1998 Japanese Grand Prix
The 1998 Japanese Grand Prix (formally the XXIV Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held at Suzuka, Mie, Japan on 1 November 1998. It was the sixteenth and final round of the 1998 FIA Formula One World Championship. The 51-lap race was won by Mika Häkkinen driving for the McLaren-Mercedes team. Eddie Irvine, driving for Ferrari, finished second with David Coulthard third in the other McLaren. Häkkinen's win confirmed him as 1998 Drivers' Champion as title-rival Michael Schumacher retired with a punctured tyre on Lap 31.
| 1998 Japanese Grand Prix | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 16 of 16 in the 1998 Formula One World Championship
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| Race details | |||||
| Date | 1 November 1998 | ||||
| Official name | XXIV Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix | ||||
| Location | Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Mie, Japan | ||||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
| Course length | 5.860 km (3.641 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 51 laps, 298.868 km (185.708 miles) | ||||
| Scheduled distance | 53 laps, 310.588 km (192.990 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Fine | ||||
| Attendance | 318,000 | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Ferrari | ||||
| Time | 1:36.293 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | |||
| Time | 1:40.190 on lap 19 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | McLaren-Mercedes | ||||
| Second | Ferrari | ||||
| Third | McLaren-Mercedes | ||||
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Lap leaders | |||||
Schumacher started on pole position but stalled on the formation lap, meaning he was forced to start at the back of the grid. Schumacher managed to climb the field during the course of the race and eventually retired from a punctured tyre sustained from running over debris from an incident that occurred previously. This was the last race for the Tyrrell racing team, as the team was rebranded into British American Racing the next season.