1999 Formula 1 Review
Mika Hakkinen Won Second F1 World Championship at Suzuka
The 1999 Formula 1 season was an eventful one. In the first half of the year Michael Schumacher was defending champion Mika Hakkinen’s strongest challenger, but the Ferrari number one crashed at Silverstone and broke his leg. His team-mate, Eddie Irvine, then surprised many by taking the fight to Hakkinen and McLaren. With three races remaining the title was still undecided.
Stewart Grand Prix’s Maiden Formula 1 Victory
Heinz-Harald Frentzen was a surprise pole-sitter at the Nurburgring, for the European Grand Prix. David Coulthard started from second and Hakkinen was third in the other McLaren. Irvine was in trouble, and could only manage ninth on the grid.
Frentzen led Hakkinen at the start, but further back Pedro Diniz was tipped upside down by the Benetton of Alex Wurz. The Sauber’s rollover bar failed, but fortunately Diniz was able to walk away.
Rain started to fall, with several drivers opting to change tyres. Ferrari had a disastrous stop, with only three wheels brought out for Irvine’s car. Frentzen’s strong run came to an end with an engine failure, leaving Coulthard in the lead. When more rain fell the Scotsman was caught out and slid off. Ralf Schumacher inherited the lead, only to drop back with a puncture.
Giancarlo Fisichella had a turn at the front, but he too lost control in the tricky conditions. This left Johnny Herbert in first position, and he kept his Stewart on the track to score the team’s first victory in Formula 1. Jarno Trulli was second for Prost, ahead of Rubens Barrichello in the other Stewart. Ralf Schumacher finished fourth, ahead of Hakkinen and Marc Gene in a Minardi. Gene’s team-mate, Luca Badoer, had been running in fourth position late on, before his car ground to halt on the main straight. Badoer was so upset that he leaned on his broken Minardi and started crying.
Irvine Wins Inaugural Malaysian Grand Prix
Sepang was a new venue for Formula 1 in 1999. Michael Schumacher had recovered from his Silverstone crash and marked his return by taking pole, ahead of Irvine. In the race Michael Schumacher allowed Irvine to pas him, then concentrated on holding up Hakkinen et al.
Coulthard made it past the Ferrari at one point, but went out of the race with fuel pump failure. Irvine won the race from his team-mate, with Hakkinen a frustrated third. Herbert was fourth, Barrichello fifth and Frentzen sixth. After the race the barge boards used by Ferrari were deemed illegal, giving the title to Hakkinen. After an appeal Ferrari were reinstated, meaning that the championship would be decided at the final race of the season in Japan.
Hakkinen Wins Second Formula 1 World Championship
Michael Schumacher was on pole at Suzuka, but could not match the scintillating pace of Hakkinen in the race. Irvine qualified badly, starting from fifth on the grid. He eventually finished third, behind his team-mate, but it was not enough. Hakkinen won the Grand Prix and his second Formula 1 World Championship. Frentzen rounded off a good year with fourth place. Ralf Schumacher was fifth across the line and Jean Alesi sixth.
1999 F1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen
|
Latest Articles