1999 Formula 1 World Championship
Schumacher's F1 Title Hopes Ended with British Grand Prix Crash
The battle for the 1999 Formula 1 World Championship seemed to be between Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher, but that would change at Silverstone. Hakkinen would find himself fighting for the title with Ferrari’s other driver, Eddie Irvine.
Schumacher’s F1 Title Hopes End with Silverstone Crash
Hakkinen claimed pole for the British Grand Prix, with Michael Schumacher on his hells in second place. David Coulthard started from third and Irvine was fourth. Magny-Cours winner Heinz-Harald Frentzen was fifth, with his Jordan team-mate Damon Hill sixth.
At Stowe corner, on the first lap of the race, Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari left the track at considerable speed, skipped across a gravel trap and slammed hard into a tyre wall. The race was stopped while the German driver was extricated from the wreckage. He suffered a broken right leg, which was fairly good news considering the violence of the crash. It did, however, end his World Championship hopes. Irvine would now have to carry the expectations of Ferrari and Italy on his shoulders.
Hakkinen led the re-started race, with Irvine second and Coulthard third. The Ferrari driver dropped behind Coulthard after a problematic pit stop, but Hakkinen also had problems. The Finn parked his McLaren after losing a wheel and feeling the car was unsafe despite a replacement being fitted. Coulthard was left to win his home Grand Prix, while Irvine gained points on Hakkinen in the championship by finishing second. Ralf Schumacher was third for Williams, with Frentzen fourth, Hill fifth and Pedro Diniz sixth.
Irvine Wins at the A1 Ring
There were many people in Formula 1 who doubted Irvine had the ability to challenge Hakkinen for the title. In Austria he answered his critics by winning the Grand Prix. His path to victory was eased at the very first corner, when Coulthard tipped his team-mate Hakkinen into a spin. Coulthard went on to finish less than half a second behind Irvine, while Hakkinen put in a storming drive to end up third. Frentzen again scored good points with a fourth place finish in his Jordan. Alex Wurz was fifth for Benetton and the final point once again went to Sauber’s Diniz.
Irvine Takes Formula 1 Title Lead at Hockenheim
Mika Salo was hired by Ferrari to replace Michael Schumacher and, at Hockenheim, the Finn proved to be the perfect team player. After problems for both McLaren drivers Salo led. Despite being on course to score his maiden Formula 1 victory he dutifully obeyed team orders and allowed Irvine past into the lead. Frentzen was third, Ralf Schumacher fourth, Coulthard fifth and Olivier Panis sixth for Prost. Hakkinen crashed out of the race in spectacular fashion when a tyre failed. The win gave Irvine an eight point lead over Hakkinen in the World Championship.
Jacques Villeneuve, 1999 BAR F1 car
|
Latest Articles