1998 FF1M Season

The 1998 FF1M Season was the 11th season of FF1M. It commenced on 30th July 2009 and is concluded on Sunday October 4th. The Drivers Championship was won by Michael Schumacher driving for Dodgem Racing who also won the Teams Championship.

The season contained seventeen races in fifteen countries including the series first night race at the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore and the series first racing visit to the Laguna Seca circuit. This was notable as it marked a distinct change in the series organisers policy to follow the Formula One calender from the season year as much as possible.

The 1998 Season was also notable as the first season to run on a structured timetable with qualifying taking place on a Tuesday or Saturday and Races taking place on Wednesday's and Sunday's. This season the series was once again supported on weekend races by its feeder series FF1M-3000.

Teams and Drivers

Team	Title Sponsor	Engine	No.	Race Drivers	Test Drivers
Willow Images	Gauloises	Ferrari	1	Damon Hill
Willow Images	Gauloises	Ferrari	2	Kenny Brack
Gui Racing	Winfield	Ford (Works)	3	Ralf Schumacher
Gui Racing	Winfield	Ford (Works)	4	Jean Alesi
FJR	Mild Seven	Mecachrome	5	Jos Verstappen	Heinz-Harald Frentzen
			6	Allan McNish (1-14)
			6	Heinz-Harald Frentzen (15-17)
VTR	HSBC	Mecachrome	7	Eddie Irvine	Jarno Trulli
VTR	HSBC	Mecachrome	8	Johnny Herbert	Jarno Trulli
Maestro Motorsport	West	Peugeot (Works)	9	Bruno Junqueira
Maestro Motorsport	West	Peugeot (Works)	10	Marc Gene
AquinoPlus	Red Bull	Peugeot (Works)	11	Giancarlo Fisichella	Ricardo Zonta
AquinoPlus	Red Bull	Peugeot (Works)	12	Mika Salo	Ricardo Zonta
Pedersen	Q-Park	Mercedes (Works)	14	Jacques Villeneuve	Nick Heidfeld
Pedersen	Q-Park	Mercedes (Works)	15	Rubens Barrichello	Nick Heidfeld
Dodgem	B&H	Ferrari (Works)	16	Michael Schumacher
Dodgem	B&H	Ferrari (Works)	17	Mika Hakkinen
J Racing	JPS	Ford	18	Alexander Wurz
J Racing	JPS	Ford	19	Olivier Panis
Mason Motorsport	Grand Prix Roulette	Mercedes	20	David Coulthard
Mason Motorsport	Grand Prix Roulette	Mercedes	21	Juan Pablo Montoya
Dark Wolf	Danka	Mugen Honda	22	Jan Magnussen
Dark Wolf	Danka	Mugen Honda	23	Mark Blundell

Pre-season Predictions

World Champion Damon Hill brings the number one to Willow Images this season, but don’t expect a repeat of his championship winning form this year. The team will struggle for development with the customer Ferrari engine, and Kenny Brack has been propping up the timesheets in pre season testing. Prediction: 7th

Gui Racing have been playing down their chances throughout the off season, but they’ve developed Ralf Schumacher over a number of seasons and he could be one of the surprises of the year, whilst the Ford engine is a match for any other works engine in the field. With the teams trademark reliability, you can expect Gui Racing to score good consistent points this season, and maybe even challenge for both titles once again. Prediction: 2nd

FJR had a brilliant end to last season, and recorded their best ever championship finish. But it will be difficult for them to repeat that next season without a works supported engine. The Mecachrome engine has good power, but it will need a lot of development if its to keep up with the Ford and the Ferrari works teams. The team have also lost lead driver David Coulthard and whilst both Jos Verstappen and Allan McNish produced some superb displays last season the pace in testing has been poor and they could both be under threat from test driver Frentzen in results don’t go their way. Prediction: 4th

Like FJR, Vader Trophy Racing had a superb end to 1997 thanks largely to the Renault engine and its unlikely that success will be repeated in 98 despite the team welcoming two quick new drivers in Eddie Irvine and Johnny Herbert. Prediction: 5th

Maestro Motorsport are having a development season after missing out on the top drivers over the winter. Marc Gene and Bruno Junqueira have good development potential with their rookie status, and that will be needed with the new Peugeot engines. Don’t expect anything from the early races, but if testing goes well, they could be regular points scorers by the end of the season. Prediction: 9th

AquinoPlus will also be spending this season developing the Peugeot, however with a stronger driver line up of Mika Salo and Giancarlo Fisichella, you can expect them to be fighting for the lower points a bit earlier in the season. Prediction: 8th

This could be the season in which Pedersen finally returns to the front. Their works Mercedes engine is by no means the best in the field, but with last years runner up Jacques Villeneuve and race winner Rubens Barrichello they have the driver talent to develop and race the car to success. Podium finishes are the bare minimum the team will be expecting this season. Prediction: 3rd

Once the laughing stocks of the grid, Dodgem now have their best chance to not only win their first race, but challenge for the title. The 1996 championship winning combination of Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen could make it very easy for them with last seasons champion Ferrari Works Engine. Prediction: 1st

