▁was ▁cont ested ▁by ▁eleven ▁teams , ▁each ▁of ▁two ▁drivers . ▁The ▁teams , ▁also ▁known ▁as ▁construct ors ▁were , ▁Mc L aren , ▁Ferr ari , ▁Jordan , ▁J agu ar , ▁Williams , ▁Ben et ton , ▁Pro st , ▁Sa uber , ▁Ar rows , ▁Min ardi ▁and ▁B AR . ▁Ty re ▁supp lier ▁Br id gest one ▁brought ▁two ▁different ▁ty re ▁types ▁to ▁the ▁race : ▁the ▁So ft ▁and ▁the ▁Med ium ▁dry ▁comp ound ▁ty res . ▁ ▁Go ing ▁into ▁the ▁race , ▁Ferr ari ▁driver ▁Michael ▁Sch um acher ▁led ▁the ▁D ri vers ' ▁Championship ▁with ▁ 5 6 ▁points , ▁ahead ▁of ▁David ▁C oul th ard ▁on ▁ 3 4 ▁points ▁and ▁M ika ▁Hä kk inen ▁on ▁ 3 2 . ▁Rub ens ▁Bar rich ello ▁was ▁fourth ▁with ▁ 2 8 ▁points ▁while ▁Gian car lo ▁F is ich ella ▁was ▁fifth ▁on ▁ 1 8 ▁points . ▁In ▁the ▁Con struct ors ' ▁Championship , ▁Ferr ari ▁were ▁leading ▁with ▁ 8 4 ▁points , ▁Mc L aren ▁and ▁Ben et ton ▁were ▁second ▁and ▁third ▁with ▁ 6 6 ▁and ▁ 1 8 ▁points ▁respectively , ▁while ▁Williams ▁with ▁ 1 5 ▁and ▁Jordan ▁with ▁ten ▁cont ended ▁for ▁fourth ▁place . ▁Ferr ari ▁and ▁Mc L aren ▁had ▁so ▁far ▁domin ated ▁the ▁Championship , ▁winning ▁the ▁previous ▁eight ▁races . ▁Championship ▁compet itors ▁F is ich ella ▁and ▁Bar rich ello ▁had