1998 German Grand Prix

Championship standings

Häkkinen won Austria to open up breathing room again. Consecutive wins in Austria and Germany for McLaren would confirm they still have the fastest car despite Schumacher’s three-race winning streak.

Previous race

At the A1-Ring, qualifying was disrupted by wet conditions that dried out towards the end of the session, producing an unusual grid with Fisichella on his first career pole and Alesi alongside him in the Sauber. Häkkinen led away from the start on a one-stop strategy while Schumacher ran two stops, which proved costly after he ran wide through the gravel and damaged his front wing, rejoining almost a lap down. Coulthard recovered from last place after first-lap collisions to finish second. Schumacher took third helped by Irvine, who slowed in the final stages to let his team leader past.

Entrants

Ferrari brings a new long-wheelbase chassis to Hockenheim, making its Grand Prix debut. Schumacher tried it during Friday practice but set it aside. Williams also has a new long-wheelbase car for Villeneuve. McLaren has reportedly threatened to protest Ferrari’s new braking system, and there are suggestions Ferrari has removed the system to avoid scrutiny.