About 45 minutes before the qualifying practice ...

Published on 25 July 1998 by Verstappen Info Page

About 45 minutes before the qualifying practice it started to rain in Austria. At the start it was dry, but after quarter of an hour it started to rain again. Everybody was waiting, untill Toranosuki Takagi went on the track after 28 minutes together with Damon Hill as the first ones. Both experienced that the track was extremely slippery; Takagi spinned and Hill almost glided of the circuit, something Takagi did do a lap later at the end of start/finish.

After 35 minutes Jos went on the track and set the second time at that moment behind Hill. At the end of the straight he drifted of the track, but was able to continu the practice. Many would follow him in that and other turns. At the front Michael Schumacher showed that he is absolutely the best rain driver of them all.

Because the track dried up, the laptimes became faster and faster. The times of Jos Verstappen also, which was good enough for the third position at a few minutes before the end. Unfortunately Jos didn't have laps left to keep that position and ended on the 12th place with 1:32,09. In a exciting conclusion the Italian Giancarlo Fisichella took (his first) pole position before Jean Alesi and Mika Hakkinen.

Jos commented that indeed the track dried up very rapidly during the last minute of the qualification. Unfortunately Jos had used all his laps or else he would have been certain that both Stewarts would have qualified within the top 6. Nevertheless, he was pleased with his 12th position on the grid and is looking forward for the race tomorrow.

For a complete overview you can take a look at our season page.