The Athletic

Mika Hackan made the first of two serious errors on Italian soil at the 1999 San Marino Grand Prix

when he lost control coming out of the final corner and slammed into the

barrier, throwing away the big lead he'd built up over the opening laps of the race.

There were no tears this time, as we'd see later in the year when he spun off at Monza,

but this was a hugely costly mistake, especially as it allowed Michael Schumacher to take

Ferrari's first winner at Himala since 1983. As well as Hakenham's error Michael Schumacher to take Ferrari's first win at Himmala since 1983.

As well as Hakenham's error, Schumacher owed that success to the classic combination of some quick thinking on the Ferrari pit wall

and a blistering set of mid-race qualifying laps to overhaul David Cuthard in the second McLaren,

although a furious Coulthard didn't agree that that was

the reason for Schumacher's win. We'll decide which side of that debate we fall on later in this

episode and joining me, Glenn Freeman, to head back to this race from early 1999 on Matt Beer

and Bring Back V10's debutante, Ben Addison, who has joined the race as our Group F1 editor.

So, Ben, as this is your first appearance, you have to have the traditional opening question first.

So when you think back to the 1999 San Marino Grand Prix, what's the first thing that comes to mind?

Well, this is very painful for me because growing up, I was a massive Damon Hill fan.

He completely encapsulated my period discovering Formula One and 1999 is the absolute

nadir of my childhood watching Formula One.

Where is Damon Hill?

The guy that I supported is basically absent.

And in San Marino, watching footage back, I mean, you don't really see him at all until

quite near the end of the race.

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