53rd, Unforgettable Spa Thriller: Häkkinen Triumphs in Epic Battle with Schumacher
If you asked anyone in F1 at the time, plenty would have said that Michael Schumacher needed a good talking to. But Mika Häkkinen, the quiet Finn who liked to let his driving speak for him, might not have topped the list of candidates to dish it out.
Qualifying at Spa threw up a few surprises, namely the Jordan of Jarno Trulli and the Williams of rookie Jenson Button splitting the two title rivals on the grid. But early in the race the interlopers clashed, setting up a showdown.
Rain started to fall and Schumacher caught Häkkinen hand over fist until the latter spun, handing over the lead in the process. Schumacher’s lead grew to almost 12 seconds, but it wouldn’t last. As the track dried Häkkinen came back with a vengeance until, with only four laps to go, he caught his quarry through Eau Rouge.