Formula One World Constructors' Championship (1998)

Lore & Background

The 1998 season saw McLaren emerge as the fastest constructor. Mika Häkkinen won his first World Drivers' Championship and McLaren won the World Constructors' Championship for the first time since 1991. McLaren's double Drivers' and Constructors' Championship success in 1998 was the last time they won both championships in the same season until 2024.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled around Suzuka, carrying the scent of burnt rubber and high-octane fuel. Inside the cockpit, Mika Häkkinen felt the familiar hum of the Mercedes V10 engine, a sound that had become the soundtrack to his destiny. The gap was narrow on the leaderboard; one mistake would cost everything. As he navigated the final sector, the crowd's roar faded into a singular focus. He crossed the line, the checkered flag waving in the distance, and the realization hit: the trophy was theirs. In the pit lane, Ron Dennis watched with a rare, unguarded smile as his team erupted in celebration, the MP4-13 resting on its tires like a king returning home.

Reader's Guide

McLaren adapted best to the 1998 rule changes, which included grooved tyres and reduced track width. Their drivers locked out the front row at the opening race in Australia. The team switched from Goodyear to Bridgestone tyres for 1998.

Did You Know?

• McLaren's previous Constructors' Championship before 1998 was in 1991, a gap of 7 years.
• McLaren's next Constructors' Championship after 1998 came in 2024, a gap of 26 years.
• David Coulthard won two races in 1998: the San Marino Grand Prix and the Monaco Grand Prix.