 The F399 was almost identical to the previous season's F300, with small detail changes (new front wing, wheel tethers, waisted sidepods, an improved exhaust system and the use of Bridgestone tyres with four grooves instead of three).It was initially driven by Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine, with Mika Salo substituting for Schumacher when he broke his leg at Silverstone.Although the team's quest to win their first drivers' title since was halted by Schumacher's injury and the faster speed of the McLaren MP4/14, they did manage to clinch their first constructors' title since .