Summary

Heinz-Harald Frentzen silenced the critics with taking his first victory for in his career today. Michael Schumacher just didn't have the edge in the Ferrari to make it real difficult for Frentzen. Eddie Irvine made it a good day for Ferrari on their 'home-track' by tacking third place.

Notes

• The 046/2 engine Schumacher used in qualifying has been sealed for inspection.
• Damon Hill is starting from the pits in his T car.
• Trulli doesn't get further then the grid because of an electronic problem.
• Magnussen spins off on lap 2. They had changed the set-up of the car from a wet to a dry setting and the car height was just too low.
• Berger spins off on lap 5.
• Hill rams Nakano: both drivers are out of the race. (lap 12) Hill later declared he was annoyed with his position.
• Ralf Schumacher retires because of a mechanical problem. (lap 18)
• Herbert retires because of an engine failure due to an electrical problem.
• Barrichello retires on lap 33.
• Hakkinen goes through the gravel trap when he tried to overtake Verstappen. He then comes into the pits where his team wasn't ready because Coulthard had just made his pitstop. (lap 36)
• Coulthard blows up a Mercedes engine on lap 39.
• Villeneuve retires in the pits with electrical problems with the gearbox. (lap 41)
• Diniz retires in the pits because of technical problems on lap 54.

• Damon Hill has received a one race suspended ban for reckless driving. If nothing happens in Monaco the ban will be lifted. Hill commented: "I'm angry. I saw a gap and went for it but he just turned in. I don't like it when people hold me up."

• Weather during session: Dry, Cloudy (16 Degrees)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.   12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.

Frentzen (Williams) M. Schumacher (Ferrari) Irvine (Ferrari) Fisichella (Jordan) Alesi (Benetton) Hakkinen (McLaren) Larini (Sauber) Panis (Prost) Salo (Tyrrell) Verstappen (Tyrrell) Katayama (Minardi) Not Classified Diniz (Arrows) Villeneuve (Williams) Coulthard (McLaren) Barrichello (Stewart) Herbert (Sauber) R. Schumacher (Jordan) Nakano (Prost) Hill (Arrows) Berger (Benetton) Magnussen (Stewart) Trulli (Minardi)

1h 31:00.673 + 1.237s + 1:18.343s + 1:23.388s 1 lap 1 lap 1 lap 1 lap 2 laps 2 laps 3 laps   8 laps 21 laps 23 laps 29 laps 43 laps 44 laps 50 laps 50 laps 57 laps 60 laps 62 laps

The Standings

Drivers Championship table

Villeneuve (Williams)	20
M. Schumacher (Ferrari)	14
Coulthard (McLaren)	10
Berger (Benetton)	10
Frentzen(Williams)	10
Irvine (Ferrari)	10
Hakinnen (McLaren)	10
Panis (Prost)	6
R. Schumacher (Jordan)	4
Fisichella (Jordan)	3
Herbert (Sauber)	3
Alesi (Benetton)	3
Larini (Sauber)	1

Constructors Championship table

Williams-Renault	30
Ferrari	24
McLaren-Mercedes	20
Benetton-Renault	13
Jordan-Peugeot	7
Prost-Mugen	6
Sauber-Petronas	4

The Quotes

• Frentzen: "I was a bit worried later on about my brakes because I did not want to experience another problem like the one in Melbourne and we had some interesting conversations with the pit crew. Michael was right behind me and I had to concentrate and keep a rhythm. It feels great to win."

• M. Schumacher: "Second place was better than I expected, the set up which was a compromise in case it rained was fantastic. I had a few problems with backmarkers. In the critical parts of the race my speed was nearer to that of the Williams. I congratulate Heinz-Harald on a great race. At the moment we are the only team that can match the pace of the Williams in the race. I am pleased with this, because with a few modifications which we will have soon, we will be in a position to try and pass them."

• Irvine:"I made a good start but did not push too hard on my first set of tyres. Fisichella passed me when I backed off after trying to pass Coulthard. I did not worry about it as I knew Coulthard would be out soon and Fisichella would make his pit-stop before me. The end of the race was a bit boring as I was just looking after the car as I was worried because I had a small problem with the gearbox."

• Salo: "At the start I got away well, but Berger moved a little and then pulled off to the left where I was, so I lost some time. After that Jos and I were really evenly matched but there was no point pushing until after the pit stops and luckily I got out ahead of him. I was flat out all the way."

• Verstappen: "I overtook a few people at the start and the car was handling OK. During the pit stop the engine did not rev cleanly and that stopped me from getting away, so I came out behind Mika. It is always going to be a difficult race for us, but I think we did as well as we could have hoped for. I am testing with the team this week and we have a lot of work to do, but hopefully it will make a difference that we can take to Monaco."