions with just a few weeks before the first race Ferrari unveiled their new car Eddie Irvine raced well last year but can he improveed this season it’s going to be difficult to get more podiums cuz I had eight last year which was half the races um I also had Austria if you count down which was nine so to get more would not be that easy I just have to to improve the the positions you know firsts and seconds as opposed to seconds and thirds a good year in Prospect for Irvine but what are the chances of Michael Schumacher winning his third Championship it’s not about the Third World Championship it’s more about being in Ferrari and doing it together with Ferrari that means a lot they haven’t done it for 20 years we have been twice very close and there’s uh a lot of reasons where it would make it a very special Championship Jordan launched its new car at the Palladium in London’s West End last season with the team’s most successful and with two race winning drivers on board Eddie Jordan’s team has a bright future I think it’s going to be an interesting season for us I think that uh we want to we want to LEAP uh forward from where we ended up last year and and keep keep that ball rolling and keep progressing up towards the front of the grid whether we can win the championship or not I don’t know but we may have an opportunity Hill is joined at Jordan by Hans Harold fren I tried to sign him about three times uh in various different years preceding this year and when he became available I absolutely jumped on it Jordan has received an extra boost in the in the form of a more powerful engine by mugan The Prost launch took place at the team’s new Factory near Paris the team has raised its game this year with the apo2 a fundamentally different car Olivier panis and Yano trul are joined by test driver Stefan Saran with time before Melbourne running out some teams take the opportunity to shake down their new cars iring out any potential problems while a couple of teams are still to launch theirs Minard are very optimistic about the m199 and the team of signed Spanish hopeful Mark Jan I’m happy because I’ve been fighting for many years to to get here to get in Formula 1 and to achieve it it’s quite nice world champion mik hackin and teammate David Kart unveiled the allnew McLaren Mercedes this car does not carry with it the word evolutionary this is a car that represents the biggest single step that we felt we could take and has the smallest number of carryover components that we’ve ever had in the history of McLaren Kart support was instrumental in hacken and success once it became clear it was going to be a battle with Ferrari then if IID continued to race individually then mik wouldn’t have won the championship Michael would have won the championship I understood the request from the team to support their Constructor Championship and to support M because he was higher in the championship that’s happened before it will happen again but next time hopefully it’ll be with me in the front M will be hard to beat having lost none of his speed all confidence but it’s nice to wake up in the morning have a smile on her face and say I’m world champion know with a new season Drawing Near last minute problems can cause headaches it was just the the alternator was just a small problem and you know we take it very carefully in these early stages and check and double check and but it’s it’s not a big deal the Champions are ready as the door closes on the offse Melbourne Australia and the 1999 Formula 1 season blasts off as usual the race is well supported the fans anticipating a spectacular display for the second year in succession it’s an all McLaren front row with mikah hackin and on pole and David kard beside him Michael Schumaker starts third countdown to the start but the Amber lights are flashing signaling an aborted start Herbert’s car is overheated and unbelievably so is Barry Kell’s a disastrous start to the season for Stewart the start of the second formation lap and coolart has problems but worse for Schumaker he’ll have to start at the back finally the race gets underway the McLaren are off the line well Hill has the momentum as he surges past Ralph Schumaker Michael Schumacher struggling but La stranded as the rest of the field charged down to turn one a fantastic start for vilner from 11 to 6 Sixth hackin and leads Kart second Irvine third fren fourth then Ralph Schumaker fizzy Keller and vilner Damon Hills in the thick of it a nudge there from truly and the englishman’s off Eddie Jordan One driver down the two McLaren still lead pulling away from Irvine in third as the field settle into the race action at the back with Schumaker trying to recover lost positions Takagi and B are in a fight of their own takagi’s through so is Michael but he’s a long way off the leaders who’ve distanced thems eles from the rest of the field there’s an off it’s Jack vmer in a spin the Canadians lost it in a big way and he’s lucky not to collect [Music] Denise lap 13 and dcas in the pits and out of the race stuck in sixth gear with a safety car deployed hackin and’s Advantage vanishes and as the field return to racing the Finn has to do it all again hackin appears to be in trouble he’s unable to accelerate and Irvine moves into the lead ma can do nothing to stop the field rushing past a double disaster for McLaren the new leader will have to watch his mirrors fren and Ralph Schumaker are close behind there’s contact trly trimming the Benetton of physic Keller lap 21 and Alex zard is on the rough staff trying desperately to hold it together but it’s all in vain the Williams is in the wall bringing out the safety car once again mahaken has made it back to the pit but he’s calling it a day a rough start to the season for Ron that shoat rubber flailing from his right rear tire and damage to his front Wing as he makes his way to the pits and there’s another driver in trouble it’s Alexander ver the beneton suspension is collapsed but that neat little recovery won’t help him and Roco Benetton knows it bad news for Stewart barell receives a stop go penalty first and second place drivers are in for their one and only stop this could give fren a chance to take the lead but it’s all down to the pit Crews the pressure is on the Ferrari mechanics are as slick as ever getting Irvine out in front with fren in Hot Pursuit Ruben’s bar Kell now moves up to fifth past delar Roa but it’s Eddie Irvine who comes round to complete his last lap and take his Maiden Formula 1 win Ferrari a jubilant at the alman’s Victory and celebrations to for Jordan and Williams with hin Harold fren finishing second and Ralph Schumaker third after 81 attempts Eddie Irvine intends to make the most of his first win in the world’s top racing [Music] series to do a Ferrari and after such a long time you know and all the people have helped me and uh from formula for all the way up there’s so many i’ be here for a few hours I needed a lot of help to get here believe me with the full backing of his team Irvine can relish the day as he takes the early lead in the driver’s [Applause] Championship physic Kella barell and arrows driver dear Rosa on his debut Grand Prix complete the the top six never underestimate them after qualifying third Michael Schumacher had problems in the race unable to select first gear it meant as in Suzuka last year that he’d be forced to start from the back of the grid when the race began he again experienced gear selection problems but eventually got going we had a few problems uh basically they were uh related to the steering wheel which we finally changed and after that all the problems were gone this stop was Michael’s third of the race and it dropped him to last where he remained until the end but being a lap down on his teammate didn’t deter the German who managed to set the fastest [Applause] lap M had a problem he went very slow and I knew the rule as long as I didn’t go ahead of him it wasn’t classes overtaking and he was going so slow and I did him and that was great thank you very much and off I went Irvine’s afternoon was in start contrast to schumacker he drove a Flawless race to take his first Victory wherever I my H there be a party mcclaren’s weekend was beset by problems which started during Friday’s practice session with this accident for hackin in the world champion went on to snatch Pole Position off his teammate in qualifying but the pit crew was suffering problems of their own come the race the speed the McLaren had demonstrated throughout practice and qualifying was evident but it wasn’t long before the rot set in we’ve had some sort of hydraulic problem which I’m not sure if it’s um gearbox or or one of the the other parts of the of the car but may just be an electronic failure with cool out hackin and still LED but when the race was restarted after V’s accident it soon became clear that the fin had not escaped the team’s Gremlins M attempted to continue but it was all in vain as far as we can tell so far we had a mechanical uh failure on the throttle linkage of M’s car we had the race well in control we driving well off the pace this disappointment is not going to put us down a little bit I tell you Barry call placed his steart fourth in qualifying I just praying that we finish the race really because we haven’t yet done a full race distance in the car Jackie’s prayers weren’t answered Johnny Herbert’s engine caught fire on the grid leading to confusion in the garage because of an incredible coincidence a second Johnny Rob this car’s gone as well Ruben’s bar Kell’s engine had suffered the same fate is there something wrong yeah it took fire but it’s but they took the car out of the brid okay no problem J it’s JY had exact the same thing so yeah but they took you can’t use car can I use T car T car your car’s burnt out the wiring L with both race cars out of action there was only the spare available which went to bar Kell leaving Herbert The Spectator the Brazilian was forced to start from the pit Lane but thereafter drove the race of his life and may have taken Victory but for further problems Craig Pollock and the bar team had a low-key start to the season Zant only managed 19th in qualifying while vilner couldn’t better 11 after great start vth ran as high as seventh but lap 14 was the Canadians last well it’s quite simple he lost his rear wing and lost traction and obviously had a crash no it wasn’t too bad because I didn’t go straight to towards the wall so I it was okay the car was running really really strong it could run a little bit quicker than Ral so it was looking good for for the second half of the race Zant climbed to fifth but retired when his gearbox overheated they called me to come in because they want to see the the wings just sto the fif gear my car it’s very hot the car was going very well and uh very fun you know to drive the car Damon Hills celebrated his 100th Grand Prix in Australia his first race was for braam in 92 before joining Williams in 93 The Following Season he missed winning the driver’s Title by one point but two years later the englishman’s dream was realized when he became world champion at the final race in Suzuka arrows in 97 led to a season of disappointment last year he took Jordan’s first Victory but this season started badly somebody got a weird inside my right rear and uh Tipp me up and spun me [Applause] [Music] around round two takes the championship to South America and the inter Lagos circuit in sa Paulo Brazil home of the late great Eton Center the Brazilian fans have a particular passion for motor racing Mika Hainan will start this race from pole with his teammate David kard alongside him for the second race in succession Ruben’s barello starts third on home soil only seconds to the start and the lights are out Schumaker has to take avoiding action moving up to third behind barello DC stranded on the grid while Mika Hainan leads the rest of the field into the center s hackin leads barello second then it’s schumacker Irvine fysic Kella and frenson three laps down and kard rejoins the race with Hill Chas inverts the Jordan driver nips up the inside and they’ve touched the Austrian takes to the grass Herbert retires the steuart’s Hydraulics letting him down causing concern for Jackie and rubben who still leads this race Michael schumacker is second with mikah Hainan behind him in third after his earlier problems that verts handling problems causing the Austrian bar Keller will come out behind the sterman as Paul Stewart talks tactics with Ferrari Ruben is quicker than Eddie but the Ferrari driver won’t make it easy a huge accident there for Stefan sarazar he’s okay but Bernard’s hopes of a top 10 finish look to be up in smoke Barry Keller has the speed and he’s is up the inside of Irvine and into third place lap 38 and schumaker’s in mikah haan’s back in the lead but will have to make up time before his stop mik is in and time is critical if he’s to come out in front of the Ferrari it’s a blistering stop and the fin gets on the power back on track and there’s the Ferrari Mika stays in front leaving Michael to play catch up Patrick head keeps an eye on Ralph schumacker in fourth Irvine also has his eye on the place but the race belongs to mikah Hainan who comes around and takes his first victory of the year Michael Schumaker registers his first finish of the season coming home [Applause] second fransen’s not crossed the line yet and he doesn’t look likely to make it the Germans run out of fuel on the final lap but luckily for Jordan he’s the only other driver on the same lap as the leaders and so keeps his position