Only four races remained in the 1998 Formula 1 season by the time the teams arrived at Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix. Mika Hakkinen led Michael Schumacher on the World Championship, but the German had always excelled on the challenging circuit. It was at Spa that Michael Schumacher qualified seventh on his Grand Prix debut for Jordan in 1991. The following year he scored his maiden Formula 1 victory at the same track.
Hill Scores Jordan’s First Grand Prix Win
The front row of the grid was all McLaren as usual, with Hakkinen ahead of David Coulthard. Damon Hill was third in his Jordan, with Michael Schumacher next to him on the grid. During practice and qualifying there were two major crashes at Eau Rouge, involving Jacques Villeneuve and Mika Salo. Both drivers miraculously escaped injury.
The race started in wet conditions, which suited the Ferrari number one. Exiting the tight La Source hairpin Coulthard lost control of his McLaren and shot across the track in front of the pack. The result was a multiple accident involving 13 cars. There was little option but to stop the race.
Hill made an excellent getaway when the race re-started and led from an equally impressive Eddie Irvine. Hakkinen’s race lasted only a few yards, before contact with Michael Schumacher sent him into a spin and out of the Grand Prix. Irvine allowed Michael Schumacher past before the safety car was deployed, to slow the field while Hakkinen’s stricken McLaren was retrieved.
When the safety car pulled in Michael Schumacher immediately pressured Hill and was quickly past, after which he pulled away at an astonishing rate. Everything was going perfectly for the Ferrari driver, until he came up to lap Coulthard, the McLaren shrouded in a ball of spray. Unsighted, the Ferrari ploughed into the McLaren and Michael Schumacher was left to return to the pits on three wheels. An irate Michael Schumacher stormed down the pit lane to confront Coulthard, who he accused of trying to kill him.
All of this action left Hill leading the Grand Prix from his team-mate Ralf Schumacher, with Jean Alesi third for Sauber. The German felt he was faster than Hill but the team instructed him not to overtake. They finished the race in that order, with Hill scoring Jordan’s first ever Formula 1 victory. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was fourth, Pedro Diniz fifth and Jarno Trulli sixth.
Ferrari 1-2 in Italian Grand Prix at Monza
Michael Schumacher was on pole at Monza but found himself relegated to fifth at the start. Coulthard led for a few laps, before his engine failed. Michael Schumacher recovered well and managed to pass Hakkinen for the lead. The Finn had a frustrating afternoon, spinning on one occasion and then struggling with fading brakes.
At the finish it was a Ferrari 1-2, headed by Michael Schumacher. His brother Ralf Schumacher was third for Jordan, followed by Hakkinen. Alesi finished in fifth and the final point went to Hill.
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