1998 Belgian Grand Prix

1998 Belgian Grand Prix
1998 Belgian Grand Prix
Race 13 of 16 in the 1998 Formula One World Championship
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Race details
Date	30 August 1998
Official name	LVI Foster's Belgian Grand Prix
Location	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	6.968 km (4.330 miles)
Distance	44 laps, 306.577 km (190.498 miles)
Weather	Cold and wet with rain becoming heavier
Pole position
Driver	Mika Häkkinen;
Time	1:48.682
Fastest lap
Driver	Michael Schumacher
Time	2:03.766 on lap 9
Podium
First	Damon Hill;
Second	Ralf Schumacher;
Third	Jean Alesi;
	Lap leaders ;

The 1998 Belgian Grand Prix (formally the LVI Foster's Belgian Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 30 August 1998 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps; it was the thirteenth race of the 1998 FIA Formula One World Championship. The race was won by Damon Hill driving for the Jordan team, with Hill's teammate Ralf Schumacher finishing in second place and Jean Alesi finishing in third for the Sauber team, taking his 32nd and last podium of his Formula One career.

The race ran entirely in extremely wet weather, and David Coulthard lost control of his McLaren at the start on the first lap, causing a multiple collision involving thirteen drivers, which led to the race being stopped. After a delay of more than an hour to clear the track, a second attempt was made to start the race, albeit without four of the drivers involved in the incident. At the restart, championship leader and polesitter Mika Häkkinen spun his McLaren at the first corner and was hit by the Sauber of Johnny Herbert, forcing them both to retire from the race. Hill took the lead but was overtaken on lap eight by Michael Schumacher. Schumacher had built up over 30 seconds of advantage over Hill by lap 24 when he came up to lap Coulthard. After being instructed over the team radio to let him past, Coulthard slowed down but stayed on the main racing line; due to the spray behind Coulthard, Schumacher was unsighted, hit the back of the McLaren, and caused terminal damage to his Ferrari. Coulthard initially retired due to damage on his own car but eventually rejoined the race and finished seventh.

Hill inherited the lead again, with his Jordan teammate behind him. In the latter stages of the race, the younger Schumacher was catching Hill. Initially, the team informed Hill about his teammate's pace and implied he should let him past. Hill responded that he would not step down, telling team owner Eddie Jordan they either race for first place and risk ending up with nothing, implying a collision, or hold positions and bring the team a 1–2 finish. As a result, team orders were ultimately issued, requiring both drivers to hold their positions to the finish. Hill brought home the first Formula One win for the Jordan team (the second for Mugen Motorsports engines) after 126 starts, bringing his own win tally to 22. It was also his first win in two years since leaving Williams and would turn out to be his 22nd and final Formula One win, as well as the 42nd and last podium of his career.