on the podium let’s say this could to go much quicker I mean I was really going for it I was really enjoying driving and I’m flat out but I mean just I got a lot of traffic and I lost a lot of time after Melbourne this was the result he [Applause] needed Ferrari are the first team in 99 to have two cars in the points Ral Schumaker and Olivier panes also score I love it David kard had problems at the start obviously bit surprised at the start when I uh saw the lights go out I must have been in the hollow in the engine because it just stopped immediately I didn’t even move but anyway we could use it for testing and went out again and then we uh had a gearbox problem so had no gears I’m incredibly disappointed youit two races and no points I was coming around the third corner selecting up the gears normally and going flat out everything looked cool suddenly no gear whatsoever obviously I thought the game is over and uh the team told me to continue and uh gears came back and I was able to continue gear selection problems weren’t mik’s only concern inter is strange because it’s all the corners really high speed Corners a left hand corners and I tell you my neck was snagged it was just finished I was not able to hold my neck up and I told it’s going to risk myself so I let it rest on the headrest hackin and won the race but Schumaker was only 5 seconds behind you didn’t need to win by that we just needed to win zady struggled in qualifying the diff was doing some very very funny things and they said uh okay let’s change car we can’t fix it so I went out in the other as I was getting things together people which were following me saw a little bit of fog the engine blow up I doubt that is something left valid to to analyze things didn’t get any better in the race I just uh just lost the death completely and uh the car was quite undrivable but the team asked me to stay out which I did all that slipping must had produced an incredible amount of eat in the in the area so when I came for the for the Stop and as I put first gear everything became really fragile and just went it was dis appointing for the reigning cart Champion I don’t think I’ve I I’ve ever had so many problems in my my [Music] career injured manadi driver Luca badaa was replaced in Brazil by proost test driver Stefan saraza the Frenchman’s Formula 1 debut was a baptism of fire when he lost control of the car exiting the last corner I don’t know my car did uh in straight line and I crash very hard [Applause] Ricardo zanto was lucky to escape Serious injury after this accident seen Ricardo in the medical center and he appears to be okay like a a broken metatarsal but apart from that he is okay we had a few other options if Mika couldn’t be available but he was actually uh already on a flight down to London before we called [Music] him the first European race of the Season takes place in the heart of motor racing country IMA is the venue for the San Marino Grand Prix the circuit is packed with enthusiastic Spectators the majority here supporting one team and one man Ferrari and Michael schumacker the double world champion lines up third but is close to the McLaren only 2/10 of a second shy of pole David Kart starts on the front row next to his teammate mik hackin who takes his third consecutive poll of the Year hopes run high as the feel prepar to leave the starting grid and they’re off a good start by the McLaren and Ralph schumacker flying too but another awful race for V Nerf and bar Hainan and Kart side by side on the approach to tamborello and MAA holds on to the lead that’s truly the pross driver out of his home Grand Prix behind the McLarens schumaker’s third Irvin’s fourth bar Kell’s Fifth and fren sixth there’s a spinner it’s Pedro dear Roa and Alexander vers both drivers are out back at the front Hainan with a light fuel load is steadily increasing his lead over DC fizzy Keller leads the battle for 13th and that’s panis losing the back of his Prost a neat little recovery but he’s down to 16th over 12 seconds in front now and hack’s lost it into the barrier absolutely incredible Ron Dennis can’t believe it an unforced era losing the fin an almost certain 10 points cool is the new race leader but he’s got competition in the form of Michael schumacker who’s only a few seconds behind and piling on the pressure in car and in the pits with the Ferrari Ace a crucial stop for the Italian team Jon La is off but keeps the Cyber going managing to get back on track race leader David kards in it looks like a one stopper for the Scotsman on a different strategy to [Music] Schumaker and there’s Michael now moving into the lead pushing DC down to second that’s Denis having problems handling his sober as Shoemaker carves his way through the traffic a Ferrari leads in Italy and the toosi go wild Michael Schumaker now with a substantial lead is flying and pits in for the second time only 22 laps remaining as the crew fit fresh Rubber and refuel 6 seconds dead a blinding stop for the Ferrari Ace and he exits the pits in front of cool thought and retains the lead a blow for the McLaren driver but a boost for Ferrari but it’s a little early for celebrations Irvine’s engine has blown his chances of a Podium finish not a good omen for the leader and that’s fren finish for the day two caught out on the sterman oil those retirements benefiting the Stewart team with bar Kell moving up to third place or be it a lap behind the leader the final corner and Michael Schumaker crosses the line to take his first win of the season with kard in second place a home win for the Italian team while Ruben barell makes it onto the podium this is Ferrari’s first win at imer since 1983 I’d say this weekend if it all it was a team Victory and we knew we were lacking performance the first two races but we knew as well the championship uh can’t go that way if we want to win it and uh so we had to turn it around and this weekend I guess to some extent we turned it around we did it with that Victory Michael Schumaker and Ferrari now lead both drivers and Constructors championships Damon Hills first finish of the Year also next the Englishman his first points for fourth physic Kel’s Fifth and LA’s sixth I feel a Need for [Music] [Applause] Speed fake I didn’t get this feeling since 97 where I could go out in qualifying and just push the car and just keep on pushing and pushing as the first time this season V n’s optimism was shortlived it ended on the grid well nothing happened uh it just wasn’t going anywhere there was no drive after the pre-season promise this was the first race the B looked competitive we’ve been quick but that’s what we were expecting uh since the beginning of the Season we just had it a little bit late and uh to finally be qualify Fifth and have good chances in the race uh it’s very frustrating to not even take the start we wanted to finish a race to see if the car could last so uh that’s not positive at all I don’t think anyone uh who watched the race can doubt that Nichol was dominating the race made a rare mistake that rare mistake happened on lap 17 when hackin had a considerable lead it was weird I mean it it happened very [Music] fast coming off the curb the retires dropped back in the T and he span a car around looks like it was my mistake I couldn’t handle it he wasn’t the only McLaren driver having problems I had the the performance to to win today lost a lot of time in the traffic and that was the difference between coming out behind Michael and front of kard believed that back markers wrapped up in their own battle cost him Victory there’s a rule that quite clearly states you move over within three Marshall’s posts of seeing a blue flag the Scotsman lost over 10 seconds you know how many laps did I spend stuck behind the the beniton and The Prost and when I did pass the Prost and got behind the benon I lost down force and ran wide and then the frost pass me again fizzy Kella and panis went unpunished you a lap down I think you have to accept uh you know maybe a loss of half a second or so to let the leaders through you know they may be leading a grumpy one day in the shoes on the other [Applause] [Music] foot The Glitz and glamour of Monte Carlo is the setting for the fourth round of the Formula 1 World Championship the infamous twisty circuit around the streets of Monaco and the party atmosphere attracts Stars and celebrities from around the world Melinda messenger Jeff Goldblum and Val Kilmer were all there joined by the local royalty Prince Albert of Monaco mikalo is again substituting for the injured zanta partnering Jac vilner at bar although most of the finished support is for Mika Hainan who starts on Poll for the second year in a row there’s no lack of support for Michael Schumaker either who lines up on the front row less than one/ tenth of a second slower David Kart starts third after problems in practice but the circuit’s characteristics will suit the Ferrari with Michael Schumaker at the wheel lights out and the race gets underway Hainan and Schumaker are side by side as they approach the first turn the Germans through and Eddie irvines passed kard for third a terrific start for the Ferrari drivers Schumaker is already beginning to pull out a gap to hacken in in second Irvine’s third Kart’s fourth Barry Kell’s Fifth and fren sixth down to the chicane and Hill Dives up the inside of Ralph Schumaker and they’ve collided Damon’s out on the spot but Ralph is able to continue it’s the englishman’s thirdd retirement of the [Music] Year hackin and’s beginning to drop back a little now Irvine in the second Ferrari is keeping the fin under pressure with DC still in touch schumak has now over 7 seconds in front of the battle for second Kat has a problem there’s smoke pouring from the back of the McLaren and the Scotsman could be in serious trouble there’s concern on the pit wall the problem sounds [Music] terminal Johnny Herbert’s race is over the steward driver’s fourth success of retirement David kards managed to limp back to the pit it’s the scotsman’s third retirement out of four leaving his championship aspirations in tatters that’s mikalo into the tire barrier out of the race mikah haan’s gone straight on heading down the hill to mirabo sliding on to gagi dropped oil he’s kept the engine alive but with shoe marker disappearing into the distance this little incident could cost the McLaren driver deer Eddie Irvine from 20 seconds behind is now right with the McLaren putting the fin under pressure and challenging for second place Hein Harold friend having another good race lying fifth behind Ruben’s bar Kell the Germans matching the Brazilians times lap for laap hackin in for his one and only stop of the race the McLaren mechanics do a good job but not good enough to stop Eddie Irvine moving up to second pushing Mier down to [Music] third an off with the old station hairpin it’s Ralph Schumaker into the barrier ending what has been an uncompetitive race for Williams the flags are out and Michael Schumaker has to take evasive action but nevertheless the Ferrari driver leads this race convincingly Ruben’s Bar’s in trouble that’s a heavy shunt into the tire wall the result of more suspension problems for the Stewart team a frustrating finish to the Brazilians race so close to the end and the end it is as Michael Schumaker crosses the line to notch up his fourth victory in Monaco and Ferrari’s first onew in the principality we have as well an intensive test program up to Barcelona and we expect some development to happen there we want to have a car which beats the others on all circuit and we in a good way good direction and if I remember back to Melbourne there were a lot of people not expecting what we doing right now uh maybe they don’t expect other things as well us yeah Michael Schumacher’s second win in a row has given the Ferrari team plenty to celebrate as they go to Spain hin Harold fransen records his third top six finish of the year with the two beneton drivers fizzy Keller and vers both in the [Music] [Applause] points after four races Michael Schumaker leads the driver’s title with 26 points oine second eight points to Drift But Four Points clear of hackin Ferrari lead the Constructor Championship with 44 points 24 more than McLaren in second Jordan light third some drive this some drive that that and I I drive the Ferrari Michael schumaker’s weekend did not start as well as it ended this incident on Saturday morning not only lost inv valuable track time but also put his race car out of action for qualifying at the moment it’s not possible to repair and Michael start with a ticker but as is typical of the man he was straight on the pace during the qualifying session the Ferrari particularly suited to this circuit and and he appeared to have Pole Position controversy lay ahead when hackin and snatched pole under yellow flags I lift my arm up to slow down a little bit I saw the situation 100% it was everything under control to be honest I would be surprised if it stays the order as it is now because yellow flx is yellow flx and uh we’ll see what happened later mik hackin and’s lap was allowed to stand and he kept full position but the Finn didn’t have it all his own way when Schumaker beat him off the line saw m having wheel spin initially and struggling a bit and naturally uh he tried to move over to to make it difficult to me but he was clever enough not to make it too close otherwise it would have crushed once ahead Michael schumacker was never passed leading convincingly to the end the Ferrari driver cruised to his 35th Victory Monaco is a very special place and uh it’s