Ferrari team manager, Jean Todt, acknowledged after today's Luxembourg Grand Prix that the Italian team have lost any realistic chance of winning the Constructors champioship, and admitted that winning the drivers' World Champions is going to be difficult. "Although our drivers came second and fourth," said Todt, "we are very disappointed as the Constructors' championship is virtually out of our reach. The Drivers' title is a little more open but it will be difficult for us to win. As I said, qualifying is one thing and the race is a different matter. Our main rival was more competitive than us in the race. We still have one more race - the Japanese GP. Mathematically, nothing is yet lost nor decided. As usual, the team did a very good job. We now have five weeks ahead of us. We will try and improve the car in that time, without neglecting work on the new car for next season." He also commended Mika Hakkinen's performance, saying: "I am not a man to use too many superlatives. But there is nothing to say but this was a superb race by Hakkinen, one of the best of his career -- probably his best race ever."

The two Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine had a good start, with Irvine ahead of Schumacher, who led by the end of the lap, followed by the Irishman and the two McLarens of Hakkinen and Coulthard. Schumacher pitted on lap 24 and Irvine one lap later. Hakkinen came in at the end of lap 28 and emerged from the pit lane ahead of Schumacher. The next lap, Coulthard pitted and came out ahead of Irvine. After the first pit stops Hakkinen led Schumacher followed by Coulthard and Irvine. Schumacher made his second stop on lap 47 and Hakkinen came in one lap later. Irvine's second stop came on lap 49 and Coulthard on lap 52. From then on the leading places remained unchanged to the flag.

"I am a little bit disappointed," remarked Schumacher after the race, "as I thought we could win the race today. Unfortunately we were not quick enough. I could not push as hard as I wanted to because the technical package was not perfect. We now have to work as hard as possible in the forthcoming tests before the final race at Suzuka. Four points is not an impossible difference. We will certainly not give up because we can still win in Japan." His team-mate Irvine also commented, saying: "Unfortunately, the understeer we got rid of over the course of the weekend came back this afternoon. I could not have pushed harder or I would have gone off the track. My tyres were suffering because of this and that made the problem worse. Mika caught me a little bit by surprise when he got past. He seemed to close up very quickly in the last 150 metres before the chicane. I stayed on the right hand side of the track but he managed to get by. I think the cooler temperatures played against us as far as tyres are concerned. But now we go to Suzuka, my favourite track and I think the final race of the season will be fun!"