Ralf Schumacher is free to leave the Jordan team at the end of this season. The settlement was reached with a little help from Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. The Jordan statement said: "An agreement has been brokered by Bernie Ecclestone between Ralf Schumacher and Eddie Jordan, which will allow Ralf Schumacher to join another Formula One team for 1999. The parties have agreed that the terms of their settlement will remain confidential and neither party will make any further announcement concerning these arrangements."

Schumacher is now able to join Williams while Heinz-Harald Frentzen is rumoured to sign for Jordan, making it a driver swap.