Results prize contest for the Grand Prix of Austalia

Published on 08 March 1999 by Ivo Kleintjes

It looked as though the Grand Prix of Melbourne was again going to be a match between the two McLaren drivers. But after they initially took of from the head of the field, reliability did not yet seem to be at the right level for the silver arrows. This gave the opportunity to Eddy Irvine to get his first Grand Prix win in his Ferrari.
Michael Schumacher had problems at the start, which made him part from the back of the grid. After a good start Irvine only had the two McLarens in front of him. Coulthard parked his McLaren in his pitbox at lap 13 with electronical problems, which made Mika Hakkinen the only one preceding Eddy. At that moment the safetycar came in to lead the field, as Villeneuve's car had to be removed from the circuit. Hakkinen had problems at the restart from behind the safetycar, and Irvine took the lead, which he consolidated up to the finish. He preceded Heinz Harald Frentzen and Ralf Schumacher, who completed the podium.
For a complete overview and report you can take a look at our season page.