During the recognition laps Luciano Burti has a water leak in his Jaguar. He has to start from the pits in the spare car which is set up for Johnny Herbert. Michael Schumacher is also in the spare Ferrari.

* Lap 1: At the start the two McLarens get away well with Mika Hakkinen getting to the first corner ahead. Behind them there is chaos as Pedro Diniz (Sauber) swerves to avoid Jos Verstappen and bumps into Giancarlo Fisichella's Benetton, sending the Italian into the wall. As this is happening Jarno Trulli runs into the back of Rubens Barrichello and Ricardo Zonta runs into the back of Michael Schumacher. The two Saubers bump into one another and Diniz spins. The two BARs and the two Prosts have to take to the gravel trap to avoid the mess. All this means that Hakkinen and Coulthard lead Mika Salo (from ninth on the grid) with Pedro de la Rosa fourth from 12th on the grid. Jos Verstappen in fifth ahead of Johnny Herbert, Jenson Button and Marc Gene. The decision is taken to despatch the Safety Car.

* Lap 2: Verstappen pits with gearbox problems.

* Lap 3: The wreckage is quickly cleared and the race restarts at the beginning of the third lap. Button drops behind Rubens Barrichello and Heinz-Harald Frentzen almost immediately while Gaston Mazzacane (Minardi) drops down the order from 11th to 17th.

* Lap 4: The McLarens pull away quickly while de la Rosa passes Salo for third place.

* Lap 5: Barrichello overtakes Herbert to take fifth place but behind them Frentzen suffers an engine failure and spins off on his own oil. Further back Ricardo Zonta overtakes Burti for 13th.

* Lap 6: Verstappen sets the fastest lap of the race as he tries to catch up after his stop.

* Lap 7: Jean Alesi overtakes his Prost team mate Nick Heidfeld for 10th place.

* Lap 8: Hakkinen sets his sixth fastest lap of the race while the gap between Coulthard and de la Rosa is out to five seconds. Barrichello passes Salo to take fourth. At the back Ralf Schumacher pits to have the nose of his car changed.

* Lap 9: Diniz overtakes Mazzacane for 15th place, while Ralf Schumacher pits for further repairs to the Williams.

* Lap 13: Hakkinen has built his lead over Coulthard to two seconds while David is 10 seconds ahead of de la Rosa. Barrichello is fourth but unable to attack as his car is damaged. Salo is fifth while Button pressures Herbert for sixth place. Gene is eighth while Alexander Wurz and Alesi swap places as they battle for ninth position. Further back Diniz overtakes Burti for 14th while Verstappen passes Mazzacane to take 16th.

* Lap 14: Verstappen retires with gearbox trouble.

* Lap 16: Alesi passes Wurz for ninth.

* Lap 17: Zonta and Diniz are given 10 second stop-go penalties for causing the accidents on the first lap. They drop to the tail of the field, although they remain ahead of Ralf Schumacher who has rejoined after spending seven laps in the pits.

* Lap 24: Hakkinen has built his lead to 10 seconds. Alesi, on a two-stop strategy, pits and drops from ninth to 13th.

* Lap 25: Zonta and Mazzacane collide at the first corner while allows Diniz to pass both of them to take 14th.

* Lap 32: De la Rosa's Arrows suffers a mechanical failure and retires. Barrichello is promoted to third with Salo fourth, Herbert fifth and Button sixth.

* Lap 34: Wurz drops from eighth to 10th.

* Lap 38: Hakkinen pits and Coulthard moves into the lead. Mika rejoins in second place.

* Lap 39: Heidfeld pits, dropping from eighth place to 13th.

* Lap 42: Coulthard pits and Hakkinen goes back into the lead. Further back Heidfeld and Alesi collide as Jean tries to pass his team mate at the first corner.

* Lap 44: Salo stops and drops from fourth to seventh.

* Lap 45: Herbert pits, allowing Button to move to fourth place. Johnny rejoins in eighth.

* Lap 46: Barrichello stops but remains in third place.

* Lap 47: Button pits and rejoins ahead of both Herbert and Salo.

* Lap 49: Fourth-placed Villeneuve and fifth-placed Wurz pit. Villeneuve is able to get out just ahead of Button. Wurz drops to ninth.

* Lap 50: Ralf Schumacher has a spin and retires.

* Lap 51: Button goes wide at the last corner and drops back from Villeneuve. He is able to stay ahead of Salo.

* Lap 59: Zonta retires from 11th place with a blown engine. Mazzacane is given a 10 second stop-go penalty.

* Lap 68: Coulthard sets fastest lap.

* Lap 70: The order remains unchanged at the front but on his last lap Diniz overtakes Wurz to grab ninth.

* Lap 71: Hakkinen and Coulthard come home to a McLaren 1-2 to give the McLaren team the lead in the Constructors' Championship.