After a year-long battle against McLaren-Mercedes’ Mika Hakkinen, Michael Schumacher arrived in Japan for the title-deciding Grand Prix with a special helmet. The then two-time F1 champion wore a special design for the race, looking for his third title and his first with the Scuderia Ferrari.
Although the helmet, chromed and adorned with chequered flags, was beautiful and became one of his iconic designs, Schumacher had a rough race.
Greatest F1 Title Deciders # 10: Japan 1998 – Hakkinen v Schumacher: http://t.co/LRjwPx7Z pic.twitter.com/jBJ44KEQ
— Richard Bayliss (@RSBayliss) November 24, 2012
He stalled his car before one of the starts of the race (the first one was delayed due to another stalled engine), which meant he lost his Pole Position privilege and ended up at the back in a race that he needed to win.
Mika Hakkinen dominated the Grand Prix and took his first title, while the German legend suffered a tyre failure midway through the Grand Prix and could not fight.
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Eventually, Schumacher won five F1 titles with Ferrari between 2000 and 2004, and dominated Formula 1 with his brilliance.