The F1 Career Story [1999-2024]

FORMULA ONE 1999 SEASON: Rematch between Häkkinen and Schumacher

The 1999 season in Formula One is expected to become a rematch between defending world champion Mika Häkkinen of McLaren-Mercedes and challenger Michael Schumacher, the former double world champion now racing with Ferrari.

Ever since Schumacher joined the Scuderia in 1996, FERRARI have inched ever closer to the top. At first that was only due to the brilliance of the German driver, but lately it seems team mate Eddie Irvine has stepped up his game. This gives Ferrari a fighting chance in the Constructors championship as well and in the end, that's where the money is being won or lost.

MCLAREN has had its team put together in 1996 as well, pairing Häkkinen to David Coulthard who appears to be the ideal wingman. Fast enough to go for win, Coulthard never seems to be able to stay close to Häkkinen for a longer period of time.  This time though, his role will be more about defending the team crown, rather than to go on the attack.

WILLIAMS did not change their car much (their Mecachome power units were rebadged into Supertec, but it effectively remains the same engine), but do present a fully fresh line-up while the team is eager to start their partnership with BMW which will enter F1 in the year 2000. This is where the need for German driver Ralf Schumacher comes in and he's being paired with CART champion Alessandro Zanardi who drove for Minardi, Jordan and Lotus in the early nineties and now makes an F1-comeback. For this season, Williams are happy to sit in a comfortable third spot, directly behind McLaren and Ferrari, as their drivers and staff gear up to go in guns blazing next season.

In 1998 JORDAN became a team that not only can fight for points or podiums, but also wins! Former world champion Damon Hill drove his Jordan - Mugen Honda package to a win on Spa-Francorchamps. The package and the race winner have stayed on, while Heinz-Harald Frentzen joins the team, ironically the same person that Hill had to vacate his Williams-seat for in 1997. Given both men's history at Williams, the two drivers ought to feel eager to jump their former team in the pecking order: a title fight might be a bridge too far, but going for the podium this season is a realistic goal.

BENETTON are finally being lead by somebody with the same name. Rocco Benetton (29) is the new team principle after David Richards called it quits. The line-up however remains unchanged with Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz as driver pair. Meanwhile, Flavio Briatore's influence over the team is ever present, with his company Supertec providing former Renault engines. Benetton's bills to Supertec are slightly higher than that of Williams or BAR as Benetton pays extra to be allowed to call their engines Playlife (a brand subject to Benetton itself).

Further down the field we have RED BULL SAUBER who give Jean Alesi and Pedro Diniz the 1998 Ferrari engines, now called Petronas. TWR ARROWS field a nice package, though the Hart-engine v8 is expected to fall short in absolute power. Initially, Mika Salo was expected to stay on with the team, but Walkinshaw and Hart opted to increase financial resources via the sponsorship money that Pedro de la Rosa and Toranosuke Takagi bring in.

STEWART stick with Rubens Barrichello. Jos Verstappen was to stay with the team but couldn't get a budget together, which is why he's being replaced by Johnny Herbert, much like the situation at Benetton in late 1994 / early 1995. The team have exclusive rights to Ford's factory engine which they now finally hope will pair power with reliability. PROST retains their deal with Peugeot and also the driver pairing at the end of 1998, with Olivier Panis and Jarno Trulli filling the seats.

MINARDI have sparked controversy by fielding a 17 year old rookie, Daniel Marzec. Marzec, like Alexander Wurz, is being managed by Flavio Briatore, who has good ties with team boss Giancarlo Minardi and kept the team alive when financial troubles arrose. Minardi partners Marzec with Marc Gené from Spain and gives both drivers the 1996 client's engine from Ford. The V10 comes short in power but Minardi's technical director Gustav Brunner and chief designer George Ryton have designed a significantly lighter car.

Finally, a newcomer or is it? BRITISH AMERICAN RACING or BAR is the successor to the legendary Tyrrell outfit. It combines the pedigre of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, former Renault-engines called Supertec supplied by Briatore (the very same Villeneuve took his championship with) and a car designed by Adrian Reynard. What could possibly go wrong? Modesty is for losers and Reynard has openly stated they are in it for poles and race wins from day one!