1998 Monaco Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Grand Prix = Monaco
Country = Monaco


Date = May 24
Year = 1998
Race_No = 6
Season_No = 16
Official name = Grand Prix de Monaco
Course = Street circuit
Location = Circuit de Monaco
Course_mi = 2.08
Course_km = 3.34
Distance_laps = 78
Distance_mi = 162.24
Distance_km = 260.52
Weather = Hot and Sunny
Pole_Driver = flagicon|FIN Mika Häkkinen
Pole_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
Pole_Time = 1:19.798
Fast_Driver = Mika Häkkinen
Fast_Country = Finland
Fast_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
Fast_Time = 1:22.948
Fast_L

First_Driver = Mika Häkkinen
First_Team = McLaren-Mercedes
First_Country = Finland
Second_Driver = Giancarlo Fisichella
Second_Team = Benetton-Playlife
Second_Country= Italy
Third_Driver = Eddie Irvine
Third_Team = Ferrari
Third_Country = UK

The 1998 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One held at Monaco on May 24, 1998. The race was won by Mika Häkkinen, his fourth win of the season.

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 for the world championship qualified fourth which was a big disappointment for the thousand of Italian fans who travelled to Monaco for the race.

Race Summary

A perfect start from both McLaren-Mercedes sees them lead through the first corner, with Häkkinen ahead of Coulthard. Fisichella and Schumacher ran 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 retires with engine problems.

Michael Schumacher is first to pit for fuel on lap 30. One lap later Giancarlo Fisichella goes in, although he came out of the pits behind the Ferrari. Soon Michael came up behind Alexander Wurz and tries to get past him at all cost. When the two come to the Lowes corner, Michael went down the inside but the Austrian did not give way. The two cars touch, and the Ferrari is damaged. Michael goes in to pit for repairs, and he eventually comes 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 and finally stopping at the Nouvelle chicane. After Wurz's second accident on lap 42, the order is Mika Häkkinen followed by Giancarlo Fisichella, Eddie Irvine, Jean Alesi, and Mika Salo. However five laps from the end Jean Alesi experiences gearbox problems, and he is 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 breaks his front wing, and Michael finally ends up two laps down in tenth place, out of the points.

Classification

tandings After Grand Prix

Drivers
*1 Mika Häkkinen - McLaren-Mercedes - 46
*2 David Coulthard - McLaren-Mercedes - 29
*3 Michael Schumacher - Ferrari - 24
*4 Eddie Irvine - Ferrari - 15
*5 Alexander Wurz - Benetton-Playlife - 9
*6= Heinz-Harald Frentzen - Williams-Mecachrome - 8
*6= Jacques Villeneuve - Williams-Mecachrome - 8
*8 Giancarlo Fisichella - Benetton-Playlife - 7
*9= Jean Alesi - Sauber-Petronas - 3
*9= Mika Salo - Arrows - 3
*11 Rubens Barrichello - Stewart-Ford - 2
*12= Johnny Herbert - Sauber-Petronas - 1
*12= Pedro Diniz - Arrows - 1

Constructors
*1 McLaren-Mercedes - 75
*2 Ferrari - 39
*3= Williams-Mecachrome - 16
*3= Benetton-Playlife - 16
*5= Sauber-Petronas - 4
*5= Arrows - 4
*7 Stewart-Ford - 2

Notes

*Fastest L

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Monaco Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1998
Previous_race_in_season = 1998 Spanish Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 1998 Canadian Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1997 Monaco Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1999 Monaco Grand Prix