This year's Belgian Grand Prix will go ahead as planned. The FIA threatened to cancel the race because of anti-tobacco ad laws planned for 1999. A FIA statement said: "Given that the sponsorship contracts of the F1 teams taking part are no longer under threat FIA can confirm ... the entry of the Belgian Grand Prix in the world championship calendar on Aug. 30, 1998 at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit."

It had been already clear that the FIA didn't want to cancel the race because of Spa's history and popularity with the drivers as well as the fans.