GRAND PRIX : SPAIN : FERRARI UNABLE TO STOP MCLARENS
10.5.98

Michael Schumacher finished in third place behind the McLarens of Hakkinen and Coulthard, while Eddie Irvine retired after a collision with Fisichella. Irvine made a great start and was up in third place, but Schumacher dropped to fifth. On lap 25 Irvine and Fisichella both made pit stops. Schumacher made his first stop on lap 27 and rejoined in third place ahead of Irvine and Fisichella who collided on the following lap, both cars stopping in the gravel. Schumacher was back in the pits on lap 40 for a stop-go penalty as he had exceeded the pit lane speed limit at his first stop. He rejoined in fourth behind Wurz and when the Austrian pitted on lap 46, Schumacher recovered third place and kept that position through his second stop on lap 48, exiting ahead of Wurz. The top placings then remained unchanged to the flag.

Jean Todt
"From the start we knew third place would be the most we could do unless those in front hit trouble and that is what happened. The championship is still open, but along with our technical partners we must improve our performance. I feel sorry for Irvine who could have finished fourth. Once again we have proved the reliability of our cars. The team did a great job in the pits, helping our cars to move up the order. Looking at the results it is evident that four of the top six used one make of tyre and two the other make. Of those two, only Michael was not lapped."

Michael Schumacher
"I made a bad start as I got too much wheelspin and I could not recover the situation. I lost two places, but thanks to the team doing a fantastic job I moved up to third after the first pit stop. Maybe the pit lane speed limiter was not working properly and I saw my speed go over the limit for a moment. I came in for the penalty and was fourth behind Wurz. I pushed hard to close the gap to him and again the team called me at just the right moment and that enabled me to get past Wurz. I don't think I could have passed him on the track. Third was the best we could do today, but I think it will be closer in Monaco. We have a big development programme coming and now we must continue to work, work, work. Some of the next few races should suit us better than this one."

Eddie Irvine
"I made a very good start. I have gone back to my old starting technique and it seems to work. As for the accident, I do not want to blame anyone, but I will say it was not my fault. After the pit stop I had a lot of fuel on board as we had planned a long second stint and Fisichella came out of the last corner very well and came alongside me. We braked at the same time and he turned in on me. In these situations there is nowhere to go. It was a great shame as I was having a really good race."

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