On March 7 1999, Ferrari won the opening grand prix of the season, thus ending a drought that dated back to 1989, when Mansell won in Brazil on his Ferrari debut. The most astounding aspect of the victory is that went, not to Michael Schumacher, but to the Northern Irish driver Eddie Irvine, who after 82 attempts, was finally able to celebrate his maiden win. Right from the start of practice, it had seemed that the Melbourne race would be a repeat of the 1998 event, which would see the McLarens of Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard dominate proceedings. But the British cars were soon out with technical problems.
The retirements of others was little consolation for Michael Schumacher, who had gearbox problems right from the reconnaissance lap, which meant he had to start from the back of the grid. He fought his way up the order until a cut tyres and a damaged front wing meant he had to make an unplanned stop. With a few laps to go, another stop was needed to change the steering wheel because of electrical problems. Ferrari number 3, the only car to be lapped, finished eighth and last, but anything else would have been impossible with all those problems.
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