Hakkinen triumphs with first Championship

(1-Nov-98) - After a year-long battle of thrills, controversy and
excitement it took until lap 32 of the final round of the sixteen race
championship for the title to be decided.

Yet again, Michael Schumacher drove the race of his life, having stalled at
the second of three starts and having to start from the back of the grid.
Up to thirteenth place at the end of the first lap, he gradually worked his
way up to third place behind championship leader Mika Hakkinen's McLaren
and Ferrari team mate Eddie Irvine.

Had Hakkinen retired, Schumacher would have been champion, but this time it
was bad luck for Schumacher. Not a controversial incident, but a plain and
simple puncture.

It was unbridled joy on the McLaren pitwall as the Flying Finn drove by -
his first championship, the tenth drivers' championship and eighth
constructors' championship for McLaren, ending a seven year streak of
failure. First championships for Mercedes in the modern era and Bridgestone
in only its second year of F1 competition.

There was joy in the Williams pit as well, with the team taking third in
the constructors' championship, while a spectacular last lap manoeuvre by
Damon Hill guaranteed Jordan its best ever finish in the constructors'
championship - fourth ahead of Benetton, who struggled all race.

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