European Grand Prix Lap Guide

Lap 1: Michael Schumacher makes the perfect start from second to take the lead at the first corner

Lap 1: Michael Schumacher makes the perfect start from second to take the lead at the first corner. Heinz-Harald Frentzen also overtakes team-mate Jacques Villeneuve, who had started on pole.

Lap 8: Frentzen moves over to let Villeneuve through into second behind Schumacher.

Lap 22: Schumacher makes his first pit stop in 7.6secs to come out in third.

Lap 23: Villeneuve inherits the lead but then makes his stop. Emerges in 5th place.

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Lap 26: Villeneuve closes as Schumacher is stuck behind Frentzen and Mika Hakkinen. Looks at overtaking Schumacher into turn one but too far away.

Lap 28: Frentzen makes his first pit stop to leave the two championship contenders out in front.

Lap 31: Villeneuve loses two seconds after being held up by backmarker Norberto Fontana in a Sauber.

Lap 43: Schumacher makes second and final scheduled pit stop in 9.4secs.

Lap 44: Villeneuve makes his second stop in 8.3secs but comes out behind Coulthard and has to follow the McLaren for a lap. 2.5secs behind Schumacher.

Lap 48: Villeneuve, having moved up, attempts to overtake Schumacher into a right hand corner called `Dry-Sack'. The pair collide as Schumacher tries to turn in, his right front tyre hitting the left-hand side of Villeneuve's car. Schumacher ends up in the gravel trap and is forced to retire.

Lap 49: Villeneuve puts in a slow lap as he checks the damage to his car. David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen close the gap.

Lap 68: Coulthard lets Hakkinen through to chase Villeneuve.

Lap 69: Hakkinen forces his way past Villeneuve into the chicane and the Williams driver also lets Coulthard through. Hakkinen takes his first grand prix victory, with Coulthard in second, while Villeneuve's third place is enough for the world title.