The 1998 Formula 1 season was contested over 16 races. Mika Häkkinen claimed his first World Drivers' Championship driving for McLaren-Mercedes, with McLaren also winning the Constructors' Championship. The season introduced new regulations including grooved tyres and narrower cars to reduce cornering speeds. Michael Schumacher and Ferrari mounted a strong title challenge but ultimately fell short after a dramatic finale in Japan.
McLaren's MP4-13 proved immediately dominant as Mika Häkkinen won the Australian Grand Prix ahead of teammate David Coulthard. Coulthard honored a pre-race agreement that whoever led into the first corner would win, allowing Häkkinen to pass on the final lap. McLaren lapped the entire field.
David Coulthard won the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, securing his first victory of the season. Mika Häkkinen finished second, giving McLaren another 1-2 finish and extending their early championship lead over Ferrari and Michael Schumacher.
Michael Schumacher won the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, claiming Ferrari's first victory of the 1998 season and ending McLaren's run of early-season dominance. Giancarlo Fisichella finished second for Benetton, with Eddie Irvine third in the second Ferrari.
Michael Schumacher won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone despite receiving a stop-and-go penalty for overtaking under a safety car. He served the penalty on the final lap, crossing the finish line in the pit lane before stopping at his garage. The win kept Schumacher in close contention with Häkkinen in the championship.
The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps featured one of the most famous first-lap crashes in F1 history, involving 13 cars in wet conditions at Eau Rouge. After a restart, Michael Schumacher crashed into David Coulthard's McLaren while lapping him, losing a wheel. Damon Hill went on to win, giving the Jordan team their maiden Formula 1 victory, with teammate Ralf Schumacher finishing second.
Michael Schumacher won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in front of the passionate Ferrari tifosi, closing the championship gap to Mika Häkkinen. Eddie Irvine completed a Ferrari 1-2 finish, while Häkkinen finished fourth, setting up a tense title battle for the final races.
Mika Häkkinen won the Luxembourg Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, taking pole position and leading a McLaren 1-2 with David Coulthard. Michael Schumacher finished third, meaning the championship would be decided at the final race in Japan with Häkkinen leading by four points.
Mika Häkkinen won the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka to secure his first World Drivers' Championship. Michael Schumacher started from pole but suffered a poor start and later retired with a punctured tyre after running over debris. Häkkinen's victory gave him the title by 14 points over Schumacher, and McLaren secured the Constructors' Championship.
