Austrian Grand Prix

Position:

Driver:

Team:

Time:

1.

G Fisichella

Benetton

1min 29.598secs

2.

J Alesi

Sauber

+0.719

3.

M Hakkinen

Mclaren

+0.919

4.

M Schumacher

Ferrari

+0.953

5.

R Barrichello

Stewart

+1.407

6.

M Salo

Arrows

+1.430

7.

HH Frentzen

Williams

+1.917

8.

E Irvine

Ferrari

+2.053

9.

R Schumacher

Jordan

+2.319

10.

O.Panis

Prost

+2.483

11.

J.Villeneuve

Williams

+2.486

12.

J. Verstappen

Stewart

+2.501

13.

P.Diniz

Arrows

+2.608

14.

D Coulthard

Mclaren

+2.801

15.

D Hill

Jordan

16.

J Trulli

Prost

17.

A Wurz

Benetton

18.

J.Herbert

Sauber

19.

E Tuero

Minardi

+3.801

20.

T Takagi

Tyrrell

+4.492

21.

S.Nakano

Minardi

22.

R Rosset

Tyrrell

+5.312

The lead changed numerous times in the last ten minutes but as the chequered flag came out it seemed that Alesi would take a surprise pole position for Sauber.

Giancarlo Fisichella had other ideas. He crossed the finish line just before the end of the session and snatched pole.

The Ferrari's had mixed fortunes. Schumacher spent most of the session in third but was pipped by Hakkinen. Irvine ended alowly eighth.

Position:

Driver:

Team:

Time:/Cause:

Mika Hakkinen had made a very good start to lead the field in his McLaren behind the safety car from Michael Schumacher in the Ferrari, Giancarlo Fisichella in the Benetton in third from pole position, Rubens Barrichello in the Stewart, Jean Alesi from the first row back to fifth and Eddie Irvine in the other Ferrari in sixth spot. When the safety car pulled off the circuit two or three laps later Michael Schumacher was all over the back of Mika Hakkinen, nearly got past but lost second place to Fisichella in the process.

Schumacher was soon back in second ahead of Fisichella and once again set about Hakkinen. However, on lap 19 he overdid it, jumped over the kerb and destroyed the front wing on his Ferrari causing a slow lap, an entry into the pits for a new nose and back out again at the back of the pack. At about the same time the engine in the William's of Heinz-Harald Frentzen blew up in a big way putting him out from sixth spot. The story of much of the race was the incredible drivers of David Coulthard and Michael Schumacher carving through the field after their respective earlier mishaps.

The order on lap 33 was Hakkinen, with Coulthard amazingly up to second, Irvine, Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli, Jacques Villeneuve, Johnny Herbert and Michael Schumacher. During the pitstops Coulthard even led the race for a lap or two but by lap 56 the order was Hakkinen, 15 seconds ahead of Coulthard, Eddie Irvine 15 seconds ahead of Michael Schumacher who had just spent a few exciting laps all over the back of his brother Ralf's Jordan fighting for that fourth spot. Ralf certainly made his brother fight for the extra place with Michael nearly going into the gravel but for some superb car control.

The order on lap 61 was Hakkinen, 17 secs ahead of David Coulthard, 22 secs ahead of Irvine, 12 secs ahead of Michael Schumacher, 6 secs ahead of Ralf Schumacher, 12 secs ahead of Jacques Villeneuve. With seven laps to go and remember with team orders officially outlawed this year in article 151 Eddie Irvine apparently found himself with, according to Ferrari's Jean Todt, some brake trouble which allowed his team-mate Michael Schumacher to close quickly behind him to take third place on lap 69 out of 71 pushing Irvine out of the podium positions.

In the end a comfortable victory for Mika Hakkinen with his McLaren team-mate David Coulthard equally secure in second spot. The Ferraris made up the next two places with Ralf Schumacher in the Jordan gaining points for the second race in a row fifth, and Jacques Villenuve in the Williams sixth.