On This Day

Sunday 1st November 1998

21 years ago

Mika Hakkinen's flag-to-flag victory at the Japanese Grand Prix clinched him the first of two world titles and also gave McLaren its first constructors' crown since 1991. The only real challenge was likely to be from Michael Schumacher, but he had to start from the back of the grid and then he suffered a 165 mph blowout when he ran over debris from an earlier crash, needing all his skill to bring his Ferrari to a safe stop. "I don't know how to start explaining my feelings," Hakkinen said. "I was aware of the pressure falling on me." Ferrari boss Jean Todt was not a happy man. "We have shown we are capable of winning grands prix," he said. "But we must show one day we are capable of winning a world championship." He need not have worried.