1999 Belgian Formula One Grand Prix

1999 Belgian Formula One Grand Prix
44 laps; 4.3 miles per lap at Spa-Francorchamps; 29 August 1999

A fairly statistic race as far as position changes go, the final place getters being a slightly rearranged line up from their grid positions. Hakkinen jumped the start, but was not penalised. The two McLarens driven by Coulthard and Hakkinen touched going through the first corner, but were not damaged. Alesi had a good race, finishing ninth after starting 16 on the grid. Villeneuve finally finished race this season, next to last, after a spectacular crash during qualifying. Coulthard scored his sixth F1 career win.

RESULTS: 1/ Coulthard; 2/ Hakkinen; 3/ Frentzen; 4/ Irvine; 5/ R.Schumacher; 6/ Hill

Mika Hakkinen (McLaren) takes the lead in the Drivers Championship over Ferrari rival Eddie Irvine. McLaren takes the lead in the Constructor's Championship with 106 over Ferrari's 97 points. Ferrari's Michael Schumacher has vowed to return to racing after his crash earlier in the season in time for the next race on September 12th at Monza.
BEHIND THE SCENES - Bernie Eccelstone has removed Belgium from next year's race calendar following a dispute over cigarette advertising on the cars. Belgium does not allow cigarette advertising - the cars raced this year with their sponsor's adverts removed (For example Ferrari raced with a "Formula One" logo while McLaren raced with the driver's names "David" and "Mika" where their tobacco sponsors logos were once displayed.
Michael Schumacher is recovering from his race and has been testing in his Ferrari and has vowed to return by the next race at Monza - just in time to revive Ferrari's chances at the Constructor's Championship.
Trulli has been signed to replace David Hill at Jordan for next year.
Diniz has been signed for Sauber.
Williams has confirmed they will keep both their driver's for next year - Zanardi and Ralf Schumacher. Ralf has been showing considerable improvements and maturity in his driving and Sir Frank Williams has declared his support for the fledgingly driver.

	1999 Belgian Formula One Grand Prix
Lap	Race Report
Start	Hakkinen (10th pole for 1999) let's out clutch and jumps the start, but quickly stops before going over his line - Stewards call for investigation - but nothing is lodged within the twenty minute time frame allowed for stewards to make their decision. Takagi and Zonta both stall on start - Takagi retires. Hakkinen and team-mate Coulthard touch on first corner.
Lap 1	1/ Coulthard; 2/ Hakkinen; 3/ Frentzen; 4/ Irvine; 5/ R.Schumacher; 6/ Zanardi; 7/ Hill; 8/ Salo; 9/ Barrichello; 10/ Herbert; 11/ Fisicella; 12/ Alesi; 13/ Wurz; 14/ Trulli; 15/ Villeneuve; 16/ Panis; 17/ Badoer; 18/ Diniz
Lap 4	Positions unchanged
Lap 7	1/Coulthard (4.7 seconds) 2/ Hakkinen
Lap 11	1/ Coulthard; 2/ Hakkinen; 3/ Frentzen; 4/ Irvine; 5/ R.Schumacher; 6/ Zanardi; 7/ Hill; 8/ Salo; 9/ Barrichello; 10/ Alesi; 11/ Herbert; 12/ Fisichella; 13/ Trulli; 14/ Panis; 15/ Wurz; 16/ Villeneuve; 17/ Badoer; 18/ Diniz
Lap 14	Diniz pit stop Badoer pit stop (9.8 seconds)
Lap 15	Alesi scheduled pits-stop, 10.2 seconds Gene pits-stop, 8.0 seconds
Lap 16	1/ Coulthard 9.3 second lead over 2/ Hakkinen
Lap 16	Herbert scheduled pits-stop - 10.0 seconds Diniz pit stop Hill pits - 6.8 seconds Frentzen pits - 7.7 seconds Salo (Ferrari) pits - 8.1 seconds
Lap 17	Hakkinen scheduled pits-stop - 7.7 seconds Irvine pits - 6.9 seconds
Lap 18	Race Leader David Coulthard scheduled pits-stop - 7.2 seconds, rejoins in first place
Lap 19	1/ Coulthard; 2/ R.Schumacher; 3/ Hakkinen; 4/ Zanardi; 5/ Frentzen; 6/ Irvine; 7/ Hill; 8/ Fisicella; 9/ Salo; 10/ Wurz; 11/ Alesi; 12/ Barrichello; 13/ Villeneuve; 14/ Panis; 15/ Trulli; 16/ Badoer; 17/ Diniz
Lap 19	Diniz loses back end and spins off - retires
Lap 20	Zanardi pit stop - 9.2 seconds
Lap 21	Fisicella pit stop - 11.1 seconds
Lap 23	R.Schumacher pits - 11.9 seconds
Lap 28	Villeneuve pits-stop - 9.6 seconds
Lap 29	Hill pits-stop - one stop strategy
Lap 29	Herbert goes off - retires (loses back end and spins out)
Lap 30	1/ Coulthard; 2/ Hakkinen; 3/ Frentzen; 4/ Irvine; 5/ Salo; 6/ R.Schumacher; 7/ Zanardi; 8/ Alesi; 9/ Hill; 10/ Barrichello; 11/ Trulli; 12/ Fisicella; 13/ Panis; 14/ Wurz; 15/ Villeneuve; 16/ Gene; 17/ Badoer; 18/ De La Rosa
Lap 32	Hakkinen pits - 10.00 seconds - rejoins in 3rd place Frentzen moves to 2nd place
Lap 33	Coulthard pits - 6.9 seconds Frentzen pits - 6.9 seconds Irvine pits - 8.0 seconds
Lap 35	Salo pits - 6.4 seconds Zonta retires in pits
Lap 38	1/ Coulthard (15.23 seconds) 2/ Hakkinen (22 seconds) 3/ Frentzen
Lap 38	De La Rosa spins off - retires
Lap 43	1/ Coulthard; 2/ Hakkinen; 3/ Frentzen; 4/ Irvine; 5/ R.Schumacher; 6/ Hill; 7/ Salo; 8/ Zanardi; 9/ Alesi; 10/ Barrichello; 11/ Fisicella; 12/ Trulli
Lap 44 End	1/ Coulthard; 2/ Hakkinen; 3/ Frentzen; 4/ Irvine; 5/ R.Schumacher; 6/ Hill; 7/ Salo;; 8/ Zanardi; 9/ Alesi; 10/ Barrichello; 11/ Fisicella; 12/ Trulli

Both Jacques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta had spectacular crashes during qualifying - each doing around 160 mph at the time, losing the back end of their BAR cars.

Position	Driver	Team
1/ - POLE 1st row	Hakkinen	McLaren
2/ 1st row	Coulthard	McLaren
3/ 2nd row	Frentzen	Jordan
4/ 2nd row	Hill	Jordan
5/ 3rd row	R.Schumacher	Williams
6/ 3rd row	Irvine	Ferrari