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 Shinji Nakano driving the M198 at the1998 Spanish Grand Prix | |||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Minardi | ||||||||
| Designers | Gustav Brunner(Technical Director) Gabriele Tredozi(Chief Engineer) Mariano Alperin(Chief Aerodynamicist) | ||||||||
| Predecessor | M197 | ||||||||
| Successor | M01 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | double wishbones, pushrod with coaxial spring/damper and torsion bar | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | double wishbones, pushrod with coaxial spring/damper and torsion bar | ||||||||
| Engine | Ford JD Zetec-R, 3.0-litre, 72-degreeV10,mid-engined | ||||||||
| Transmission | Minardi six-speed longitudinal sequential semi-automatic | ||||||||
| Power | 710 PS (522 kW; 700 bhp) @ 15,000 rpm 450 N⋅m (332 lb⋅ft)[1] | ||||||||
| Weight | 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) | ||||||||
| Fuel | Elf orTexaco | ||||||||
| Tyres | Bridgestone | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Fondmetal Minardi Team | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | 22. Shinji Nakano23.  Esteban Tuero | ||||||||
| Debut | 1998 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
TheMinardi M198 was the car with which theMinardi team competed in the1998 Formula One World Championship.
This was the final Minardi car to use the "M1xx" suffix designation.
For 1998, Minardi signed JapaneseShinji Nakano fromProst, and Argentine rookieEsteban Tuero.[2][3]
The M198 featured aFord poweredCosworth V10 engine, upgrading from the previous seasonsHart V8. Tuero first tested the new engine in January 1998 atMugello.[4] By February, Nakano had joined the team and was testing the car in Barcelona. However, despite optimism, Tuero had yet to be granted a super licence to compete in the 1998 season.[5][6] Tuero was eventually awarded his license by theFIA and upon starting the season at 19 years of age, he became the third-youngest ever Formula One driver at the time.[7]
At the first round of the 1998 season inAustralia, Tuero managed to qualify in 17th position ahead of1996 Monaco Grand Prix winnerOlivier Panis, and bothTyrrells. However, ultimately the race would finish in a double retirement for the M198 - a feat repeated at the next round in Brazil. Nakano took the M198 to its first Grand Prix finish in Argentina.
Reliability was an issue with the M198, as were a number of accidents. The car failed to finish 18 times.[8] Tuero only finished four Grand Prix he entered, a 75% retirement rate.[9] Nakano suffered six retirements, meaning three Grand Prix where neither M198 passed the chequered flag. At the final race of the season inJapan, Tuero was involved in a collision withTora Takagi which caused lesions across three spinal vertebrae. The debris from the accident was hit byMichael Schumacher, leading him to retire andMika Hakkinen won the title.[10][11]
The highlight of the M198 was Nakano's 7th place finish at the1998 Canadian Grand Prix. This led Minardi to finish ahead of Tyrrell in the 1998 Constructors' Championship, despite both teams failing to score any points.
Following the season, Minardi began utilising the M198 for testing ahead of 1999.Laurent Redon,Marc Gene andItalian F3 winnerDonny Crevels all tested the M198 at Barcelona in December, 1998.[12] Gene would ultimately join the team for 1999, and drive the M01.[13]
The M198 had a significant livery change from its predecessor, running a new silver and blue paintjob. The car also featured a large number of sponsors, such asFondmetal, Roces,Avex Group and Doimo.
(key) (results inbold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Minardi | Ford JD Zetec-RV10 | B | AUS | BRA | ARG | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | AUT | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | LUX | JPN | 0 | NC | |
| Shinji Nakano | Ret | Ret | 13 | Ret | 14 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 8 | 11 | Ret | 15 | 8 | Ret | 15 | Ret | ||||||
| Esteban Tuero | Ret | Ret | Ret | 8 | 15 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 16 | Ret | Ret | 11 | Ret | Ret |
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