SCHUMACHER'S LAST TO FIRST CHALLENGE! The Story of the 1998 Japanese Grand Prix

[@thestarlightalchemist7333]

I don't care who it is, the insane "last to first" runs are always awesome. My favourite case of this is a NASCAR race from Talladega in 1985, where Bill Elliott came back to win the race from TWO LAPS DOWN, UNDER GREEN

[@pianortd4800]

I'm not that much informed in nascar, but are bill elliot and chase elliot related?

[@patmanbnl]

Bill Elliott at Talladega and Daytona in the mid 80s was one of the most OP car/driver combos in Nascar history.

[@butchblaster7073]

@@pianortd4800 yeah, Chase is Bill's son.

[@patmanbnl]

@@pianortd4800 father and son. One of 3 father son combos to win titles. The others being Lee and Richard Petty as well as Ned and Dale Jarrett.

[@AidanMillward]

Colin Turkington did it to win a championship in the 2019 BTCC finale

[@patrickhein6986]

I was a Schumacher Die-hard Fan back then and yes, I was happy for Mika without any grim. Mika is a Gentleman and one of the All-Time Greats of the Sport. The Championship Rivalry between Michael and Mika are my favourite because they respected each other on and besides the Track.

[@ytfakemail]

My cousin went to Hockenheim during one of the Häkkinen-Coulthard years and got me autographs of them, they are still somewhere at my dad's place, they were such a great duo.

[@eamonahern7495]

I remember getting up early and watching the race live on RTE (Irish television). I remember watching the replay of Schumacher absolutely rocketing past the normal backmarkers at the start. I had forgotten about Trulli's troubles. That lunge from Damon at the end had me delighted as a Jordan fan. I wondered if Frentzen was the right signing for the following year because of that. I needn't have worried. Good times. Oh! yes, I was delighted for Mika too even though I wouldn't have minded who was champion at the end of the race.

[@cribbe6547]

I never really thought much on it until now but I wonder if Frentzen didn't 'fight' the move from Hill knowing it would help Jordan, as he'd signed for Jordan for the following year by this point. I think it was announced at the Italian GP that year when Ralf announced he was going to Williams

[@eamonahern7495]

@cribbe6547 good point

[@jacekatalakis8316]

That 1998 field had a cavalcade of great liveries. Even Minardi, even Minardi had some great ones...

[@AidanMillward]

Because Minardi was sponsored by whoever would give them money so most of it was the corporate colours of whatever sponsor bought that bit of the car.

[@jacekatalakis8316]

@@AidanMillward Their 91, 94, and even 2000 cars weren't bad looking. The 97 one though, I'm not sure on that. 96 is so so. Arrows however, they rarely if ever had a bad looking, if slow car mind

[@wabba67]

I think the "back to the grid if you stall" rule was actually pretty nice, as in those days the start was properly delayed. No flashing yellow lights for a few seconds and then another formation lap, but instead a proper 10 minute (?) restart procedure. If you delay the race by that much you deserve to be sent to the back. The Finnish commentary for this race is worth listening to if you haven't done so recently. "The Finnish Murray Walker" mr. Matti Kyllönen gave it all when Schumacher retired and once more when Häkkinen crossed the line.

[@RobotLunchboxProductions]

the title showdown was at suzuka in 2000 but everyone seems to forget that it was the penultimate race, just before sepang, the finale

[@suorastas1]

I remember waking up at 4 in the morning to watch this race. I think most Finnish little boys did.

[@SamuelSantos_]

A young Kimi certainly did

[@StorytimeIST]

I really wish your videos could be longer... I enjoy your content and voice so much Aidan... Your the best!! 👏

[@MrSniperfox29]

I remember the Ralf and The Michael complaining that the Damon dared race The Michael during the race, apparently, he was just expected to move over and let him through because he wasn't fighting for the title.

[@AidanMillward]

But Jordan was fighting for 4th in the constructors. At least one member of that team was doing their job. 😅

[@MrSniperfox29]

@@AidanMillward Murray claiming The Ralf would give everything he could to make that happen. Yeah, the driver who was leaving after having a massive temper tantrum over Belgium was really going to give his all for the team he hated.

[@AidanMillward]

@@MrSniperfox29 then for Frentzen to finish third in the 1999 standings while Ralf went to Williams and won nothing for three years.

[@MrSniperfox29]

@@AidanMillward Watching the Ralf interview he claimed Damon only did it because it was "the Michael" and he "wasted time fighting" and he moved out of the way instantly as he knew there was no point. In the end Damon finished as high as would have done anyway. The Michael also claimed Damon only did it because it was him and he had a "grudge" (for some unknown reason).

