09.10.2025Montreal 1998: How Schumi managed to win the race with the F300

The 1998 World Championship was dominated by the battle for the victory between McLaren and Ferrari. After a dominant McLaren phase at the start of the season, Michael Schumacher was third in the overall standings with 24 points, 22 points behind leader Mika Häkkinen. In the team standings, Ferrari was even further behind McLaren. However, Montreal offered Ferrari and Schumacher a chance to close the gap in the title fight.

The seventh race of the season took Formula 1 to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve and promised an exciting spectacle for the fans. Schumacher, who had previously won in Canada in 1994 and 1997, got off to a strong start and overtook Häkkinen before the first corner. Following an accident between Wurz and Alesi, the race was restarted. On the second start, Fisichella overtook Schumacher, while Häkkinen retired due to gearbox problems.

Another accident, this time involving Ralf Schumacher, triggered the first safety car period, but "Schumi" managed to reclaim the position he had lost to Fisichella shortly before the race. In second place, he battled with David Coulthard for the lead. After another safety car deployment, Coulthard dropped back due to problems with the throttle electronics. Schumacher took the lead and pitted under another safety car. He failed to see Frentzen exiting the pit lane and forced him into the grass. This maneuver resulted in a ten-second penalty and dropped him to third place behind Hill on lap 35.

Thanks to a successful overtaking maneuver on Hill and Fisichella's pit stop on lap 45, Schumacher was able to reclaim the lead and win the race ahead of the Italian and teammate Eddie Irvine. With this victory and Irvine's third place, the duo reduced the gap to McLaren in the team standings from 36 to 22 points. In the drivers' standings, the racing legend from Kerpen moved up to second place with a total of 34 points.

Schumacher commented on his victory in Montreal with confidence for the upcoming races: "We closed the gap to McLaren this weekend, which I'm very happy about," said the then 29-year-old. "I'm also optimistic about the future, as we have some further developments planned for the next races. I hope we can reach the same level as McLaren or even overtake them."

In addition to Schumacher's skills, he also owed his victory in Canada primarily to the technical details of the Ferrari F300. With a new front wing and diffuser, used for the first time at the Canadian Grand Prix, Ferrari presented an advanced aerodynamic concept. This innovative design was a decisive step on the way to the Scuderia's eventual dominance. The F300's visual appeal was also unforgettable: Painted in classic Ferrari red, with white accents and logos such as those of Marlboro, Shell, Tommy Hilfiger, and Goodyear, it embodies the image of a typical Formula 1 racing car of the late 1990s.

Its technology made the difference: the monocoque was made of carbon fiber, and the Ferrari Tipo 047 V10 engine produced around 805 hp with a displacement of just under 3 liters. Added to this were an electro-hydraulic seven-speed transmission, carbon brakes, and the then-mandated narrower chassis with grooved tires. These features, along with its weight of just 600 kilograms, made the F300 light, agile, and a worthy challenger for McLaren.

The model in scale 1:12 of the Ferrari F300 from the 1998 Canadian Grand Prix, faithfully reproduced, was launched by WERK83. With its paint scheme, including all sponsor logos, and a precisely recreated cockpit, the miniature racer perfectly reflects the original. A true piece of Formula 1 history, a must-have for collectors and Ferrari fans alike.

M. Schumacher Ferrari F300 #3 Winner Canadian GP Formula 1 1998 1:12 WERK83, RRP €149.95, item-no.: W12003001