Michael Schumacher suffered a race-ending leg fracture at Stowe corner after a brake failure, eliminating him from the 1999 championship contest.
Key Facts
- Race length
- 60 laps
- Winner
- David Coulthard (McLaren)
- Season round
- 8th race of 1999 F1 season
- Schumacher injury
- Broken right leg at Stowe corner
- McLaren's last British GP win
- First since 1989
- Red flag cause
- Race Director accidentally hit red flag button
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The race was red-flagged after Race Director Charlie Whiting accidentally pressed the red flag button instead of the pit exit open button. During the red flag period, Michael Schumacher experienced brake failure approaching Stowe corner, leading to a high-speed crash.
The 1999 British Grand Prix was held on 11 July at Silverstone. David Coulthard won from third on the grid, with Eddie Irvine second and Ralf Schumacher third. The race was disrupted by an accidental red flag and multiple grid stalls from Villeneuve and Zanardi.
Schumacher broke his right leg and was absent from Formula One until the Malaysian Grand Prix, effectively ending his 1999 championship campaign. Coulthard's victory was McLaren's first British Grand Prix win since 1989, and Damon Hill led briefly in what proved to be the last Grand Prix lap he would ever lead.