1998 - Hakkinen (Finland) McLaren
Hakkinen was second-fastest in qualifying but
was gifted a clear road when pole-setter and sole title rival Schumacher
stalled and was made to start at the rear of the grid. Schumacher went
out with an exploded right rear tyre on lap 32 after roaring back to third
place. Hakkinen was champion.
1997 - Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari
Schumacher's win, coupled with the disqualification
of Canadian Jacques Villenueve for ignoring a yellow flag, ensured the
title race went to the final round in Spain.Irvine passed Hakkinen, Schumacher
and then Villeneuve. The Briton then allowed Schumacher to go past before
blocking Villeneuve. ``It is thanks to him that I have this victory,''
said Schumacher.
1996 - Damon Hill (Britain)
Williams Hill emulated his father Graham's success
and became the first son of a former champion to win the title. This was
also his last
race for Williams and he led from start to finish.
Hill knew he was champion 15 laps from the end when only rival Villeneuve
crashed out when his right rear wheel
came loose.
1995 - Schumacher
Benetton Schumacher had already won the world
title the week before at the Pacific Grand Prix at Aida. This win also
secured the
constructors' title for Benetton and enabled
the German to equal Nigel Mansell's 1992 record of nine wins in a season.
Hakkinen finished second in a race that
started off wet. Both the Ferraris retired with
mechanical problems.
1994 - Hill, Williams
The race was halted after 14 laps due to heavy
rain and a series of dangerous accidents. One of them involved Martin Brundle's
McLaren sliding out of control into afire marshall, who suffered a broken
leg. Hill's eventual win left him one point behind Schumacher, with the
Australian Grand Prix remaining. This was also the