20 years ago, Formula 1 were in their second season of the narrow track car and grooved tyre rules, though an extra groove was added to the front tyres, four grooves on every tyre. McLaren had such an advantage in the 1998 season but Ferrari had made great in roads into their advantage. Williams and Benetton who were front runners not too long ago were struggling to keep up, battling at the front end of the midfield. Instead it was smaller teams of Jordan and Stewart who shone in 1999 and snatched a victory or two whilst Williams and Benetton finished the season without a win.
Ferrari had last won a title in 1979 with Jody Scheckter and with Jean Todt assembling a super team around him, comprising of Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne, they were looking to finally break the duck and take the World Championship in 1999. However a brake failure lead to Schumacher breaking both legs in a crash at the British Grand Prix, ending his title challenge. Instead hopes of a Ferrari victory turned to Eddie Irvine, and whilst they gave him the push to win, Nurburgring pitstop aside, they perhaps felt it should be Schumacher and not Irvine who is the preferred title winner. Irvine was still quite a bit off Schumacher's pace, and even substitute Salo had to sacrifice his only chance of victory to allow his teammate through.
Newey decided against developing the MP4/13 concept, but the MP4/14 was a new car and it was quick, but it was also unreliable. The drivers were also prone to making mistakes too, which made the Championship all the more interesting.
Jordan had finally won a Grand Prix in 1998 and were hoping to build upon that and they added to their win tally in 1999, even at one stage being in contention for the Championship with a revitalised Frentzen. The Stewart car looked very much influenced by the McLaren and it was quick too but fragile. Barrichello was often leading the midfield and nipping at the heels of the front runners, when the car failed. But he did manage a pole position and a couple of podiums, but it was his team-mate Herbert who would gain the team's only victory in their short 3 year spell in the sport.
Personally, I was really looking forward to two time CART champion, Alex Zanardi, return to Formula 1 with Williams, but it didn't really work out for him but it was his team-mate Ralf Schumacher who consistently got the most out of the car.
It was Damon Hill's final season, he had never got on with the grooved tyres, and had clearly given up and had intended to retire after crashing out the French Grand Prix. But Jordan persuaded him for one last hurrah at the British Grand Prix, and an encouraging fifth place finish lead to him finishing the season with the team, with Verstappen waiting eagerly on the sidelines. Hill's results improved slightly, but at the final race, Hill retired a healthy car when running way down the field.
Villeneuve essentially had a team built around him in the form of BAR, with the team boasting they could come in and win in their first year... they didn't even score a point, the only team not to do so.
1999 Drivers World Champion: Mika Hakkinen
Team
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Chassis
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Minichamps
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Hot Wheels
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Tameo
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Other
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Ferrari
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*
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*
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*
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McLaren Mercedes
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*
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*
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*
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Jordan Mugen-Honda
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*
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*
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*
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*
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Stewart Ford
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*
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*
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*
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Williams Supertec
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*
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*
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Benetton Supertec
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*
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Prost Peugeot
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*
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Sauber Petronas
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*
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Arrows
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*
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Minardi Ford
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*
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*
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BAR Supertec
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*
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*
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Honda (Test Car)
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*
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