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01.11.1998
Japan
Suzuka

Mika Hakkinen is crowned world champion and the team take the constructors’ championship in a tense and thrilling finale to the season. But the day turns out to be a disappointment for Ferrari, whose hopes of a first drivers’ title in 19 years are dashed in dramatic circumstances.

Ferrari’s title-chasing Michael Schumacher beats Mika Hakkinen to pole position by just one tenth of a second, but he stalls on the grid and has to line up for the restart in 20th place.

With Hakkinen leading the race, Schumacher works hard to get back into contention and is running in second when his right rear tyre blows out, ending his title challenge. Hakkinen is handed a trouble-free run to victory and his first world championship.

The result also gives McLaren its first constructors’ title with Mobil 1.

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