one of these Grand pris you want to win because it’s so unusual and so special and uh that’s great great achievement Stewart’s weekend was far from great as the same mechanical failure accounted for both their cars during the race Johnny Herbert was the first victim on lap 32 well it seems we have a a suspension failure it’s a bit of a shame it was a g a bit too early for me Ruben’s barell had been looking good for points five laps to go I was quite happy with fifth already when the suspension let me [Music] down this is the second year in succession that the Brazilian has retired from the Monaco Grand Prix with suspension failure and it was a bitter disappointment for the team I was over the swimming pool Corners when uh we lost the suspension and I’m I spun and a crash Monte Carlo is home to the Rich and Famous many of whom visited the Grand Prix Prince Albert of Monaco was joined by other Royals and celebrities from the World of Sports entertainment and the Milan [Music] [Music] catwalks Barcelona in Spain is the venue for the fifth round the circuit de Catalonia should suit the McLaren after their dominant performance here last year the team will be hoping Hing to improve after losing the last two grand prix to Ferrari Mika haakan starts on Pole and has Eddie Irvine beside him David kard lines up third with King Juan caros of Spain overseeing the proceedings the race gets underway and the field blasts Off the Grid there’s a couple of stallers it’s panis and Jan starting fourth Schumaker makes a great start but he’s blocked by kard and Irvine as they head flat out down to turn one Kart started well past Irvine for second vilner on the outside of Schumaker and on a charge moving from sixth to third action further back as fren comes around the outside of barell and there’s contact it’s settling down at the front with hacken and leading from kard vilner Schumaker Irvine truly and Lacy field Nerf is frustrating Michael Schumaker who can see the McLaren driving off into the distance hacken with a good lead already time for the first round of pitch stops with VF and Schumaker coming in together this could be the German’s opportunity to pass the team have done it many times before putting the pressure on the British American Racing crew at opposite ends of the pit Lane vov must get out before the Ferrari passes schumak is [Music] off and he passes the Canadian V’s right behind but he’s lost the position kol thought’s turn now currently lying second but with aspirations for first but he’s messed up overshooting his garage that could give the Scotsman problems later a is in trouble the Cyber driver pulling off to notch up his fourth retirement of the Year another disappointing race for petet also having difficulties is hin Harald frenson the Jordan driver slowing dramatically after running as high as Fifth and pulling off as Hill goes through gearbox problems bringing about ve nerves departure David K’s in for his second stop now and it’s crucial if he’s to get back out in front of the charging Michael schumacker the Germans been putting in some Sensational laps and will be hoping it’s enough to keep the Scotsman behind kard heads for the track there’s Schumaker it’s going to be close but Kart has it just as they race to the corner the team have done all they can to secure a McLaren onew with the Ferraris running third and fourth Ralph Schumaker has had a good race currently in fifth place yo TR and six could bring home a much needed point for Prost in what’s proving to be a disappointing season for the French team back with the leader mikah Hainan on his final lap before coming around to take victory in Spain only his second win out of five pole positions with two retirements and questionable reliability from the new McLaren the fin will relish this convincing victory this is never easy sometimes it does look like it is uh but uh you need enormous concentration all the way through to through the race particularly when you lead uh and and I had a quite a big Advantage for David and and Michael all the time through the race so so it was hard to maintain the maximum concentration this win puts Mika haakan firmly back in the running for the championship now just six points behind Michael Schumaker the McLaren team two will be jubilant after scoring their first onew of the season with McLaren and Ferraris filling the top four spots Ralph Schumaker and Yano truly complete the top six as with many modern circuits overtaking at the Spanish track is not easy which can make the starts the key to the race when kard passed Irvine for second and Jack VF passed the two Ferraris any hope that Schumaker could challenge for the lead was effectively over we tried to starts all weekend and they never worked and this one just worked so that was a lucky one after that Schumaker would have to bite his time could have catched him right at the in the first lap in turn five but it would have meant a lot of risk and I rather in uh thought don’t do it and wait till later stage waiting meant the German lost time to the McLarens the Ferraris were quicker but uh we were running less down Force so uh even though the car was sliding a lot I could keep him behind Michael schumak had to wait for the first round of pit stops for any chance of passing VV and with the Ferrari crew well practiced at Pit Stop strategies it was no surprised to see the red car exit the pits in [Applause] front but that wasn’t the only problem Bill nerve was to suffer during the race on his second stop the bar succumbed to transmission failure and the Canadian had no option but to retire first gear broke I think at the pit stop uh but we had another problem around the first pit stop the rear wi broke C so so the car became a little bit loose the AR’s problems paled in comparison to beneton the Spanish track exposing the deficiencies in the car’s aerodynamics we had a really Dreadful test here last week uh we damaged one car we were actually down to one car day of of real testing and I think we’re paying for it the team didn’t Faire much better in the race struggling to stay in touch with the Front Runners and both drivers stopping on the circuit in the closing [Applause] minutes coming here being really really off the base struggling the whole weekend we have to really uh analyze now in the team where is the weak point and uh then we have to work against this but honestly I I don’t see the situation changed for the next few races in sharp contrast the race promised much for Jean Ali and saber after the Frenchman set an early provisional poll which took the top Runners quite some time to beat to see um the top teams and top drivers to try to to beat you and they they’re not able to do it immediately I mean it’s a it’s a very good feeling what is going on at the moment is from the gearbox we we don’t have the reability and uh it cost us performance plus we we are not able to finish when you lock the wheel when we you have a wheel spin sometimes uh uh the gears go in and out on the wrong moment and it destroys the the gears after a disappointing start to the season with the supertech engine British American Racing have signed an engine deal with Honda who recently pulled out of entering its own team next year we think that Honda believed that with British American Racing being a new team that it would be easier to work with us and we won’t be set in our ways this deal may cause problems for Jordan well I think the new Honda engines are just a totally new engine my understanding is we have an exclusive of engine deal or Works deal but Eddie Jordan doesn’t see it that way words like works I’m confused as to what that might mean I just don’t want to say [Music] anymore the vibrant city of Montreal is the setting for the Canadian Grand Prix scene of Jean LA’s win in 95 the Frenchman’s a hit with The Spectators although they still remember their hero Jil V nner with temperatures Rising into the 40s the water that surrounds the circuit was put to good use but the heat didn’t stop thousands of Spectators turning up to watch Michael Schumacher taking his first poll of the Year Mika Hainan joins him on the front row with Eddie Irvine starting third Jack vf’s well supported here and starts 16th at the circuit named after his father We join the Grid at the end of the formation lap with the Italian teams praying for results ready for action and they’re off suaka is getting away well and so irine who’s closing on hackin physic Keller alongside kard around the outside and up to Fourth that’s truly on grass and he’s hit a la and barell disaster for saber on board with DC on the outside of physic Kella side by side around the center hairin but the beneton driver has the line and keeps the place bad news for barell the brazilian’s car was badly damaged in the first Corner incident but the team are trying to get him back out still chasing fourth place kards alongside the Benetton on the straight the Mercedes engine showing its power Advantage back with the leaders and Michael Schumacher is beginning to pull away from hackin in second Irvine’s third kards fourth fizzy K Fifth and fren sixth Michael schumaker’s controlling this race from the front the Marshalls worn of oil on the circuit that’s Schumaker over the curb he’s lost it and into the wall incredible an unforced error and a missed opportunity it’s an opportunity that’s fallen into the hands of his rival mikah haakan who now leads the fins in for tires and fuel the pressure off with Schumaker out vilner currently ninth into turn 15 and into the wall a heavy impact there for the local driver with a debris cleared from the track the safety car pulls off and the race resumes mikah haakan and the race leader Irvine second kard third Vella fourth and fren Fifth hackin and safe in front but Irvine isn’t under attack from kol thought going into the hair pin Irvine keeps his foot down there’s contact and both drivers are off no damage done and the drivers are able to continue but they’ve lost time and places Eddie’s back in sixth now and chasing Johnny Herbert in the Stewart DC receives his punishment for a pit exit infringement which puts him down to 10th Eddie Irvine has the bit between his teeth and is looking to pass the Englishman the Ferrari drivers through taking an unusual line into the last corner and is up to fifth the alman’s not finished yet he has Ralph Schumacher in his sights and the Ferrari engine is more than powerful enough passing the Williams driver and up to Fourth mikah Hainan has a comfortable lead and with only a few laps left to complete 10 points look within reach fren’s up to second but physical pushing hard and catching all the time the Jordan driver is under pressure and he’s off it’s a big one in to the tire wall break failure on the Jordan men frenson didn’t stand a chance giving Eddie a [Applause] headache it’s the last lap and the safety car pulls off but no one is allowed to pass Mika Hainan before the line making this race effectively the first time a Grand Prix has finished under a safety car Victory goes to hackin for the third time this year and one welld deserved joy for physic Keller and Benetton who go one better than last year finishing second bit disappointment for Jordan though it’s the second race in a row mechanical problems have sidelined the team the win places M at the top of the driver’s championship for the first time this season putting his title aspirations back on track I feel incredible it was excellent excellent uh race CU I was uh comfortable with the car and uh and I was just able to go quicker if I wanted to but there was no reason for it because level of re but would have happened and uh and then I saw Michael going off and I don’t know exactly what happened but turn up to be very very good for me magic for ma in Montreal with Irvine third and Ralph Shaka fourth Herbert and Denise round off the point scorers I drive therefore I [Music] [Applause] am it’s almost a tradition of the the je v n circuit that there’s controversy at the first corner and this year was no exception when truly hit a lacy and barell all the people from Ford are here to see the race and we didn’t have a failure we had someone driving a form one very bad after qualifying fifth it was a major disappointment and the replay does show truly traveling quicker than the others truly came on the inside I think he was maybe going back to the Gokarts times when uh he just break too late and took me off the race it damaged all the side pod and half the electrics were hanging out of there but because the pace car was out we said we’ll just fix it going and do a lap and see if it feels okay but those carry on cuz you never know what’s going to happen in a race like this the Brazilian retired soon after turn 15 accounted for many retirements during the race I just index the corner when I pushed the throttle for the power and the car went over here and I don’t know maybe it was my mistake Ricardo Zant was the first Damon Hill was next what it was an accident crashed the car basically uh I lost control of the vehicle and hit the wall there’s nothing more to it than that the next retirement was more of a surprise I had just before various laps where I almost lost it and that she came because other people heavily went over it and I had a lot of dust on my line actually just was trying to build up my elad which I needed for for my pit stop and everything went well until this moment but that was very clearly a mistake by myself uh just lost it and hit the wall I seem to make one a year and uh I hope that is the last one I make this year two world champions