[@AidanMillward]

@@MrSniperfox29 yeah, but at the time that fight could have meant the difference between some and no points. Obviously we know now but in the moment.

[@MrSaywutnow]

I remember watching this race live. Despite me not really being a fan of Michael (Adelaide '94 and Jerez '97 had soured my opinion of him), I grudgingly respected his ability to fight his way through the grid, and did feel a pang of sympathy when he got his puncture. But then I remembered I was a McLaren fan, and cheered Hakkinen home.

[@theF1oracle]

I remember watching this live on ITV. Schumachers blowout happened during an ad break. When ITV came back Miki had just made a pitstop & Murray said 'your looking at the new F1 world champion'

[@AndyFromBeaverton]

It was a real heartbreaker of a race. It could have been one of the all-time great races. On a side note, MSC had one of my favorite one-off helmets. It looked like he was an American with white stars on a blue background.

[@MichaelGloverMusic]

he did wear a one off for that race but in general thats what his lid was painted like back then, he changed it to the full red colourway after his first ferrari title

[@aaronaaronsen3360]

I love those bits of totally British music references that I know nothing about, but this brings such a good mood to the video that I always have a smile. Keep up the good job Aidan, thanks for this video !

[@Ketis1985]

I still remember when i wake up at night to watch this race with my father. I was 13 years old.😊

[@krachbummduke]

Oh great, can't wait to hear how this was an act of poor evil be Ferrari/Schumacher deliberately designed to insult the crown or something.

[@AidanMillward]

Grow up.

[@michaelocyoung]

0:55 - of course we did have Teletext/Ceefax, and I'll never forget accidentally hitting the TEXT button just before a race replay one year and the rotating headline on the CEEFAX homepage just happened to have the Sport headline on it which immediately spoilered/ruined the race.

[@SaraSpruce]

Japan 1998 is the first memory I have of watching F1 on live TV. It was also the first time I remember using an alarm clock, I was 6 years old and got up to watch the race while the rest of my family were still sleeping.

[@fisherman8178]

Probably the best last to first was Larry Perkins at Bathurst coming from a lap down to winning, although another car broke down ahead and he wasn't catching him it's still amazing he even got into that situation to take advantage of that

[@mb4shmsh4aaaa]

1,9 seconds between The Michael and Eddie in quali. simply mindblowing.

[@ianwynne764]

Hello Aidan: Huge thanks for this. I have had a very soft spot for Mika after seeing him on Top Gear. Keep up the good work.

[@tadroid3858]

Another great story. Made me look up the race. Thanks!!

[@nitrous36]

Good stuff. 98 was the first year I started watching F1

[@reptongeek]

That Ricardo Rosset piece of trivia was hilarious. I don't even care if it's true or not

[@CyanRooper]

F1 driver's neck when going 200 mph through a corner while experiencing 6.5 Gs: This is fine. F1 driver's neck when riding a rollercoaster: Leclerc_screaming_no.mp4

[@GregBrownsWorldORacing]

You're pushing it with Don Henly & This morning I heard Jethro Tull being piped into the "Gentelmens Room" at the tobacconist/bar... A strange day for music all around today I must say (with no reference to Suzuka at all - usually always good for a Prost/Senna side project as Simon Whistler would say) = Prost Aidan (The German version of Prost, not the French Driver of the same spelling)

[@kevinkoster4543]

Good to hear Aidan being a Casual Criminalist fan as well!

[@AidanMillward]

I have never watched, heard or seen this.

[@kevinkoster4543]

@@AidanMillward wait, another of Simons KZbin channels then?

[@AidanMillward]

@@kevinkoster4543 I’ve watched some Today I Found Out which was cool.

[@johnanakinsolo7445]

Looks up this race on F1tv, they have it. But the thumbnail is a number 1 Senna Marlboro McLaren for some reason with the words 1998 Japanese Grand Prix under it.

[@bjarulez]

this period is why im a mclaren fan, thank you for the good memories good man! i like that very interesting bonus fact

[@kdm6287]

It was a great race and season.

[@jonnyspa27]

A Finnish buddy of mine sent me the described stamp and envelopes from FinnPost. One of my favorite bits of racing memorabilia 🥳🏁🇫🇮

[@joshdobson2737]

It would be pretty amazing to see Simon Whistler in the comments.... and I'm with you David and Mika were always my favorites growing up!

