The 1998 German Grand Prix
Hockenheim, 31st July-2nd August

Sunday - Race

Johnny's comments:

"I had a reasonable start, and for a while on the first lap Jean and I swapped places until I got caught on the inside at the second chicane. Then Barrichello, who was on a two-stop strategy, came by me on the straight.

"After my stop the car felt pretty good and the lap times were reasonable. I could maintain the gap to Jean. But then fourth gear only operated if I was accelerating, not when I downshifted. I missed a chicane as a result. I discovered that if I changed down quickly I could get third gear, but going into the 36th lap when I down-changed at the first corner I only got the gear momentarily. Then as the car went into neutral the system cut out the engine. A disappointing end to a disappointing weekend for me."

Jean Alesi's comments:

"The start was not so good for me because when Wurz nearly stalled I had to lift off and move to the left to avoid hitting him. I lost some ground as a result, but was able to make it up in the traffic.

"After that I pushed hard all race. The car was fine and gave me absolutely no problem today, but it just wasn't quick enough. But I am happy for the team because whatever the position, it was important that we finished. Now we can start to build again to score points in Hungary."

Peter Sauber's comments:

"An uneventful race. Comparing it with our grid position, we were only able to make up one place."

Race results:

1 Mika Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes: 1:20:47.984
2 David Coulthard, McLaren-Mercedes: +0.427s
3 Jacques Villeneuve, Williams-Mecachrome: + 2.578s
4 Damon Hill, Jordan-Mugen Honda: +7.185s
5 Michael Schumacher, Ferrari: +12.613s
6 Ralf Schumacher, Jordan-Mugen Honda: + 29.739s
7 Giancarlo Fisichella, Benetton-Playlife: +31.027s
8 Eddie Irvine, Ferrari: +31.650s
9 Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Williams-Mecachrome: +32.785s
10 Jean Alesi, Sauber-Petronas: +48.372s

Johnny did not finish due to a gearbox problem.

Saturday - Qualifying

Johnny's comments:

"This morning I had a major problem with my car after the gearbox electronics malfunctioned, and in turn damaged the box itself. I missed the majority of the session, and it's always difficult when that happens because you just don't have the time in qualifying to try to improve your set-up.

"This afternoon was therefore very difficult. The car still felt bad because of the lost set-up time. It was oversteering, and giving me little feedback. I didn't really feel in contact with the ground a lot of the time, and we never seemed to find a decent set-up in the time available."

Jean Alesi's comments:

"Well, I really tried! I changed the set-up a little bit mid-way through the session this afternoon, to see if we could make the car better but it was a couple of tenths slower. So for my last run I went back to the same downforce I started with and the car felt happier that way. It then was a matter of trying to do a lap with zero mistakes. That's very difficult here, especially when you are jumping over the kerbs and you don't know quite how the car will land. My last lap was a good one; I'm not really sure whether it was possible to improve on it."

Peter Sauber's comments:

"To be honest we expected to be higher up the grid, having achieved our target lap times. "

Qualifying times:

1 Hakkinen, McLaren Mercedes: 1min 41.838s
2 Coulthard, McLaren Mercedes: +0.509s
3 Villeneuve, Williams-Mecachrome: +0.527s
4 R Schumacher, Jordan Mugen-Honda: +1.156s
5 Hill, Jordan Mugen-Honda: +1.345s
6 Irvine, Ferrari: +1.432s
7 Wurz, Benetton Playlife: +1.503s
8 Fisichella, Benetton Playlife: +1.531s
9 M Schumacher, Ferrari: +1.621s
10 Frentzen, Williams Mecachrome: +1.629s
11 Alesi, Sauber Petronas: +1.825s
12 Herbert, Sauber Petronas: +2.761s

Friday - Practice

Johnny's comments:

"I started out with a similar set-up to Jean's today, but for some reason my car has been oversteering a lot more than his. It was especially bad in the last section, where I spun this afternoon. It's odd, because the changes we made to the front of the car should have helped to reduce the oversteer, but they didn't have much effect at all."

Jean Alesi's comments:

"I'm happy. Straight away the car was competitive, and it has been quick all day regardless of fuel load. It feels really good in all conditions. I don't think I'll be looking for pole position tomorrow, but we will be trying for a place in the top eight, and I am confident we can achieve that."

Peter Sauber's comments:

"This is the first time we have run the '98 car on a high-speed track, and the overall impression is encouraging. Jean and Johnny worked through their planned programmes without any problems, and both the top speed and the handling of the C17s in the stadium are promising. All in all, this has been a satisfactory preparation for tomorrow."

Times from first practice:

1. Mika Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes - 1:43.946
2. David Coulthard, McLaren-Mercedes - 1:44.138
3. Damon Hill, Jordan-Mugen Honda - 1:44.294
4. Jean Alesi, Sauber-Petronas - 1:44.546
5. Michael Schumacher, Ferrari - 1:44.757
6. Eddie Irvine, Ferrari - 1:44.780
7. Jacques Villeneuve, Williams-Mecachrome - 1:44.928
8. H-H Frentzen, Williams-Mecachrome - 1:45.186
9. Johnny Herbert, Sauber-Petronas - 1:45.364
10. Ralf Schumacher, Jordan-Mugen Honda - 1:45.511

Every effort is made to ensure factual accuracy but
no responsibility is accepted for this information.
Photos by kind permission of Sauber.
Last updated 2nd August 1998