New regulations featured narrower track cars and grooved tyres that were meant to curb lap times. In the event, the tyre war between Bridgestone and Michelin only helped to keep things much as they were. A new Concorde Agreement was signed which helped give stability to the eleven competing teams.

It was a year that featured some thrilling racing with Mika Häkkinen and McLaren-Mercedes   proving to be the combination to beat. The Flying Finn outscored Michael Schumacher by eight wins to six, the crumbs being picked up by David Coulthard and Damon Hill. For Hill it was an emotional triumph at Spa as he guided Eddie Jordan 's car to its first win in the wet conditions.

For Ken Tyrrell, having sold his team to British American Racing, it was the end of an illustrious racing career as he retired from competition at season's end.