[@rowlandstraylight]

I think you mean the clutch grabbed or stuck? Clutch slip is usually exprienced as the revs going through the roof when you floor it and very forward progress. I'm used to seeing this in 2nd or 3rd gear on a motorcycle when doing somehting similar to accelerating on a short sliproad, wherein there's very little torque untill maybe 8k, after which the engine wakes up and catapults you towards the horizon, only for a feeling like you flicked or pulled the clutch in. Clutch grab or sticking occours when a clutch doesn't disengage properly, it's much more common with multiplate clutches, on a wet clutch system it's common on a vehicle that's been sat for a bit and every motorcycle i've owned has gone into first with a big clunk and and a lunge forward on a cold morning, and my old aircooled twin was prone to stalling if it wasn't properly warm when trying to find first. On a dry multiplate system, they tend to stick if they were slipped hard and the friction material got (too) hot and then the plates grabbed together, or the plates can expand and the bit point moves futher towards full stroke. Looking at you ducati. An F1 mutliplate in the electrohydraulic/electropneumatic paddle acutator era is only really used when the car is approaching or piulling away from a stop, but the amount of heat put through them in one use is pretty crazy. That said, excessive clutch slip as a control input or sitting with a clutch not quite in so it drags a little can be what causes the temperature build up that causes a dry multiplate to stick on, as can high speed slip, wich would likely be fatal over the course of a race.

[@robdavies8702]

Granny leaving the supermarket, Boy Racer and Control Freak!

[@mark6bat]

I was a Schumacher fan in 1998 and 10 years old me was definitely not happy for Mika at the time 😂

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

12:02 Wouldn’t Mika be fourth oldest after Mansell Hill and Nico?

[@AidanMillward]

This is how forgettable of a champion Rosberg was 😅

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

@@AidanMillward Lol I think it's because he retired immediately made a youtube channel and became a meme

[@CyanRooper]

How can anyone forget the Monaco-based KZbinr who beat 7 time World Champion Lewis Hamilton in equal machinery to become the World Driver's Champion in 2016?

[@Colin_Pole]

Michael's burn from the stern, or, top gear from the rear was something to watch, I suspect his car was happy it's tyre gave up as it had never been driven like that before. Am I correct in thinking it took a few years before Michael's lap record was broken?

[@areasquirrel]

My first world champion. Praise be to Mika. Ah, that dream team. For me, that black and white and silver and red livery, with Mika and David's names on the side (in non-tobacco locations, of course) *is* McLaren. None of this orange-but-don't-call-it-orange nonsense. They call it papaya, I'm waiting for a team in the colours of the orang-grap-tang and li-lem. Bonus points for anyone who gets that obscure reference. F1TV and Sky have shown this with 'as live' commentary. I remember the 'rerun' version on ITV, where Murray and Martin had to act a different reaction, with Murray even stumbling over his words. It was Murray though, so it was probably still genuine coming from him, his sheer enthusiasm making it difficult for him to fake it. Martin: "[...] and that's Schumacher cruising!" Murray: "And Schumacher- look at his right rear! Pun- it- The tyre has flailed into the bodywork, it looks as though it's burst! Michael Schumacher out of the race, and Mika Hakkinen, then, is the world champion of 1998!" James Allen had to do the same in '06 when Schumacher's engine blew literally as the break began. When the race was on in the middle of the night, if you really couldn't wait, there was Teletext. Because why use Ceefax, it's not on BBC, don't be silly... Boy was I in for a shock when I started going into the archives. The memories come flooding back of typing in Teletext page 450, and watching the counter go through the 400s, hoping that Michael didn't win. I more often than not was disappointed in that era. Then would come the countdown to taping the reruns waiting to see how that big moment on lap whatever at turn X occurred. ITN News also covered F1 in those days with the same phrase traditionally associated with football: "If you don't want to know the result, look away now". I don't find that "not fun." As I say, it's more fun to see how it happened rather than what happened. The anticipation comes seeing how it went down, and is not ruined by being negatively surprised by something you don't like. There's a reason Columbo was so popular in the detective genre. Or Monk, for my generation. Damn it, Schumacher was like a frickin' Terminator, going to the back would earn a "Yes!" out of me, but he would still get uncomfortably close to the front. Then a bigger yes when he went boom. I have watched many times now thanks to modern technology, and I have often wondered, was it really just a puncture? The explosion was so total, ripping holes in the chassis, that it didn't look like something debris could do. Even Mansell's "AND LOOK AT THAT!" moment didn't trash the chassis, just the tyre went. It looks from a modern perspective closer to the wheel rim failure that wiped out Vettel on lap 1 in Abu Dhabi in 2011. The puncture was symptom rather than cause, in other words. But hey, that's just my speculator speculating... Mika was sublime. He was ready to fight if he needed to. The Flying Finn was in the zone. I've seen footage of the Finnish broadcast, and of course the prospect of a first champion for the country since Keke Rosberg meant he was on commentary duty, and was cool as ever, as the lead commentator absolutely lost his mind when Michael retired. Evening news footage showed celebrations in a bar where the race was shown, including a table being wiped of spilt beer... except, surprise surprise, that's not a cloth, it's a Schumacher T-shirt! Some things never change. Also not changing was the polite 'well done's from the Germans they spoke to. As time has gone on, maybe it's age, but I have viewed comeback drives as more artificial, as a fast car means it's relatively easy for them to pass others, and it's not really a fight most times. This applies both to those I don't support as it means from my perspective an unfair advantage at times, and to those I do support for being a massive inconvenience. As Martin Brundle noted after Monza '22, a mixed up grid can be exciting, but the ones who are supposed to be fighting wheel to wheel, no holds barred, at the front, actually doing so, is much more thrilling. May comebacks remain ever rare.