out one to go some drivers cut it uh pretty hard and there’s a lot of sand going on the track so if you’re just a little bit wide uh you lose a lot of grip and U well the same for everybody Eddie Irvine had an entertaining if controversial race we were side by side through the first corner but he went very very wide and then I just took the the next one and he just clipped my rear wheel and spun me the Alman first tussle with David kard we’re going to the second corner I was on the inside and and I understand he tried to to go to the outside to overtake me again but I think he turned in a little too early because I’m on the inside I can’t disappear you know the only way for me to to not hit him was to go on the grass and that’s not the RAC track but Irvine disagreed I got a good run at him and I was alongside him and Johnny break really really late and I had to break that little bit later and we didn’t make the corner I think it was a bit naughty what he did because he had no intention of going around the corner once passed there was no stopping the Ferrari driver who went on to finish on the [Applause] podium it was a double celebration in Canada for Jackie Stewart his 60th birthday and the sale of Stewart to Ford the idea is a long-term commitment by Ford they’ve bought Cosworth and they’ve bought the Stuart Ford team that’s a very big statement if we’re thinking down the line some distance we’ve got to be beating up McLaren and Ferrari supposedly if you’re going to do that you need all the latest kit and to do that you need a major car maker Ford is the second largest motor manufacturer in the world it’s only fit therefore and right that we actually took 100% control of the team and uh take it back to the top and that’s the way for should be Jackie Stewart will still remain as chairman and chief executive officer and Paul Stewart will remain as the deputy [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] chairman [Music] the man cor circuit is the venue for the French Grand Prix the miserable weather during qualifying did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the spectators who were treated to skillful car control and an unusual grid ORD as Testament to the difficult conditions mikah haenan lines up an uncompetitive 14th Michael Schumaker fed better although not up to his usual standard he starts sixth 11 places in front of his teammate Eddie Irvine David k qualified highest of the championship contenders in fourth it’s an all French Affair in third with Olivier panis in The Prost perso by far his best performance of the Year while compatriot jesi lines up second Ruben barello starts in pole for only the second time in his career and the first for Stewart it’s dry for the start and the race is on hacken and Wast no time charging past Zant into turn one with barell leading and a lacy close behind tense times for Paul Stewart Michael schumaker’s on a CH racing down the outside of panis at the hair pin and pushing the Frenchman back mikah Hainan doing the same past Jack V and Pedro Denise late on the brakes and running deep into the corner his McLaren Mercedes making the other cars look as though they’re standing still round Le say and bar Kell crosses the line to complete the first lap in the lead kard has passed Lai and is piling the pressure on he wants that position down to The Hairpin again and DC’s having a look he’s got the line and he’s through can he make it stick though barell is coming back at him but the McLaren driver has it first place further back hackin and’s already up to sixth and challenging Schumaker for fifth the fin has the line and calmly takes the position of his main Championship rival lap nine and cool thought slowing alternative failure ending any hopes he had of taking his first win of the Year here in France but it’s good news for Stewart as Ruben’s Barella retakes the lead sha El’s second hin Harold fren’s third Mika hackin four and Michael schumach is fifth but the leaders better watch out Nick is on the attack and the skies are beginning to [Music] darken moving out from behind fren maika does it again to take third place Jean Todd’s looking concerned at the prospect of rain it could be starting although Johnny Herbert out on lap four doesn’t think so back with the action and Hacker’s next victim is J El Lacy the Frenchman’s doing everything he can to stop the fin but it’s to no avail the rain is definitely coming down now and the track conditions are quickly becoming treacherous it’s time to change to wet with all the Front Runners pouring into the pits crucial moments for the race leader a small Mistake by the team could lose in the race it’s a good stop which keeps him in front with hackin and right behind Lai retains third for saber and it’s a race between Jordan and Ferrari for fourth schuma is out but fren just makes it conditions are deteriorating rapidly the view from jeanes is saber and the Frenchman’s off caught out by large areas of standing water a bitter blow for the cber team a lost Podium [Music] position there’s another it’s Jack vilner notching up his seven successive retirement it’s turning into a nightmare for the drivers out there and bar have yet to score a point this year that’s phys Keller he’s lost it but is lucky enough to catch the beneton and continue the track officials have seen enough and brought out the safety car Schumaker appears to have a problem he’s trying to signal to his pit the Germans lost radio contact with the safety car pulling off the race can resume Ruben’s barell leads mikah hackin and’s second hin Harold fren’s third Michael schumach is fourth Olivier panis is Fifth and Yano truly sixth M’s wasting no time putting Ruben Under Pressure the McLaren driver having a look into the Adelaide hair pin and he’s blown it into a spin Michael Schumaker having passed fren for second now has his sight set on first place with hacken and back in eighth there’s only the steward of barello in the way out of the Brazilian slipstream and he has the inside line for the corner a clean move by the Ferrari number one who now leads the French Grand Prix and is pulling away from bar Kell at over a second a lap the rain Meister now looks [Music] uncatchable but there’s concern on the Ferrari pit wall alls not well with Michael’s car he’s lost a lot of time and from 9 seconds ahead he now has the field snapping at his [Music] heels gear selection problems on the Ferrari can be remedied with a new steering wheel and Schumaker is in for a second scheduled stop wets is still the order of the day as the Ferrari team fit the new steering wheel enough fuel to last until the end of the race and he’s back out in sixth place Barry Kellow is once again leading this race fren second but Mika hackin has fought his way back and is putting the Jordan driver under pressure Into The Hairpin mik’s favorite passing place and fren’s run wide hackin and’s up the inside and into second place but the Fin’s not finished yet the McLaren Mercedes more than a match for the steuart Ford down the straight giving him the racing line into the next corner and into the [Music] lead Stewart and McLaren still have to make another stop Bar’s in and so is mikah hakanen the fin stays in front but frenson on a one stopper is past them both and takes the lead maik down to Second only a few laps left Eddie Jordan’s confident as the clouds open once again fren’s lead looks safe but hackin and’s not far behind [Music] the battle for fourth place Between Brothers Michael and Ralph and Eddie Irvine the Williams drivers having a go around the outside of his Elder sibling Michael’s not making it easy for him though but Ralph keeps his foot down and goes through as Eddie holds station behind his teammate on the last lap and Hein Harold frenson crosses the line to win the French Grand Prix his first for Jordan and only the second of his career with hack and second a terrific Race by Barry Kell bags the Brazilian third and the final Podium spot a fair reward for the hardworking Stewart team a truly exciting race with eight changes of the lead between Five drivers but only one winner I had to save a little bit of fuel in one stage to make it to the end but we have good radio communications and uh the communication worked out perfectly that win moves FR into within three points of Eddie Irvine and third place in the driver’s championship hackin and Barry Kell Ralph Schumaker and the two Ferraris complete the top six after seven rounds Mika haakan leads the dri’s championship with Michael schumacker second three points separate Irvine and fren in third and fourth Ferrari still lead the constructor’s championship but McLaren have closed in now lying just six points behind Germans are better drivers after two troubled years at Williams which netted him only one win Hanks Harold fron demonstrated that working in an environment where he feels comfortable brings out the best in him as a driver he did a splendid job running close to front all the way without making a mistake but it wasn’t without problems I pulled in very tight and then I uh didn’t have any gear so I don’t know what happened I had to look for gear first but first I saw that my gearbox was broken and that was a bit of a eding moment here frenson lost a little time but what won the race for the German was the superior strategy used by the team hin Harold came in for wets with the rest of the field on lap 22 but unlike the other Front Runners that would be his only stop of the race everybody tried to make it on as safe as possible to the pits but then I noticed that the GU is on the refuel were taking a hell lot of time to refuel the car I noticed that the guys around me must have been less fuel because initially that pulled away quite quickly but luckily then the pace car came in and then we had time for for the radio conversations to the pits talking about the strategy you [Music] decide about 30 seconds before the pit stop we went up on the fuel we needed to be out for quite a few Laps on the safety car to make it and it just dropped perfectly for us Eddie Jordan will be hoping this will be the first of many mck hacken and may have only come second in the race but nevertheless thoroughly enjoyed himself the feeling many of the drivers and Spectators shared the race was just [Music] great [Music] it was great fun Damon Hill hinted in France that this might be his last year in Formula 1 if I wasn’t enjoying it and I didn’t think I could be competitive then I think it was time to stop and I think those two those two criteria were met um this year the Englishman failed to qualify but was allowed to race where he trailed around at the back until retiring however Eddie Jordan still backs his driver so there’s a number of circuits that are coming out to his Advantage silveron Spa of course where he won with us but overall I think Damon is committed to Jordan and Jordan is committed to him and it’s it’s my opinion at this stage I mean I’ve heard what he said but I still believe that it’s his intention to finish the season with Jordan and finish on a high note I want to do the very best I can fored in the team and uh we’ll see what [Music] happens approaching the midpoint of the season and round eight takes the championship to silverston for the British Grand Prix steeped in motor racing history the it hosted the first round of the championship in 1950 and is renowned for attracting record crowds and model Spectators Damon Hills back at the front at his home Grand Prix lining up in sixth place mikah haenan starts on pole for the sixth time this year with David kard in third pushed back by Michael schacher who starts second waiting for the lights and it’s go Herbert back in 11th takes evasive action as the McLaren Blast Off the Grid both kard and Irvine getting the jump on Schumaker round cops and the German has it all to do to catch the flying fin yet another dismal race for Jack V and that’s zard stranded too the race has been stopped while the stallers are cleared but Schumaker is oblivious he’s still racing and looking to pass his teammate charging down the hanger straight hard on the throttle into stow and the Germans late on the brakes locking up across the gravel and that’s a very heavy impact into the tire barrier schumaker’s skid marks are visible to the other drivers the Marshals are on the scene quickly and Schumaker looks over okay watched by Ferrari’s technical director Ross Brawn McLaren’s drivers discuss the implications of schumaker’s exit while Eddie Irvine tries to remain cool but there’s concern from Brother Ralph but he saying his legs had bruised us something that uh Ross I just spoke with Ross Ross didn’t seem too too positive about getting anything side of it the Williams driver still has a job to do and will have to wait to discover the extent of Michael’s injuries the double world champion now removed from his car will be taken to hospital for a full examination with the wreckage removed the restarted race can begin hackin away well Irvine’s pass k out for second with fren fourth and Ralph Schumaker moving up to fifth past Damon Hill dear Roa stranded on the grid bringing out the safety car with the hazard removed the race resumes hacken and still leading but Irvine in second is really feeling the pressure from DC side by side down the pit straight the Alman manages to hang on to his position through Bridge the ultra fast right-hander mik’s already built up a 6sec lead frenson and schuma are in together for their first stops this is the battle for fourth and could give Ralph the opportunity to get past his compatriot something’s