After a terrible 1997, J Racing will be looking for a strong upturn in form this season. Alexander Wurz showed good pace throughout 97 for ARacing and has been brought in alongside the experienced Olivier Panis to lead the teams charge for points next season. Prediction: 10th

They may be new to FF1M, but Mason's press release antics have been a thing of legend in the Paddock over the past 10 seasons from their time in AF1RL. Rookie Juan Pablo Montoya and last seasons Runner Up David Coulthard will lead the charge pushing the customer Mercedes engine to its limits. Prediction: 6th

The second of the seasons newcomers is Dark Wolf. And they will have a much harder baptism in FF1M. Drivers Jan Magnussen and Mark Blundell will struggle to get points in what will be a learning year for the team. Prediction: 11th

Season Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	Australian Grand Prix	Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne	8 March
2	Brazilian Grand Prix	Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Sao Paulo	29 March
3	San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	12 April
4	Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmelo	26 April
5	Austrian Grand Prix	A1-Ring, Spielberg	10 May
6	Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	24 May
7	Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal	7 June
8	European Grand Prix	Nurburgring, Nurburg	21 June
9	British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	5 July
10	French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	19 July
11	German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	26 July
12	Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyorod	9 August
13	Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	23 August
14	Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	6 September
15	United States Grand Prix	Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey	27 September
16	Singapore Grand Prix	Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore	11 October
17	Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka	25 October

The French Grand Prix was originally scheduled to take place at the Le Mans Bugatti circuit, but was later changed to Magny-Cours. Also, the Japanese Grand Prix was scheduled for the 11th of October, but was moved to the 25th of October so the Singapore Grand Prix could be included.

Testing Calendar

Test	Country	Circuit	Date
Pre Season
1	Spain	Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmelo	8 April
2	Portugal	Circuito do Estoril, Estoril	15 February
3	New Zealand	Taupo International Motorsport Park, Taupo	1 March
Mid Season
1	Spain	Circuito de Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera	19 April
2	Great Britain	Donington Park, Castle Donington	28 June
3	Italy	Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	30 August

Results and Standings

Scoring system

Points are awarded to the top 8 classified finishers in race.

Position	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th
Points	12	8	6	5	4	3	2	1

Race by Race

Rnd	Grand Prix	Pole Position	Fastest Lap	Winning Driver	Winning Team
1	Australian Grand Prix	Michael Schumacher	Mika Hakkinen	Michael Schumacher	Dodgem-Ferrari	Highlights
2	Brazilian Grand Prix	Michael Schumacher	Ralf Schumacher	Ralf Schumacher	Gui Racing-Ford	Highlights
3	San Marino Grand Prix	Mika Hakkinen	Mika Hakkinen	Mika Hakkinen	Dodgem-Ferrari	Highlights
4	Spanish Grand Prix	Allan McNish	Mika Hakkinen	Ralf Schumacher	Gui Racing-Ford	Highlights
5	Austrian Grand Prix	Juan Pablo Montoya	Mika Hakkinen	Michael Schumacher	Dodgem-Ferrari	Highlights
6	Monaco Grand Prix	Jacques Villeneuve	Michael Schumacher	Damon Hill	Willow Images-Ferrari	Highlights
7	Canadian Grand Prix	Ralf Schumacher	Ralf Schumacher	Ralf Schumacher	Gui Racing-Ford	Highlights
8	European Grand Prix	Mika Hakkinen	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher	Dodgem-Ferrari	Highlights
9	British Grand Prix	Alexander Wurz	Michael Schumacher	Juan Pablo Montoya	Mason-Mercedes	Highlights
10	French Grand Prix	Ralf Schumacher	Ralf Schumacher	Ralf Schumacher	Gui Racing-Ford	Highlights
11	German Grand Prix	Ralf Schumacher	Mika Hakkinen	Michael Schumacher	Dodgem-Ferrari	Highlights
12	Hungarian Grand Prix	Damon Hill	Michael Schumacher	Ralf Schumacher	Gui Racing-Ford	Highlights
13	Belgian Grand Prix	Allan McNish	Jos Verstappen	Michael Schumacher	Dodgem-Ferrari	Highlights
14	Italian Grand Prix	Mika Hakkinen	Mika Hakkinen	Damon Hill	Willow Images-Ferrari	Highlights
15	United States Grand Prix	Juan Pablo Montoya	Ralf Schumacher	Michael Schumacher	Dodgem-Ferrari	Qualifying
15	United States Grand Prix	Juan Pablo Montoya	Ralf Schumacher	Michael Schumacher	Dodgem-Ferrari	Race
16	Singapore Grand Prix	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher	Michael Schumacher	Dodgem-Ferrari	Highlights
17	Japanese Grand Prix	Michael Schumacher	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	FJR-Mecachrome	Qualifying
17	Japanese Grand Prix	Michael Schumacher	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	FJR-Mecachrome	Race

Championship Standings

Engine Trophy

Qualifying Results

Notes

Michael Schumacher's championship winning 124 points was the highest ever points total by a single driver in a FF1M Season until the 2009 season where Lewis Hamilton scored 137 points.