The 1998 British Grand Prix
Silverstone, 10th-12th July

Sunday - Race

Johnny's comments:

"I was on a one-stop-strategy and that seemed to be going well. I was aware that it was Jean right behind me on the 24th lap, but I was driving my own race. Then the team began talking to me on the radio shortly afterwards, but it was impossible to hear what anybody was actually saying because of the interference. Going into Priory on the 27th lap I started to wave him by, but it's difficult when you are racing in such conditions, trying to decipher a radio message, and watching your mirrors. I spun off into the dirt, and as soon as I felt the marshals pushing me I knew it was over because outside assistance in such situations is illegal. I just drove round to the pits to retire. For me, a very frustrating British GP on a day when I could have scored some points."

Jean Alesi's comments:

"I made another great start, and the car felt strong throughout the race. My two-stop strategy worked very well and fourth place seemed definite. But even while the safety car was out close to the finish the team could see on the telemetry that the electrical system was losing its charge. That in turn affected the electro-hydraulic gearshift mechanism on the car. I was thus in trouble even before the race restarted, and though we tried all we could to keep up sufficient charge, it was no good. This is like Monaco, a good result lost in the closing stages."

Peter Sauber's comments:

"Today I don´t want to say any more!"

Results:

1 M Schumacher, Ferrari - 1hr.47:12.4
2 Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes - 1hr.47:24.9
3 Irvine, Ferrari - 1hr.47:31.6
4 Wurz, Benneton Playlife
5 Fisichella, Benneton Playlife
6 R Schumacher, Jordan-Honda

Saturday - Qualifying

Johnny's comments:

"I don’t think it could have been much closer between Jean and I. Maybe if I´d squashed a couple more flies at high speed the nose of my car would have been long enough to cut the timing beam a fraction before his did!

"The handling of the car was horrible this morning. It was twitchy, and massive understeer would suddenly become flick oversteer exiting corners. But we calmed it down and once we got the balance right we were able to improve the ride too. By qualifying it felt as good as it had in Magny-Cours. If it stays dry tomorrow we know we have a very good race set-up, so I am determined to get some points."

Jean Alesi's comments:

"We have made gradual progress setting up the car this weekend and I am quite happy now with the way it performed on the last tyre from Goodyear. It is now better than it was during the test here last week, and I believe that we have a good set-up to race tomorrow."

Peter Sauber's comments:

"With both cars in the top 10 this is our best qualifying result this season, and all the more impressive because it is on the home track of the British teams. It is never easy to make a step forward in the middle of the season, so congratulations and thanks are due to the whole team and both drivers."

Times from final practice:

1 Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes - 1:23.271
2 M Schumacher, Ferrari - 1:23.720
3 Villeneuve, Williams-Mecachrome - 1:24.310
4 Coulthard, McLaren-Mercedes - 1:24.436
5 Irvine, Ferrari - 1:24.442
6 Frentzen, Williams-Mecachrome - 1:24.542
7 Hill, Jordan-Honda - 1:25.081
8 Alesi, Sauber-Petronas - 1:25.084
9 Herbert, Sauber-Petronas - 1:25.461
10 R Schumacher, Jordan-Honda - 1:25.654

Friday - Practice

Times from first practice:

1 Coulthard, McLaren-Mercedes - 1:25.640
2 Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes - 1:25.764
3 Frentzen, Williams-Mecachrome - 1:26.107
4 Villeneuve, Williams-Mecachrome - 1:26.114
5 Irvine, Ferrari - 1:26.791
6 Fisichella, Benetton-Playlife- 1:26.840
7 M Schumacher, Ferrari - 1:26.844
8 Wurz, Benetton-Playlife - 1.27.121
9 R Schumacher, Jordan-Honda - 1:27.460
10 Hill, Jordan-Honda - 1:27.667
11 Herbert, Sauber-Petronas - 1:27.978
12 Alesi, Sauber-Petronas- 1:28.136

Behind the wheel with Johnny Herbert

Autosport (9th July): We were hoping for better things at our recent test, but I still think there's a good deal in Sauber's favour at Silverstone, mainly because there are a lot of high-speed corners. Our car should be strong in Becketts and Stowe, for example.

Our biggest problem has always been the slow-speed stuff, but with the suspension changes we've had, that will be improved, so we should be a lot better off everywhere. I think Goodyear will be very strong once again, so I'm still quite optimistic.