holding up the Jordan it’s the Williams coming down the pit Lane as Ralph goes through Eddie Irvine in the soul Ferrari is currently running second and is due for his first stop at any time the Ferrari is in now DC’s already stopped and has just set his fastest lap of the race Irvine’s overshot his garage which will cost him time exiting the pit Lane now but that’s kard the scotsman’s ahead and up to Second Place problems for Mika Hainan he’s lost his rear wheel unbelievable the wheel bounces across the circuit and very nearly takes out physic Keller hackin and can only limp back to the pits the championship leaders losing time and places while his crew try to get to the the bottom of the problem this is an unscheduled stop coming just one lap after his first and hackin and rejoins the race although now a lap down on the leaders David kard is the new race leader with Eddie Irvine giving Chase Ral Schumaker is doing an astounding job now up to third in the Williams his best performance since Australia ainan back in and this time it’s for good as DC concentrates on on the road ahead still under intense pressure from Irvine behind Ralph suaka and frenson Race To The Bitter End for that final Podium place but it’s David kard who crosses the line to win at his home Grand Prix Mika Hainan hides his disappointment with pleasure at his teammate’s first win of the season the fifth of the scotsman’s career with Eddie Irvine second and Damon Hill fifth the local drivers have made the most of the local support this is definitely uh the best feeling I’ve ever had in my recent career to win this race I think is you know always has been um the one that I would would trade for any other win to win in the British BR Prix so it’s fantastic a great result that will put him firmly back in the title hunt with Irvine second and Hill fifth three Brits finish in the points at [Music] silverston Michael schumaker’s nightmare weekend began with disappointment only sixth fastest on Friday his first run in qualifying was not quick enough to beat mikah Hainan the German failed to better his time but was quick enough to start second things didn’t get any better in the race when David kard and teammate Eddie Irvine pushed him down to Fourth Place the Ferrari driver tried hard to pass Irvine believing it was a race situation but unknown to both drivers the race had been red flagged charging down to Stow Corner Schumaker saw his opportunity to pass but locked up and went straight on hitting the tire barrier with considerable Force there was much speculation to what caused the off was it a mechanical fault or driver [Applause] error Michael schumacker was lucky to escape with relatively light injuries just can flying past me with I think four wheels locked um he was he was flying this incident has thrown Ferrari’s Championship aspirations into disarray but Jean Todd was adamant that schuma was not at fault Michael trying to break hard before sto corner just uh lost hydraulic pressure with a break he could not do anything just uh lost the control of the car and went threatened Michael schumacker was admitted to Northampton General Hospital his afternoon new and found to have sustained a straightforward fracture of the right tiia and fibula these injuries were reduced during a surgical procedure which was uncomplicated M hackin and had a fantastic start to the weekend snatching pole by nearly half a second the Fin’s fine form continued early in the race but trouble lay ahead problems fitting his left rear wheel left M trying to reassure himself everything was okay it wasn’t on his out lap he slowed dramatically allowing kard to pass him for the lead back in the pits on the next lap the world champion would have to wait 27 seconds to have the Troublesome wheel changed the crew having real problems seating the left rear properly as the seconds tick past so did any chance he had of capitalizing on schumaker’s absence another check on the way out and the problem finally appeared to be solved hacken and went on to set the fastest lap of the race but immediately after it became apparent that all was not [Music] well luckily for the fin he was close enough to the pit entrance to get back to his garage where his McLaren crew were waiting for [Music] him things still weren’t right the crew giving the wheel hub assembly a close inspection another change of wheel and he was sent on his way once again I’ve got a problem there I I I don’t know exactly myself yet but uh it was something so dangerous it was no point to continue McLaren opted to be safe we took a prudent safe decision with M we weren’t sure what the problem was just the right thing to do it’s m racing the Goss at silverston was centered around Damon Hills Poss retirement and that this might be his last race you’re not going to have an announcement from me I’m just here to to get on with the race weekend not making any announcements about any any other things that uh concern driving or not driving Damon’s reticence on the subject points to the possibility that he’s not yet made up his mind well I don’t know if Damon Hill’s retiring and I don’t think you know it Damon Hill’s retiring and I’m not even sure Damon knows if he’s retiring I hope that he has a a race meeting this weekend which persuades him that he should see the season out not all would agree once you’re not hungry anymore then you should stop I think you know if he retires the sport will miss him fifth place though might encourage him to keep on driving I can only say it’s the last British Grand Prix whatever he decides it’s been a memorable [Music] career [Music] mikalo who replaced Zant at B earlier in the season accepted the challenge of substituting for Michael Schumaker so great team it’s I’m really honored to be replacing Michael it’s of course it’s unfortunate what happened to him but uh it’s a big CH chance for me so I will take full advantage of it in fact in our opinion we had two two options to take a look from minardi and use him I mean as a spare driver and considering the pressure the tension which we know we will be leaving at the moment we felt it was better to ask mik to drive the car the Finn qualified seventh after slowly building up his speed and could be in a position to help Irvine in the race mig’s you know he’s got a learning curve very steep learning curve it’s going to be difficult for him but we’ll see the A1 ring in Austria is the venue for round nine and while the Benetton team get into the spirit of the event mikah Hainan who starts from pole for the seventh time this year gives his Rivals car the on over David kard lines up beside his teammate on the front row with hin Harold frenson starting fourth and the STS orders and it’s go in Austria Alexander verz is off to a good start past Ralph Schumaker for seventh The Local Hero carrying the hopes of the Austrian fans into castal curve and it’s hacken in first Kart second Irvine third Barry Kell and fren Irvine really has his work cut out to do anything about the two McLarens karts having a look diving up the inside of hackin into turn two and he’s taken maika off there’s Salo into the back of Herbert hackin and Stranded by the side of the circuit waiting until the entire field is passed Adrien Yi can’t hide his frustration Herbert’s in for a new Wing but it won’t be a quick stop David kulat now leads the Austrian Grand Prix with a substantial Gap back to Ruben’s barell in second the Brazilians managed to pass Irvine fren’s fourth and a sensational start for vilner has moved him from 9th to fifth Ral schumac has closed behind in sixth a disappointing start for Mika Salo in his first race for Ferrari disappointment for the other maker to at the tail of the field but already starting to dispose of some rear Runners lap seven and hackin up to 14th and chasing Damon Hill he’s got the line and a beautiful overtaking maneuver by the fin the McLaren drivers really making short work of the Midfield joining the battle for fifth with Ralph Schumacher trying to pass V nerve under pressure from Den the Williams Drive has lost it and is out of the race back at the front David kards built up a lead of over 10 seconds to Ruben’s barello in second the steward driver has Ed Irvine breathing down his neck the frustrated Ferrari pilot needs to pass the Brazilian to make the most of hackin and’s [Music] Misfortune mik’s not far behind in fifth and challenging fren for fourth along the pit straight the McLaren driver pulls out from behind the Jordan he’s got the line into turn one and takes the place unbelievable vov retires for the ninth time this year more trouble this time for Williams and zady the Italians out of fuel and out of the race Eddie irvines in and The Sensational few laps he’s just posted means that with a quick pit stop he could gain the lead leaving the pit Lane now kards on the straight bearing down but the the scotsman’s too far behind and Irvine Moves In Front Salo a lap down allows his teammate through and can now protect him from the McLaren mikah hackin and still flying passing Ruben’s barell for third but it’s worse than a lost Podium for the Brazilian and Stewart the Ford engine has blown the teams chances of points back with the leaders and irvines feeling the pressure kad’s really got the hammer down creating tense moments in the McLaren and Ferrari garages [Applause] it’s the last lap and Eddie Irvine comes round to win his second Grand Prix of the year to the Elation of his team making Ferrari’s Championship aspirations look a realistic Prospect I’m surprised to have beaten them yet but at the same time I knew we weren’t the second off them yesterday and I knew we would be closer you know I reckon really yesterday we were about half a second off and today normally in the race we go better and I thought you know if we get the strategy right we can um do the job irine certainly has done the job moving to within two points of championship leader mikah Hainan with the McLaren second and third fren verts and Dennis round off the top six [Music] finishers I think it’s cool after their Superior Pace in qualifying and leaving the Grid in first and second McLaren could be forgiven for thinking they’d be leaving Austria with 16 points and a healthy lead in the driver’s Championship with hackin and relegated to 20 second after the second Corner incident the team were more than a little [Applause] upset I I just couldn’t talk at that moment I was just too emotional in that situation and and and I just didn’t want to talk things like that happen sometimes unfortunately it happened here but uh situation could be much worse you know Ma was magnanimous about the incident it was an ambitious move by DC but could prove very costly for his teammate come the end of the year it was a mistake on my part I took him out and uh you know what can I do I can’t re I can’t reverse the race it happens consequences will be David having mental pain of Mak making a mistake and uh just like in any situation that’s enough you don’t doesn’t need anym these are grown men they don’t need to be treated like children he made a mistake accepts it it’s finished and over with the incident did create the chance to witness one of those awesome comeback drives for which Mah Hainan is renowned from last on lap one the McLaren driver incredibly finished on the podium generally overtaken again other cars racing against other drivers uh was again very enjoyable I think the organization here in Austria did a good job in there are blue flags so it made made the racing extremely interesting for me David kot finished second but was disappointed not to have won well obvious said this is my nightmare scenario not only have I taken my teammate off you know finish taking to a Ferrar McLaren’s mistakes helped Irvine to his second win of the Season you know I just had to save fuel and try and save the brakes and that’s what I was doing and then I started pushing and pushing then when Barella went in that’s when I really put the the Hummer down and uh that was that’s what got us ahead of DC Eddie Irvine’s Sensational set of laps before pitting mirrored the tactics often used by shumak this Victory keeps Ferrari’s Championship dreams [Music] alive round 10 takes the championship to Germany and hackenheim the 4.2 mile circuit is characterized by long straights tight chicanes and average lap speeds of over 140 mph creating an atmosphere that keeps the spectators on their feet Baris Becka enjoys McLaren’s Hospitality while with fine weather forecast mikah Hainan enjoys mcclaren’s superiority starting from pole fren lines up second his best performance of the Year pipping David Kart who starts third the tension mounts as the drivers wait for the start and they’re off hack’s getting away well but DC’s bogged down a bad start for Irvine too hackin leads into the first corner with Salo up to Second there’s trouble further back V’s out of shape and he’s taken Denis with him Jan started the accident but that’s no consolation for the Cyber team or the drivers as they walk away from their wrecks hackin and leads salow a sensational second Kart’s third fren’s fourth but Barry Kell has other ideas pulling alongside the German and the Brazilian has the line into the stadium pushing fren down to fifth but it’s all in vain barell stopping a hydraulic failure on his Stewart leading to yet more disappointment for the team back with the battle for second and DC’s determined to get past mikalo pulling to the inside and his damaged his front Wing the Scotsman will struggle from here Irvine in fifth place is overtaking problems of his own trying to find