1998 Monaco Grand Prix
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 6 of 16 in the 1998 Formula One season | |||
 | |||
| Date | 24 May 1998 | ||
| Official name | Grand Prix de Monaco | ||
| Location | Circuit de Monaco | ||
| Course | Street circuit | ||
| Course length | 3.367 km (2.092 mi) | ||
| Distance | 78 laps, 262.626 km (163.188 mi) | ||
| Weather | Hot and sunny with temperatures reaching up to 22 °C (72 °F)[1] | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
| Time | 1:19.798 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Mika Häkkinen | McLaren-Mercedes | |
| Time | 1:22.948 on lap 29 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
| Second | Benetton-Playlife | ||
| Third | Ferrari | ||
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The 1998 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monaco on 24 May 1998. The race was won by Mika Häkkinen, his fourth win of the season. Häkkinen recorded a grand chelem, having taken pole, set fastest lap, and led every lap of the race.
Qualifying summary
The biggest surprise in qualifying on the Saturday was Giancarlo Fisichella. He managed to put his car up into third place, behind only the two McLaren-Mercedes. At one stage Fisichella was the fastest driver. Michael Schumacher, who was fighting for the world championship, qualified fourth which was a big disappointment for the thousands of Italian fans who travelled to Monaco for the race.
Race summary
A perfect start from both McLaren-Mercedes saw them lead through the first corner, with Häkkinen ahead of Coulthard. Fisichella and Schumacher were running 3rd and 4th. In the early stages the two McLaren-Mercedes pulled ahead, netting 12 fastest laps between them from laps 4 to 12. The pack stretched out behind them, while Heinz-Harald Frentzen succumbed to pressure from Eddie Irvine. On lap 18 David Coulthard retired with engine problems.
Michael Schumacher was first to pit for fuel on lap 30. One lap later Giancarlo Fisichella went in, although he came out of the pits behind the Ferrari. Soon Michael came up behind Alexander Wurz and tried to get past him at all costs. When the two came to the Lowes corner, Michael went down the inside but the Austrian did not give way. The two cars touched and the Ferrari was damaged. Michael went in to pit for repairs, and he eventually came out three laps down on the leader Mika Häkkinen.
Wurz appeared unaffected by the contact, but his suspension broke due to damage from the collision and he had a huge accident coming out of the tunnel, finally stopping at the Nouvelle chicane. After Wurz's second accident on lap 42, the order was Mika Häkkinen followed by Giancarlo Fisichella, Eddie Irvine, Jean Alesi, and Mika Salo. However five laps from the end Jean Alesi experienced gearbox problems, and he was forced to pull out of the race, promoting Pedro Diniz to sixth. Michael Schumacher attempted to pass Diniz in the chicane, but they made contact. This second accident broke his front wing, and Michael finally ended up two laps down in tenth place, out of the points.
Classification
Qualifying
Race
Championship standings after the race
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- Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
Notes
- Lap leaders: Mika Häkkinen 78 (1-78)
References
- ↑ Weather info for the 1998 Monaco Grand Prix at Weather Underground
- ↑ "1998 Monaco Grand Prix". formula1.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
| Previous race: 1998 Spanish Grand Prix |
FIA Formula One World Championship 1998 season |
Next race: 1998 Canadian Grand Prix |
| Previous race: 1997 Monaco Grand Prix |
Monaco Grand Prix | Next race: 1999 Monaco Grand Prix |
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Coordinates: 43°44′4.74″N 7°25′16.8″E / 43.7346500°N 7.421333°E