Straight line speed is my main concern. It's strange -at the Magny Cours test we were in the top l0 past the pits, but on race weekend we were way out. It completely swapped around for no real reason, We checked everything on the car and couldn't find out what was wrong. Hopefully we can sort that out.

I think Ferrari will be competitive again this weekend. Magny-Cours was quite favourable for them, and there's no reason why they shouldn't have a good one at Silverstone. Michael Schumacher is always on top of it, and I'm sure Eddie Irvine will be keen to do well at home.

The next two races are important for McLaren, and David Coulthard really has to beat Mike Hakkinen at Silverstone to keep his chances alive. It's all closing up at the top!

As far as the track is concerned, the whole Becketts section is important to get right, as obviously you have to keep your speed up for the Hangar Straight. However, because you're in it for a short time you don't actually lose so much over a lap if you're flat or not quite flat.

However, Priory and the last couple of corners, Brooklands and Luffield, are very important. Because they're so slow, that's where you can lose a lot of time if you don't get them right. Silverstone is not particularly hard on tyres, but in qualifying the last part of the lap is normally where you're scrabbling for grip. You can lose a helluva lot in that section.

John Watson on Johnny in the Autosport British GP preview

This year Johnny has been doing a good job for Sauber, but the inherent problem is that if a team isn't big enough, sufficiently well funded, or doesn't have a manufacturer's engine, then it's very difficult to get up there with McLaren, Ferrari, Williams or Benetton. Having the right package is the biggest reflection of a driver's performance today.

Johnny and Jean Alesi are almost diametrically opposed characters, but both have something of the unfulfilled protege about them. Johnny is a driver whose ability has never fully been realised. That all goes back to that Formula 3000 accident at Brands Hatch 10 years ago. The crucial effect of that was to sap that momentum that can carry a driver from each stage of his career to the next. After that he had to try and get back and re-establish himself, but to do that he had to be given the right opportunity. The one time he's really had that was with Benetton in 1995, when I think the mistake that he made was to believe that he had been brought in to be equal number one with Michael. In fact he was intended to be Michael's longstop. Despite that he did a very good job and he won two races. But it's very difficult for a driver to come to terms with the dream and the reality when they differ. Benetton was Michael’s team, closed shop. Johnny's input always tended to be overshadowed.

He had some very good drives with Lotus, but he stayed there too long out of loyalty. He was very honourable to stick with it so long. He has a lot of skill - his natural talent is at least equal to and may be more than that of the other Brits but he hasn't managed his career well and that ability has never been harnessed and exploited at the right time.

The key in a racing driver's character is to be ambitious, ruthless and also single-minded. Johnny is a very nice, very good man. Too nice in many respects.

People in Fl have short memories, and Brazil 1989 is a long time ago. A lot of new talent has come along since then. If he couldn't be ruthless himself, what Johnny needed was someone - perhaps Eddie Jordan - to tell him to be like Ayrton, who analysed Toleman's potential and quickly rationalised that better opportunities lay at Lotus. It's a cynical approach, but that's how teams react to drivers in today's Grand Prix world.

What you are as a person is reflected in how you get on in life, and has nothing to do with raw ability. You need to create a situation where a team listens to you as a driver, where you grab control. Maybe Johnny has reached that situation with Sauber, but it may be too late.

Never forget that F1 is all about the perception those in control have of the drivers. If Johnny suddenly won three races for Sauber, all the top teams would be looking at him, but the likelihood is remote. All he can do is a bloody good job and hope to scrape into the top six. I think he would have to be happy with that this weekend.

Live online chat  with Johnny from Silverstone on Virgin Net

Thursday 9 July, 5-6pm: "Britain’s most charismatic Formula One driver is coming to the Virgin Net sport channel to answer your questions. In a repeat of last year’s live online chat the Sauber ace will be chatting direct from Silverstone in a break from practice for the British Grand Prix. He’ll be talking about his career so far, his aspirations for the future and explaining what it feels like to overtake Michael Schumacher at 200mph."

A log of the session is now online.

The Fan Club stand will not be at the British GP this year

Message from Bob Herbert:

"Sorry, but the Fan Club cannot afford the rent to have our usual stand at Silverstone this year, even though we have been there since 1992."

Every effort is made to ensure factual accuracy but
no responsibility is accepted for this information.
Thank you to Autosport for the two articles.
Photos by kind permission of Sauber.
Last updated 21st July 1998