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GRAND PRIX : Luxembourg : Hakkinen Regains the Advantage
Nurburgring, Sunday 27th September 1998
Michael Schumacher: second at 2.212s, 67 laps
Eddie Irvine: fourth at 58"183, 67 laps
A great start for the F 300 with Eddie ahead of Michael, who led by the end of the lap, followed by the Irishman and the two McLarens of Hakkinen and Coulthard. Schumacher pitted on lap 24 and Irvine one lap later. Hakkinen came in at the end of lap 28 and emerged from the pit lane ahead of Schumacher. The next lap, Coulthard pitted and came out ahead of Irvine. After the first pit stops Hakkinen led Schumacher followed by Coulthard and Irvine. Schumacher made his second stop on lap 47 and Hakkinen came in one lap later. Irvine's second stop came on lap 49 and Coulthard on lap 52. From then on the leading places remained unchanged to the flag.
Jean Todt
"Although our drivers came second and fourth we are very disappointed as the Constructors' Championship is virtually out of our reach. The Drivers title is a little more open but it will be very difficult for us to win. As I said, qualifying is one thing and the race is a different matter. Our main rival was more competitive than us in the race. We still have one more race - the Japanese Grand Prix. Mathematically, nothing is yet lost nor decided. As usual, the team did a very good job. We now have five weeks ahead of us. We will try and improve the car in that time, without neglecting work on the new car for next season".
Michael Schumacher
"I am a little bit disappointed as I thought we could win the race today. Unfortunately, we were not quick enough. I could not push as hard as I wanted to because the technical package was not perfect. We now have to work as hard as possible in the forthcoming tests before the final race at Suzuka. Four points is not an impossible difference. We will certainly not give up because we can still win in Japan."
Eddie Irvine
"I made a very good start which was 50% down to my clutch working really well. Unfortunately, the understeer we got rid of over the course of the weekend came back this afternoon. I could not have pushed harder or I would have gone off the track. My tyres were suffering because of this and that made the problem worse. Mika caught me a little bit by surprise when he got past. He seemed to close up very quickly in the last 150 metres before the chicane. I stayed on the right hand side of the track but he managed to get by. I think the cooler temperatures played against us as far as tyres are concerned. But now we go to Suzuka, my favourite track, and I think the final race of the season will be fun!"
Chassis: Schumacher no. 189, Irvine no. 184
Temperatures: air 12 C, track 15 C
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