1998 Australian Grand Prix

The season opens at Albert Park — the sixth running of the Australian Grand Prix on this venue and the third at the current circuit layout. The race is the first under two significant rule changes: grooved tyres replace slicks for the first time since 1970, and car track width has been cut from 2,000 mm to 1,800 mm.

Entrants

The tyre split is one of the defining stories heading into the season. McLaren and Benetton have moved to Bridgestone, while Williams and Ferrari remain with Goodyear. How each supplier has adapted the new grooved compounds will be tested in earnest here for the first time.

Reigning champion Jacques Villeneuve returns with Williams, but the team is without Renault engines for the first time since 1989, running Mecachrome instead. Michael Schumacher leads Ferrari alongside Eddie Irvine. Damon Hill, the 1996 World Champion, makes his Jordan debut alongside Ralf Schumacher after signing over the winter.

Milestones

This is the first Formula One race for Bridgestone in direct competition against Goodyear on the same circuit. Goodyear has won every Grand Prix since the 1991 Canadian Grand Prix.