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GRAND PRIX : Hockenheim : Ferraris fail to perform
Germany, 2nd August 1998
Michael Schumacher: fifth, 45 laps, at 12.613s, chassis 186
Eddie Irvine: eighth, 45 laps, at 31.650s, chassis 185
Temperatures: air 20 C, track 30 C
At the start, Eddie got away sixth and Michael eight, before moving to seventh on the first lap. On lap 4, Michael moved up to sixth by passing his team-mate. After Ralf Schumacher's pit stop, the Ferraris moved up a further place. Michael made his only pit stop on lap 24 and Eddie pitted on the following laps. Schumacher kept his position to the end, while Irvine dropped to eighth because of a longer pit stop.
Jean Todt
"Today's race reflected our performance throughout the weekend. We knew that overtaking, when the cars had pretty much the same performance level, was going to be almost impossible. Michael made up two places on the first lap and a further one with his pit stop. Because Eddie slightly overshot his pit-stop position, he lost a couple of seconds, which cost him two places. Our cars were not up to the performance level of our closest rivals, as we have seen over the past three days."
Michael Schumacher
"I am sorry that I was unable to do better in front of my home crowd. But after qualifying ninth and being off the pace all weekend, there was no reason to expect a miracle during the race. Finishing fifth was the best I could do. My main problem was lack of grip in the Motodrom, where it was difficult to simply keep the car on the road. We now have to concentrate on Hungary and I hope our car will be better suited to the Hungaroring than it was to Hockenheim."
Eddie Irvine
"I worked very hard for little reward today. My start was all right but with a little bit too much wheelspin. Then Michael was behind me and when I locked up the right front wheel under braking, he managed to get past. I could sit behind him quite comfortably. Then, before the pit stop I pushed harder and I overdid it at one of the chicanes and that lost me some time. I lost out to Fisichella in the pit stop, but I still kept pushing him because I am not here to cruise around. We must now work out why we have been off the pace all weekend here, but I think Hungary will suit us better."
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