[@BOABModels]

Tell me about it with results being ruined by social media! I had the Belgian GP result spoilt for me by an email from 'Fuel for Fans' saying 'Celebrate Max's win' in the title.

[@SamuelSantos_]

12:12 You skipped Nico Rosberg who was 31 when he won in 2016

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

I got up for this one. What am I saying? I used to get up for all races that started "early" (our time). This was definitely worth it!

[@minibus9]

awesome video

[@LucasOliveira-tt2ll]

Haha I was a 9 year old Schumacher fan who got very disappointed for the 2nd year in a row. I was also confused because it was only my 2nd full season and my only memory of McLaren was the Marlboro one driven by Senna

[@louielouie95]

I Miss RTE's Coverage Of Formula One What Years Did RTE Have The Rights Between That And 2004?

[@theF1oracle]

If my memory is correct (it has been almost 25 years) ferrari wanted Schumacher to keep pole because the rule was that if you stalled & the whole field passed you then you had to start from the back. I'm pretty sure another car stalled along with Schumacher so he wasn't passed by everybody 🤔

[@paulnutter1713]

after the great James Hunt impression the other day that Murray Walker or Martin Brundle was poor in comparison

[@AidanMillward]

It wasn’t supposed to be an impression.

[@paulnutter1713]

@@AidanMillward sarcasm is my thing.... Don Henley wasn't bad

[@1002l]

As a ferrari fan this hurt, but a bit of karma for schumacher to be delayed by Hill it has to be said.

[@benjohnson5222]

I'm a simple man. I see a subtle reference to the Simpsons episode 'Homer bad man', I hit that like button

[@jacekatalakis8316]

Also from memeory, need to find a tape of the broadcast, but ITV missed the moment the tire went bang, they came back from commercial didn't they? Three starts. Is that the last time it'd take three attempts to get a clean start? One aborted start was common around that time, but two aborted starts then a clean start. Hill's full send lunge was nuts, really. You got to admit that 98 Jordan was one of the best looking cars on the grid. That and, hilariously, EA parroted the demo all but verbatim for their F1 2000/Championship Season 2000 and F1 Career Challenge videogames. Ever seen a three seater Arrows do a burnout that'd make half of Santa Pod jealous?

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

I think the 2003 Austrian GP took 3 starts to get going due to Cristiano Da Matta car having issues that day

[@CyanRooper]

The Benson and Hedges sponsorship was the best thing to ever happen to the Jordan F1 team. So many great liveries created from that sponsorship.

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

@@CyanRooper they had the best liveries for when overt tobacco advertising were banned them or McLaren Or the interesting interpretation Zakspeed had when they were sponsored by West, definitely an smart ass response to tobacco banning that or the Ro? Advertising Williams used in 96/97 Thinking about it how Marlboro got around legislation to allow their brand to be showed at hoardings around silverstone in the late 90s early 2000s deserves a mention as well

[@jacekatalakis8316]

@@CyanRooper Well to be fair past 2000 the B&H livery fell off a cliff. 96-99 were the peak years for that livery. 96 was simple, 97-99 were where it really, really got creative. To be fair in 97-98 you had a bunch of great looking cars and teams had fun with liveries coming up with ways to skirt the cigarette advertising bans. Looking at you, 90s Ferrari barcode, McLaren with that art doodle on the car, Williams with the R ? on the sidepod and rear wing, and Calbee instead of Mild Seven on the Tyrell and Minardi, and of course Benetton too

[@CyanRooper]

@@jacekatalakis8316 The "shark teeth" nose of the 2001 Jordan EJ11 looked kind of cool. But yeah, I agree. Other than the 2001 livery, the Jordan liveries of the 2000s just weren't as fun as the 90s liveries.