a way past frenson who won’t give up without a fight at his home Grand Prix DC is in for a new front Wing but it’s blown his race chances the unscheduled stop dropping him back to 10th place it’s catch up time for the McLaren driver but it won’t be easy having to cut the chicane in order to pass panis for eighth Irvine’s in now for his only stop of the race and he’ll have to make it count unable to pass frenson on the track this could be his only chance it’s a good stop and he’s out in front of the Jordan driver and up to third DC’s fighting his way through the field but Herbert and vers are in a battle of their own Johnny pulls out and moves up to sixth race leader Mika Hainan in his One-Stop strategy should see him retain his Advantage the pit crew are having problems with the fueling rig the team team scramble around for kol’s unit time is ticking away but the second unit works and the world champion rejoins the race his 24 second Pit Stop has cost him the lead down to Fourth hackin and must now deal with frenson he’s in the German toe and pulls out side by side as they approach the chicane and it’s hackin and’s Corner up to third place just over and it’s a heavy impact there’s concern in the McLaren garage but maker all right just a little shaken unbelievable bad luck and a major blow to his title fight mikalo now leads an unexpected Ferrari onew with Eddie Irvine right behind more problems for McLaren Kart serving a 10-second stop go penalty for cutting the chicane while Ferrari looked forward to their second one-w finish of the Season Irvine now leads the German Grand Prix let through by mikalo he takes the checked flag to claim his third victory of the Season Ferrari have plenty to celebrate 16 points ahead in the Constructor Championship even without Schumacher’s help here today really I just thought right McLaren are too quick we got to just you know make sure our finish get some points and live to fight another day um and the race came to us as long as that keeps happening we’re looking good the new points leader looks as though he can take the fight to hackin fren visits the podium for the fourth time this season Ralph schumak is in the points again with panis scoring his second top six finish Eddie Irvine leads the driver’s Championship mik hackin and’s eight point shy in second hin Harold frenson third Michael schumacker despite his absence is still fourth Ferrari retained the lead in the constructors 16 points ahead of McLaren Jordan of third Williams Benetton and Stewart complete the top six mik Salo was undoubtedly the star of the race I was unbelievable and my practice starts were nowhere near that and uh it just I don’t know it just gripped and took off I had no wheel spin at all just boom DC fought for the position but a misjudged passing maneuver meant a pit stop for repairs dropping him out of the lead battle obviously DC was pushing Mika very hard and it it was always going to end in tears um and thankfully job have to say absolutely Boy Wonder um incredible I help in now maybe it’s his turn to help me someday mikah haan’s Championship Ambitions look to be on track at the beginning of the race and I was just looking in my mirror I was just looking in my mirror thinking about wow you know it’s everything cool everything’s fine and then it just went bang you know and uh just lost the control M’s Tire bursted 190 m per hour when you spin off like that you know you you you do get some more gray hair the accident was terrifying but not the first of the weekend a cut on David kad’s Tire during qualifying caused a similar failure but what had caused hackens Bridgestone have put a press release out which I think explains everything we’re still looking at it our Engineers are looking at it and until we understand it properly then um no no more comment than that really mik hackin has lost a significant amount of points in the last three races and may now be feeling that the championship is beginning to slip through his fingers unable to race at his home Grand Prix Michael Schumaker appeared on the big screens to update his fans on his progress It’s Not only a bone problem it’s as well uh on my uh heel where I have a cut and that is basically more affecting me because of the flexibility of my foot and and the healing itself and I don’t really uh be I’m not able to predict when things will be right and I would like to say thanks to all my English supporters where I get got tremendous support and many many nice letters and presents and I would like to use this opportunity to say thank you the hungaro ring is the venue for round 11 of the championship the host City Budapest is particularly popular among the traveling Spectators who turn up in their droves to enjoy its party atmosphere with passing difficult pole position is more important than ever something which Mika Hainan will want to exploit after only scoring Four Points in the last three races Eddie Irvine joins his title rival on the front row with David kard lining up third tense times as the race is about to start and off they Roar a bad start for DC that’s physella charging past as hackin and leads the field down to turn one Alexander BS retains seventh there’s contact it’s V on the inside bar Kell’s there too and the Brazilians pass them both hackin and leads and has already opened out a significant Gap to Irvine in second place physicell is third with fren in fourth mikalo back in 20th behind Del Roa and no help to Irvine or Ferrari in their bid for the championship David kard lost two positions at the start and is paying for it now back in fifth and unable to overtake fren or physic Keller the scotsman’s only chance is to pass them during the stops Ron Dennis shows his driver the way the team set to work not the first time this year that their driver’s race depends on their speed Dennis knows it’s going to be tight but his team have done a good job and DC’s out just in front of fysic Kella for third a blow to the beneton team’s morale but their driv in next and they’re still fourth place and three points to fight for there’s a problem with the car Jan Carlo’s race is over a major disappointment for the team who are fighting to hold on to fifth in the constructor’s championship David kards made up the 4sec deficit to Irvine in second and he’s putting intense pressure on the Alman hoping the Ferrari driver will make a mistake lap 58 and both drivers make their second stops together DC successfully used his first stop to pass physella and fren can he and McLaren do it again there’s lots of pressure on the mechanics every 10th they can save could mean a race position almost identical but Ferrari have it Eddie Irvine keeps second place as they head back out onto the track mikah Hainan is leading the Hungarian Grand Prix now with considerable ease and with a comfortable Gap Irvine’s beginning to feel the pressure the Ferrari isn’t handling to his liking and kard is ruthless in his Pursuit he’s obviously the quicker of the two drivers a little over steer and under steer for Irvine and he’s off the circuit this is DC’s chance and with no hesitation he moves up to Second Place Irvine’s back on track but now in third place losing two valuable points towards the championship it’s the 77th and last lap Mikan comes around to win his fourth Grand Prix of the year his first since Canada with DC second it’s McLaren’s first one two since Spain but the fans only care about one driver and I’m I’m certainly n finish people uh they will have a great great evening great evening tonight and and uh they have a good reason to celebrate and be proud of Finland and I’m proud of the McLaren only two points a drift of Irvine Ma has plenty to celebrate McLaren lie just four points behind Ferrari in the constructors with only five races left another great drive from hin Harold frenson a consistent finisher this year Damon Hill also in the top six making it a good weekend for Jordan I love it Jan Lacy has been described as an emotional Time Bomb waiting to explode but the French Sicilian has been severely tested this year with seven retirements and memories of his disastrous race in Germany still fresh Jean was hopeful of better in Hungary after struggling during Friday practice worse was to follow on Saturday morning when he came across Pedro dear Roa at high speed the severity of the impact caused concern team principal Peter saber explained means what happened he was in the corner uh after the after the straight and uh he he will overtake a slow car I think was Pedro de Roa he was very very slow and uh he see him uh very very late that was that was the problem sea has only hematom on the right uh leg and he was brought to a hospital hospital and uh we expect that he will be back in the afternoon his race car destroyed a Lai returned to qualify an impressive 11th in the T car one place in front of his teammate his race got off to a good start when he made up positions during the first lap thereafter he drove competitively moving up to fifth place before pitting having run out of fuel on his way in Jean had to Coast his car to the pit garage this meant a much lengthier stay than expected as his crew had to restart the engine the delay dropped La back to eight again the Frenchman drove impressively he was up to Fourth when he received a stop go penalty for speeding in the pit Lane a direct result of running out of fuel disabling his pit Lane restrictor after another fuel problem at his second stop his frustration showed I’m frustated because uh since the beginning of the season I try I try I try and uh I cannot finish the the races in a good situation my uh my life with s is finished a lack of fuel also accounted for his eighth retirement of the season and there’s much speculation that he’s already signed for another team I finish my uh my contract the best as I can I have another four races I can do well I hope if I can see the checking flag so um I thank everybody for this two years here and um I think it’s time for me to uh to do something [Music] else Belgium’s historic Spa Franco Shan is one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar and this year drivers had the unusual Prospect of good weather for the race mik Hackman starts on Poll for the 10th time this season with teamm David kard alongside him on the front row hin Harold fren’s on top form qualifying third in the Jordan the drivers are in position Hainan moves early but the race is started Al’s having to dodge the bar of Zant as the field charged down to lur Hainan and kard side by side heading into The Hairpin irvines up to Fourth and the McLaren have touched kard moving into the lead a hard stopping moment for Ron Dennis and hard stopping moments for the pack as they head flat out through the infamous oou race order karts first hackin second fren’s third Irvin’s fourth Ralph schumaker’s fifth and zady sixth the battle for 11th is between the beneton of Jan Carlo physik Kella and John Eli in the saber physella runs wide and Eli sees his chance diving up the inside to snatch the position Hill dropped three places at the start and is now trying desperately to get back into the points but is struggling to pass zady this is one of the englishman’s favorite circuits and Eddie Jordan can’t understand what the problem is David Kart now pulled out a gap to his teammate in second with hackin and seemingly unable to challenge him solos playing the team game now driving 3 seconds a lapse slower than he’s capable of blocking Ral Schumaker and helping Irvine retain fourth the Germans getting frustrated but is unable to pass that’s Herbert he’s lost it under breaking and there nothing he can do to slow the car down straight into the tire barrier and out of the race the englishman’s already experienced break problems this afternoon and that’s his seventh retirement of the Year Eddie Irvine’s currently in fourth place but he due for a stop soon and is relying on team makeer salo’s help to maximize his championship points something Patrick head is furious about Hing image of Ferrari Patrick heads back to the Williams Garage as Irvine pits in it’s a crucial stop but can his mechanics turn him around quick enough for their team tactics to have been worth it back on track irvines out in front of Schumaker but forces Silo onto the grass a near Miss as M Moves In Front job done Jean Todd issues more team orders but Finn is told to let his teammate pass which he does obediently and Irvine moves back up to Fourth and three Championship points David Kart who’s LED from the start comes round to take the checked flag and his second victory of the year with hacken and second it’s a great one too for McLaren the final place on the podium goes to hin Harold frenson who beat the Ferraris fair and square giving Eddie something to cheer about DC receives a frosty reception ma is obviously still unhappy about being beaten at L Source it’s always been my my favorite track and I’ve never won here in any of the formulas I’ve Race So to to finally win here is uh is great A disappointing race for Irvine finishing fourth Ralph schumaker’s Fifth and Damon Hill scores points for the second race in a row I’m not [Music] mat David kard boosted his chances of winning the driver’s Championship when he passed his teammate at lassus but the corner was almost one before the start before the actual Red Lights Went Out M moves and um now was moved with him as a as a reaction he made a not very good start I made a better start and you know naturally came over to to defend what I could take on the line and then there was a little bit of contact but don’t think there