Theseasonprovedanemotionalrollercoaster.Schumachermanagedatriplewhammy(Australia,BrazilandSanMarino)atthestart,thenwonattheNürburgringandMontreal,takingacomfortablelead.However,Julyturnedouttobedisastrousforhim.HeretiredatMagny-CoursandwaseliminatedfromtherunningrightatthestartatZeltwegandHockenheim.However,BarrichellosavedhisteamsfaceinGermanywithhisfirstF1successattheendofathrillingwetrace.HakkinentookBudapestandSpa.SchumacherandFerrariarrivedlateatMonzabuttheItalianeventmarkedthestartofanextraordinaryrun:fourconsecutivepolesandfourwinsforMichaelwhobecameWorldChampionatSuzukawithoneracestilltogo.FerraricrownedabrilliantseasonwiththeConstructors’titleinMalaysia.
Thecarthatbroughttheseresultshadaunique,four-numberdesignation:itwasverydifferentfromitspredecessorsespeciallywithregardtoitsfront-endaerodynamicswithahighnoseconethatthendippedtosupportthelowwing.Thecar’sshapespokevolumesabouttheenormousamountofresearchthathadgoneintoimprovingthelinesandthesurfacestomakeitmoreefficient.Thechassis’centreofgravitywasloweredwitheventhebrakecallipersatthebottomofthediscdownratherthanvertically.ThemorepowerfulTipo049enginewasalsoredesignedwitha90°Vbetweenthecylinderbankstomakeitlower.