[@TheMaundy69]

The start segment was in the spa programme I believe

[@Omoplataha]

Finnish broadcast is great to watch back. The moment were gears start turning when you realise what has happened. When the Michael has a puncture it is calm "Oh my Schumacher has a blown tire. So that means Mika Häkkinen has the championship in he's pocket 👏👏👏 Mika Häkkinen is the world champion! MIKÄ HÄKKINEN IS THE WORLD CHAMPION! IN THE SEASON 98! SCHUMACHER IS FORCED TO RETIRE!FLAGS ON POLE! NOW YOU CAN CHEER! NOW YOU CAN CHEER! And in the end you hear commotion and the commentator saying "Argentinians are coming thrue the wall and we can understand there enjoyment as well"

[@ContractCAD]

I remember all too well Schumi's stomp through the field coming to an end once he came across Hill 😁 Any thoughts on the 1999 race when (IIRC) if Schumi had passed Mika it would have gifted the championship to Irvine? Somehow that overtake seemed utterly impossible 😏

[@gentmusic3554]

I believe Hakkinen would have still won the title on countback if memory serves me correctly. I think Irvine would have had to have won with Hakkinen in third, and he just wasn’t in the same race as Mike and Michael that day

[@loganlachance1890]

That wasnt McLarens last championship, Lewis 2008.

[@LGP82]

Nice story of a nice race. By the way. If I have to watch the race later I disconnect from all (a)social media. ;)

[@sleeming88]

Weirdly enough, the thing I remember most of all about that race other than the aborted starts was Ralf's engine failure sending that huge cloud of totally opaque smoke right across the start-finish straight. Astonishing to think that the drivers were going into that at full speed. Not sure there was even a yellow flag.

[@azapro911]

The total opposite of Jerez a year earlier, Schumacher lost with total dignity after quite some run through the field, regardless of how strong that Ferrari was.

[@scrubsrc4084]

I loved the season ends at sazuka.

[@F1wgp7]

99% sure the full race is on F1TV for anyone that has the subscription.

[@wroomwroomboy123]

0:43 My brain checks out

[@AidanMillward]

Lots of 1990

[@wroomwroomboy123]

@@AidanMillward

[@samatkin2662]

Ere mate , have u seen that time Toyota covered up a death .Did I see active rear wings?

[@jpyt845]

2000 finale was Malaysia

[@matthewnield3085]

Dose anyone think Mansel's record as oldest first time champ will ever be beaten? I doubt it as the grid seems to just be getting younger every year and teams are less inined to keep drivers around once they get over 35

[@CyanRooper]

Most likely never. If anything, Alonso might someday beat Fangio's record of being the oldest F1 champion ever (Fangio won his last title at the ripe old age of 46). Man will never stop hunting for that elusive 3rd driver's title.

[@disclaimer.imjokin]

We really missed out on am absolute classic fight in 98. If shimacher didn't fuck up the start. Shame really

[@whoarewe7515]

Your a fan of Simon too.

[@Strangegloves]

watched it at the time, n still think it now....even had they had a straight fight mika still would ve won...that day he was faultless he showed no nerves no emotion.....he was cold and ruthless in his exuction !!!

[@Colin_Pole]

So did Rosset discover a roller coaster is faster than his driving?

[@Mistertbones]

Hi Aiden! Hope you're doing well.

[@MartinBennett12]

You know on F1 TV you can watch classic races

[@fiatascari]

Plz plz plz do 1999 soon

[@callumloader8713]

Nico Rosberg was older than 30 when he won?

[@spikewalker6690]

Please don't invoke Simon Whistler. Every time you do, he spontaneously creates three new channels. At the moment he's almost responsible for...like... 50% of KZbin, like some gigantic bald spam robot

[@djbadlt]

Ok so what's with the whole "The Michael" meme

[@gentmusic3554]

‘I overtook and the backmarker and at the same time overtook the Michael’ quote from Mika after Spa 2000

[@klepetar]

i really do not miss those F1 seasons with schumi.. it was often a race that made me with to hope someone punches schumacher..

[@carsonneal]

can you please stop showing yourself just talking its so annoying like damn lemme see some pictures 😭