1998 Monaco GP – Hakkinen dominates from pole and wins his second Grand Chelem

Mika Hakkinen secured a convincing victory on the streets of Monte Carlo from the pole position, leading in all laps of the race and driving the fastest lap, which was his second Grand Chelem in Formula 1 after 1998 Brazilian GP.

The new big change of rules for 1998 brought narrower cars and grooved tyres and McLaren switched to Bridgestone, which proved to be a better tyre in 1998. The McLaren – Mercedes alliance was already very strong in 1997 with three victories, with numerous retirements due to unreliability, and in 1998 it all fell into place and Hakkinen had been a serious candidate for the title from the beginning of the season.

After the first five races of the season, Hakkinen had seven points more than Coulthard and 12 points more than Schumacher while McLaren had 30 points more than Ferrari.

Hakkinen won a convincing pole position in Monaco (1:19.798), 0.339 seconds ahead of Coulthard and 0.570 seconds ahead of Fisichella in Benetton while Michael Schumacher started just fourth with 0.904 seconds behind.

The McLarens started well ahead of Fisichella and Schumacher and in the first 17 laps Hakkinen had 3.744 seconds ahead of Coulthard and 17.349 seconds ahead of Fisichella who kept Schumacher at bay.

But Coulthard retired with an engine failure in the next lap and the drivers behind him moved up one place. Schumacher pitted in lap 30, Fisichella one lap later, but he came back behind the German. But Schumacher came back behind Wurz who was not in the pits and tried to overtake him at all costs to lose as little time as possible.

This proved to be a bad decision because Michael failed to pass Wurz in the slow Loews after he damaged his car and had to pit, after which he returned with three laps behind Hakkinen.

Although Wurz did not seem to have suffered any damage, he  damaged the suspension, causing a big crash on the tunnel exit and stopping in the lap 42.

Hakkinen celebrated with 11.475 seconds ahead of Fisichella and 41.378 seconds ahead of Irvine, with Salo in Arrows, Villeneuve in Williams and Diniz in Second Arrow also scored.

STARTING GRID

RACE RESULTS

Fastest lap: Mika Hakkinen – 1:22.948 (lap 29)

DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER 6/16 RACES

CONSTRUCTORS’ CHAMPIONSHIP

RACE