McLaren won 9 races out of 16, and the world title went to Mika Häkkinen.
In 1998 the cars became narrower and grooves appeared on the tyres. McLaren were the best prepared for the new rules: Mika Häkkinen won eight races and started from pole nine times.
Michael Schumacher won six races for Ferrari and took the fight to the final round, in Japan, but he stalled on the grid, had to start from the back and retired with a punctured tyre. Häkkinen won the race and the title. At the Belgian Grand Prix Damon Hill gave Jordan their first win.
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