was any damage done when the lights went on and all the lights were burning you know you want to feel the clutch where it is and sudden the clutch crapped very quickly and and the car moved it was uh very pleasant in the first corner but I still was able to made a reasonable start both did a very good job pleased very pleased for David and I give him uh extra bit of confidence and obviously we’re looking forward to the balance of the Season Jack vilner is no stranger to big accidents last year in Belgium driving for Williams the Canadian had a huge off at o Rouge although his car left the circuit at a tremendous rate of knot Jack was quite calm and collected about the whole incident because it’s a big one and you walk out of the car and you’re not hurt so it’s uh you know it’s like when you get out of a big fight and you’re the one who won this year’s weekend didn’t start any better when he suffered suspension failure during Friday’s practice session uh the front suspension just uh came off when I hit the brakes CU that happened a lot of times this year we weighing suspensions and I have hurt myself so there’s good luck in that Friday could have been an omen for what was to come after changes to the Circuit for this year Jac was even more confident and made a deal with his teammate Zant about how they would tackle o Rouge the corner is easier now that they’ve removed the wall from the inside it’s uh visually not as impressive as it used to be it’s going to be flat out and that was the deal both drivers would attempt the daunting corner without lifting and the result was almost a carbon copy of last year’s accident that’s pretty close to last year I think the impact was smaller um but I rolled so that was a bonus Jack’s car was written off and the session stopped for 12 minutes one car down Craig Pollock was concerned when the session restarted Lardo Zant went straight out the Brazilian didn’t back off from The Challenge and suffered an even more spectacular accident than ve nerve it was a little bit incredulous um I was sitting up in the the pit wall and I just thought this this cannot be true this has to be somebody else’s car it can’t be my car but the good thing about it is both drivers are absolutely fine they’ve got no bruises and uh I was just thinking Jesus how uh strong these cars have to be the drivers were just going too fast for that particular Corner um that’s what they’re paid to do they’re paid to take the risks and push the car to the Limit and sometimes they go over the limit he’s a little bit disappointed cuz I think he was outdone by [Applause] Zant the outo naali deonza is the venue for the Italian Grand Prix the historic circuit situated on the outskirts of Milan gives the tifosi the chance to see their beloved Ferraris on home soil the 3.6 mile track is one of the fastest on the calendar with lap speeds of over 150 mph mikah Hainan on pole with fren beside him I I go for him David kard lines up third in the second McLaren with Alexandro zard putting in his best performance of the year to start fourth Eddie Irvine’s way back in eighth only seconds to go and the lights are out a good start for hackin too much wheel spin for frenson zady is having a sensational start moving up to second charging down to the first chicane it’s hackin and zard fren kard and Schumaker together the Ferraris are well down as half the field take a shortcut Jan and Takagi tussle for the same piece of road that incident putting the Spaniard out riding with fren right on the tail of zady he pulls alongside the mugan powering the German up to second place hackin and’s first fron second zard is third and there’s a battle for fourth between Schumacher Salo and kard three of as they hammer down the back straight now it’s Schumaker and kard side by side as they approach the turn Ralph takes fourth DC runs wide and Salo nips past for fifth Barry Kell’s having a look as well two Williams in the top four Frank must be pleased racing to the chicane and that’s Jan Caro fella going straight on a nudge of the barrier the Italians race is over a blow for the team at home kol thought’s really under pressure from bar Kell the Brazilian seen his opportunity and moves alongside DC has the inside line but the steward driver takes it and moves up to sixth the Williams drivers are running third and fourth Schumaker makes a move and zady makes it easy for him Williams are having a sensational race but DOA and Takagi are scrapping for 16th late on the braks by the arrows driver and he’s taken the manard out of the race Tor manages to continue halfway through now and hackin and’s leading this race comfortably Zen’s not so secure that’s barell poised for another passing maneuver pulling out and up to Fourth lap 29 and Mah Hainan has an 8 second Advantage he’s got it sideways unbelievable the McLaren grinds to a halt haenan showing his frustration at throwing away 10 valuable Championship points with hackin and out frenson moves into the lead salow and kard are in together Racing for third it’s an all important stop they’ve got got problems with DC’s fuel hose and that blows his chances of passing Salo the scotsman’s close behind but that’s bar Kell charging down the straet Sal’s clear but kard loses the place to the steward driver dropping to fifth the 53rd and final lap and Hein Harold frenson can see the checked flag and his second win of the season a fantastic race for the Jordan driver putting him in contention for the driver’s title the German drove magnificently keeping his cool while under pressure from Ralph and strengthening Jordan’s grip on third place in the constructors Jordan’s first dry win is a sign of its increasing competitiveness this 10 point means quite a lot for me and for the team and it’s also my biggest success in my Formula 1 career so far and and I’m uh absolutely delighted and so with the Jordan team now that fren has a real chance of going for Glory Ralph schumacker notches up his best result of the year in second a good finish for solo on the podium with Barry Kell kard and Irvine completing the top [Music] six with three rounds to go mikah Hainan and Eddie Irvine a level on points Heights Harold fren’s only 10 points behind in third with David kard fourth McLaren lead the Constructor Championship just six points ahead of Ferrari Jordan looks safe in third with Williams a distant fourth build for [Music] Speed Williams had their most competitive race of the year in Italy Ralph Schumaker and Alex zard qualified in the top six at the start of the race both drivers made up positions and battled with the leaders yeah the first few Corners were a bit tied really um I had to take a little short cut not to to uh get together with David Ralph finished on the podium but zenar had problems the floor went loose and uh lost it and uh the car wasn’t the same anymore and it’s a shame well I have to say thanks to the team and I have as well to say thanks to my teammate who made it incredibly easy to get by him uh to drive my race I mean we help each other we don’t stop each other because at the end of the day we’re driving for the team to get the best result and um well he has a a big chair on my second place today it was a good race I enjoyed it it was fun fighting with the top guys and uh I hope next time I’ll be able to stay there until the end of it mikah haakan came to Italy with a one-point lead in the driver’s title and looked as though he would leave with an 11-point advantage the McLaren driver had a comfortable lead when he threw the race away on lap 30 to the disbelief of his team there was nothing wrong with the car I selected wrong here so I made a mistake and that’s it end of story with three races left the championship’s likely to go down to the wire and the final round is suzuk so get the Japanese Visa basically real man never [Music] cry it’s the time of year when the driver’s Market comes alive with McLaren and Benetton confirming their current lineup for next year and Ralph secured Williams there are rumors that zanadi seat could be in danger we do have an agreement already that doesn’t need to be disc unless uh somebody wants to take a different rout fren stays with Jordan joined by Yano truly one of the most if not the most exciting Young Drivers to come in the scene and we have to see how he gets on here at the moment I think they are the only team which really can fight and can catch the first two top team like McLaren and Ferrari Eddie Irvine leaves Ferrari at the end of the year to join Stewart rebadged as Jaguar Herbert will partner him with bar Kell fulfilling a life ambition I remember myself climbing the the wall at the the gokart track which which is just beside the the race trck and and then uh looking at those uh red cars and just wishing that one day I could be in Formula 1 and I don’t know maybe a a Ferrari driver Michael schumacker will give the Brazilian a run for his money while the Germans replacement this season is signed for saber with all the connections with the Ferrari and everything I think it’s a right place for me Salah replaces ay moves to Prost I don’t think it’s very difficult to explain it when you you stop all the time for very small details Nick heidfeld will partner Jean and the French team I think for a newcomer I’m I’m very very lucky to to get a drive as SP my main goal for the first season is is to [Music] learn 1999 has been one of the most Open Seasons in years with three races left there are still four drivers able to win the championship McLaren have the fastest car but there are doubts about hacken psychological toughness M was if anything driving so far inside his limits that uh he made a mistake that was a simple lapse of concentration with four wins and eight Podium finishes so far this season mikah Hainan has to be favorite for the title teammate David kard lies just 12 points behind it’s only in the second half of the Season that I’ve come back into being in with a shout and I am in with the show you know if I win this weekend then it’s looking looking good Eddie Irvine has benefited from mcclaren’s poor liability and lies equal on points with hackin it’s up to us to start performing I think we can do that this weekend we’ve made progress you know we’ve got some new aerodynamic pits and um I’m very optimistic hin Harold fren’s win in Italy has bought him within reach of the leaders to win the worldship we we have to beat the McLaren and speed and that is a bit difficult in that situation at the moment uh we’re doing our best it looks like going down to the wire can hackin take his second title or will Irvine be the first driver since 1979 to take the driver’s championship for Ferrari the noog ring in Germany is the venue for the European Grand Prix rain is forecast for the race but it’ll start dry although there are dark clouds hanging over Eddie Irvine who lines up ninth after a difficult qualifying session his championship rival mikah Hainan starts third while David kard out qualified his teammate for only the second time this year on pole on home soil is hin Harold frenson only the third of his career and his first for Jordan waiting for the lights and it’s an aborted start a massive anticlimax for the drivers who are pumped up with adrenaline a short delay while the drivers retake their positions and this time they get away fren’s off well charging down to turn one hackin made a great start up to Second and putting fren under pressure as they turn in in car with Alexander vers Hill slows in front the Austrian had to take AAS of action that’s a huge shun for one of the saers causing major concern in the pit Lane not least in the saber Camp it’s Pedro denz but appears to be okay the rest of the field Bunch up behind the safety car fren leads from the two McLaren with Schumaker fourth and physella [Music] fifth six laps behind the safety car and the race gets underway Irvine’s right with physella pressuring the Italian into a mistake and that’s allowed the Ferrari driver into fifth place it’s just started to rain but that won’t worry fren leading this race hackin in second and Kar just lost lost third place to Ralph Schumaker the circuit’s getting more slippery by the minute with hackin now under pressure from the Williams driver McLaren’s on the case though bringing in hackin and for wet it could be a risky move with the weather yet to make up its mind but it’s one watched closely by Jean Todd Irvine’s in now he’s opted for dries and this could be interesting there’s a mix up with the tires costing the a and 28 seconds and any chance of points with his competitors dropping by the wayside it’s looking good for frenson despite the odd mistake it’s Eddie whose nerves are on edge Mah Hainan on wets and Eddie Irvine’s on dries the championship contenders dicing for a lowly 12th Place and the Ferrari driver takes it fren and kard are in for their stops together it’ll be down to their pit Crews now DC won’t be making the same mistake as hackin fren opting for dries two good work by the Jordan crew and the German stays ahead as they exit the pits [Music] [Applause] together there’s a problem with the Jordan though it’s slowing DC’s through to first place Jordan’s dream of winning the championship is surely over the Scotsman now with a good lead but he’s gone off unbelievably he’s driven straight on at the corner across the grav and is unable to stop double disaster for run with both cars now out of the points janalo fysik Keller is the new race leader and he’s lost it too the treacherous conditions catching the Italian out and a major blow for the Benetton team Ralph schumacker moves into