Ferrari's dominance and the manufacturer boom (1998–2008)

The seasons 11

The seasons
Season	Rounds	Drivers' champion	Driving for	Points	Wins	Runner-up	Margin	Constructors' champion
2008	18	Sir Lewis Hamilton	McLaren	98	5	Felipe Massa	1	Ferrari
2007	17	Kimi Raikkonen	Ferrari	110	6	Sir Lewis Hamilton	1	Ferrari
2006	18	Fernando Alonso	Renault	134	7	Michael Schumacher	13	Renault
2005	19	Fernando Alonso	Renault	133	7	Kimi Raikkonen	21	Renault
2004	18	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	148	13	Rubens Barrichello	34	Ferrari
2003	16	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	93	6	Kimi Raikkonen	2	Ferrari
2002	17	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	144	11	Rubens Barrichello	67	Ferrari
2001	17	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	123	9	David Coulthard	58	Ferrari
2000	17	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari	108	9	Mika Hakkinen	19	Ferrari
1999	16	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	76	5	Eddie Irvine	2	Ferrari
1998	16	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	100	8	Michael Schumacher	14	McLaren

Margin is the points gap between champion and runner-up at the end of the season; before 1991 that is net of dropped scores, so it can look small beside the wins. A row marked “so far” is the season still running: its leader, not its champion. The title race is the champion’s lead over the runner-up after each round, above the line when ahead and below it when behind, each season drawn to its own scale. A row reading “not yet run” is a calendar that has been announced and not yet raced. A blank constructors’ champion before 1958 is not a gap — the championship did not exist yet.

Engine formulae 2

Engine formulae
Era	Formula	Typical	Power (bhp)	Revs	Notes
The V10 era 1995–2005	3.0 L naturally aspirated	V10 (mandated from 2000)	700-980	up to 19,000 rpm	Capacity cut for safety after 1994. By 2005 the best engines revved past 19,000 rpm and lasted two race weekends.
The V8 era 2006–2013	2.4 L naturally aspirated V8	V8	720-780	20,000 rpm to 2006, then 19,000, then 18,000 from 2009	Rev limits and long-life rules progressively froze development. KERS introduced in 2009.

Regulation changes 8

Regulation changes
Year	Category	Change	Detail	Impact
2008	technical	Standard ECU	A single McLaren Electronic Systems ECU for all cars.	Made traction control and engine braking control enforceable to ban.
2007	sporting	Single tyre supplier	Bridgestone became the sole supplier after Michelin's withdrawal.	Ended tyre-war development and made tyres a controlled variable.
2006	technical	2.4 L V8 engines	V10s replaced to cut power and cost.	—
2005	sporting	One engine per two race weekends; tyre changes banned	Engines had to last two events; tyres could not be changed during a race.	The tyre rule was abandoned after the 2005 US GP fiasco.
2003	sporting	Points to the top eight; single-lap qualifying	10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 introduced; parc ferme rules restricted set-up changes after qualifying.	Deliberately designed to reduce Ferrari's margin.
2003	sporting	Team orders banned	Following the 2002 Austrian GP, orders that interfere with a race result were prohibited.	Repealed in 2011 as unenforceable.
2001	technical	Traction control legalised	Reinstated from the Spanish GP because the ban had become unpoliceable.	Banned again in 2008 with the standard ECU.
1998	technical	Narrow-track cars and grooved tyres	Track cut from 2.0 m to 1.8 m; three grooves front and four rear.	Cut cornering speed at the expense of mechanical grip.

Technical innovations 2

Technical innovations
Year	Innovation	Originator	What it was	What became of it	Banned
1998	Mass damper	Renault R25/R26	A sprung mass in the nose damping tyre oscillation and stabilising the aerodynamic platform.	Banned mid-2006 as a movable aerodynamic device.	2006
2003	Twin-keel and zero-keel front suspension	Various	Front wishbone mounting philosophies to clean up airflow under the nose.	Superseded by pull-rod and high-nose concepts.	—

Safety 3

Higher cockpit sides and headrest energy absorption1999

HANS device mandated2003

After: Basilar skull fractures in motorsport worldwide

Head and neck support tethering the helmet to the shoulders; the single most effective driver-protection device of its generation.