1998 Australian GP *Round 1* (ITV Commentary)

A new year means new changes.

The rules, The teams, the drivers and there were quite a few!

(Plus Schumacher had to do some grovelling to try and get some reputation back after the last race in Jerez)

Technical Regulation Changes:-

Grooved tyres replace slicks for the first time since 1970.

Reduction of the cars Axel Track, from 2000MM to 1800MM.

Team Changes:-

Renault withdrew from the sport so Williams had another engine supplier.. Mechachrome.

Benetton sourced the same engines but were under the name Playlife.

Prost now used Peugeot engines, while Jordan used Mugen-Honda (Swapping from the year before)

Mindari now used Ford engines instead of Hart.

Drivers changes:-

Gerhard Berger retired at the end of 1997.

Jean Alesis contract did not get renewed so joined Johnny Herbert at Sauber.

Benetton signed Giancarlo Fisichella from Jordan & Alex Wurz (Who subbed for Berger for 3 races in 97).

Damon Hill went from Arrows to replace Fisichella at Jordan.

Arrows signed Tyrrels Mika Salo to replace him.

Tyrrel parted ways with Jos Verstappen at the end of 97 and replaced him with Ricardo Rossett.

They also promoted test driver Tora Takagi to join Rossett.

While Prost retained Olivier Panis, they dropped Shinji Nakano and got Jarno Trulli back in that second seat.

Nakano would head to Minardi to replace fellow countryman, Ukyo Katayama.

Esteban Tuero would also get promoted from test driver to 2nd driver, replacing Tarso Marques.

Could Williams with their new Mechachrome engines breathe life into another title challege?

Could Ferrari FINALLY get the championships they have been waiting for so long for?

Or would Jerez winners Mclaren and Mika Hakkinen emerge as potential favourites for a championship fight?

Let the 1998 season begin!