first place the young Germans driven a splendid race never out of the top four but he’s in trouble now in the pit Lane please punch a right Schumaker must now limp back to the pit but it’s not easy on three wheels with almost a whole lap to complete the Williams driver makes it back but with so much time lost he’s dropped a fifth and lost any chance of a first Victory on home soil a win that would have been Williams first for 2 years incredibly Johnny Herbert who started this race in 14th now leads the European Grand Prix a fantastic race for BEDA and manadi 2 the Italians up to Fourth while the championship contenders are battling it out for seven problems though for BEDA the Ford engines had enough for today and the Ferrari test driver will have no option but to pull over a crushing blow for the Italian team Luca can’t believe his luck just a few laps from home hackin and’s pushing Irvine hard the Ferrari dri is making him work with though he’s off Irvine’s gone straight on at the chicane and hackens through to six Yano trul is having a great race up to Second although it’s not over yet Ruben’s barell has his eye on the place but can’t afford to go off Jackie needs the points to beat Williams in the constructors with two laps left hackin and’s CAU Jana the Finn wants the extra point for Fifth and he takes it with ease another set back for manard but at least they look good for a point Johnny Herbert’s been outperformed by his teammate all year but when it counts he’s there at the front and comes round to win for Stewart Yano truly is second for Prost and barello is third it’s Herbert’s third Formula 1 win and Stewart’s first TR is thrilled with his result as am especially when I went into the lead unfortunately for Ralph with his puncture or whatever problem he had with the wheel um I had a nice Advantage after off uh Yano so uh it was then able to try and look after everything as much as I possibly could and hopefully you know I could get to the end I was confident it would but obviously I tried everything to make sure a proud day for Jackie and the Stewart team an unusual Podium with Ralph Schumaker fourth hacken and fifth and Jana scoring his first world championship Point sound barrier H in his career Johnny Herbert has been very lucky and very unlucky at the nurburg ring it was the turn of Good Fortune partly brought about by the mistakes of the title contenders McLaren made the decision to put hacken on wet tires on 20 this turned out to be a mistake in comparison to hackin and’s stop irvines was almost comical because Salo pitted unexpectedly the team weren’t prepared for Eddie when he arrived although he’d not made the same mistake as hackin opting for dries the crew couldn’t find his tires the sterman had to sit there helplessly watching his championship chances slipping [Music] away the Ferrari driver lost over 20 seconds in the Mayhem and rejoined in 13th Place mikah hackin soon realized that he was on the wrong tires having lost a lot of time he lost even more when he stopped just four laps late of a dries Herbert had timed his decision to change tires to perfection it was a bit of guess work cuz it it just rained on the lap I was actually coming in but what the way I looked at it the cloud was dead in front of me everything had been coming that way and I just guessed and hoped that they would just come straight over the track and it did hert was fif when he stopped on lap 35 obviously the the conditions were very tricky but that was where I was fortunate I had the wets on I don’t know if I was the only one but I just thought it was worth a risk uh where we were and obviously it paid off uh Big Time Barry Kell stopped two laps later opting for dries Johnny guess guess it right and I guess it wrong I mean the team said um what do you think we go for slicks so we go for wet and I said uh first I said we go for wet because it was marginal but right in front of me was a clear sky not not the sky that Johnny saw it so I just thought it was going to go away faster than it did so that was the story of the race [Music] [Music] the penultimate round takes the championship to the Far East and Malaysia for the first time the purpose build venue is the most modern on the calendar and welcomes the return of Michael Schumaker the German has missed the last six rounds and has some good advice on how Irvine and Ferrari can win the championship drive fast don’t crash Schumaker was stunning and qualifying taking pole with ease we expected to be strong but to be second ahead that was uh clearly surprising if we come to the last lap and you’re leading Eddie is second will you let him through we all know the answer yes which is yes race day and the weather is very hot and very humid Schumaker is as cool as ever While others try to emulate the double world champion with the Ferrari’s monopolizing the front row hackin has to settle for fourth waiting for the lights and it’s go not a good start for hackin but much better for the two Ferraris as the field charged down to turn one hack’s behind his teammate and has a little look Michael Schumaker leads Irvine second Kart’s third and Hagan’s fourth frenton storming through the field and that’s Hill spinning in the middle of the pack another miserable race for the Englishman Michael Schumacher’s out in front Irvine’s right with him and they could be thinking about team orders he’s let the sterman through Eddie Irvine now leads the Malaysian Grand Prix but it’s allowed Kart to close right up McLaren are playing the team game as well and kard makes the move side by side and the Scotsman does it DC can now take the race to Irvine it’s nail biting stuff Kart’s in trouble mcclaren’s lost fuel pressure and as the Scotsman crawls back into the pits Schumaker moves back into second Irvine’s lead looks safe protected by his teammate but it’s a frustrating race for Mika stuck behind Schumaker in third Irvine’s in this may be the most crucial Pit Stop of his career the sterman keeps his fingers crossed hoping to get back out in front there’s Schumaker and hackin in Irvine rejoins in third but may still have to stop vers and V Nerf and the beneton drivers forced the Canadian wide a wild spin for Jack who rejoins hackin and’s in and his race with the Ferraris is all but over Schumaker having done a fantastic job for his teammate the Fin’s Target now is to retain third it’s close but Johnny Herbert goes through pushing hackin and down to fourth one less point for mik which is good news for Ferrari but will schumacker do what he promised and let Irvine pass Vines right on the German’s tail and goes through to first place hackin and still fighting alongside Herbert on the approach and the McLaren driver moves up to third place but it’s too late to do anything about the Ferraris Irvine first Schumacher second a great result for the Italian team Michael basically did the hard work for me I don’t know what we got to do with him this guy’s depressing not only he the best number one he’s also the best number two Irvine’s fourth win of the year gives him a four-point advantage in the driver’s Championship a good result for the Stewart team with both cars finishing in the top six and the last Point going to hin Harold [Music] frenson at the nurburg ring Ferrari had introduced new barge boards but kept them under wraps well they’re a little bit different so we don’t want to make it easy for people to see what we’re doing um well that’s all after the Malaysian Grand Prix the winning cars were scrutinized as usual and the barge boards were found not to comply with the rules giving Mah haenan the driver’s title they have thrown Ferrari out of the race and and discluded from the from the results but obviously I’m I’m not really want to say anything yet I’m not getting excited any it yet it’s 4 hours after the race and uh I just seen a one piece of paper uh our turning veins didn’t comly to article 3 uh2 which is an article which cons concerns the uh projection of the Bodywork um when viewed from underneath and around the Turning vein there was an area where it was possible to see some of the upper body work it wasn’t shadowed properly um what became confusing and it’s partly our responsibility as well as the FAS is that uh the measur was taken was taken off of an angled surface the top surface of the Turning vein has a slight angle on it so when Joe bow uh put his straight edge on that surface and projected it down he had quite a big error and we were subsequently able to show Joe and the FIA that measuring off our surface was not the correct reference point Ferrari’s appeal Was Heard by a panel of independent FIA judges in Paris the court of appeal decided to overturn the decision of the stewards and therefore the original result of the race stands in its entirety with the title still wide open Suzuka and Japan plays host to the final Grand Prix and the championship decider make it through 100% yes it is a great experience just got to do your best hes it hes and it doesn’t well as long as you’ve done the best there’s not a lot you can do about it qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix early in the session mikah Hainan and Michael schumacker set identical [Music] times [Music] [Music] while Irvine dropped to fifth after his accident hackin had his last run spoiled [Music] Michael schumacker took pole it’s going to be an interesting race that’s for sure after truly dramatic qualifying session Damon Hill lines up 12th for his 115th and final Grand Prix Mah Hainan starts second for what could be the most important race of his career the Japanese Spectators will again be to a championship Showdown Michael Schumacher is in a good position to help Irvine while kard will be doing his best for Mah Ron Dennis and Eddie Jordan discuss tactics for the race Eddie Irvine tries to remain focused mikah Hainan knows that all he has to do to win the championship is to win this race which will mean beating Michael Schumaker countdown to the start for the final time this year and there off it’s a terrific start for Irvine blasting past fren and kard but it’s a better one for hackin who moves into the lead panis is also flying from sixth to third an early retirement for zady and that just about sums up the Italian season hackin first schumaker’s second panis is third and Irvine’s fourth zenar waves goodbye but hopefully not to F1 Irvine now up to third pits in but it’s got to be a quick one if he’s to stop kard getting past which could cause him problems later in the race Ron Dennis keeps his eye on the monitors have McLaren calculated correctly Irvine’s out and it’s close DC takes the position pushing Irvine down to Fourth misery for panis who’s without a drive next year and that’s Damon Hill hard on the brakes and the englishman’s Run wide at spoon curve a disappointing end to an illustrious career hack’s leading comfortably now but with the reliability problems suffered this year the team are praying he makes it to the end reliability problems aren’t the Finn’s only concern Michael Schumaker hasn’t given up on Victory which is Irvine’s only chance of winning the driver’s Championship now that he’s back in fourth and falling into the clutches of fren and Ralph Schumaker John Todd can feel the championship slipping away and David Kar can feel his McLaren slipping away a huge off there for the Scotsman amazingly he manages to continue but that’s the end of McLaren’s hopes of retaining the constructor’s title DC’s made it back to the pits but he’s almost a lap down on the leaders he’ll come out in front of Schumaker creating problems for Ferrari kards employing the same tactics used on MAA by the German in the Malaysian Grand Prix slowing the Ferrari driver down and putting him in danger of being passed by [Music] barell not far from home and mikah hackin and siing through back markers being extra careful in the process [Music] oines back up to third but it’s not enough if hacking and wins it’s the end of the road for David kard the McLaren team call their driver in fren’s in fourth but he having visibility problems no such problems for mahaken and though who can almost see the checked flag just one corner to go the crosses the line to win the race and the driver’s title In Style Michael schumacker comes home second not far behind and congratulates his fellow double world [Music] champion m haenan is only the seventh driver to have won back-to-back championships Eddie Irvine finishes third a brilliant season he came close but not close enough when the light changed I I immediately meded medely uh realized I had a Advantage for Michael and the moment when we shift the second gear I was already one car length lead and I knew that point only what I had to do is to keep this position brilliant it was pretty boring I have to say you know I was just driving around um wondering if anything was going to happen to M great Rivals and a great year Ralph Schumaker was fifth Williams only Point scorer this season and Jon a la sixth in the points for only the second time this year mikah Hainan won the title by two points from Eddie Irvine hin Harold frenson finished third two points ahead of David kard the Schumaker brothers are fifth and sixth [Music] [Music] [Applause] Ferrari win their first constructor’s title for 16 years beating McLaren by four points Jordan have their best ever season finishing third with 61 Stuart pip Williams to Fourth spot by a single point The Season’s debutant B failed to [Music] score everything come Downs to nerves [Music] all [Music] 100% that’s [Music] racing awesome indeed fantastic race so you retired e