1996 Italian Grand Prix

The LXVII Pioneer Gran Premio d'Italia, otherwise known as the 1996 Italian Grand Prix, was the fourteenth race of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Monza, Italy, on the 8 September 1996.'Italian GP, 1996', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr595.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019) The race would see Michael Schumacher sweep to a popular victory for , their first on home soil since 1988, as the two s crashed out.
As usual the two Williams' had been the men to dominate qualifying, with Championship leader Damon Hill claiming pole position ahead of teammate Jacques Villeneuve. Schumacher was half a second away in third ahead of Mika Häkkinen in his , while Eddie Irvine in the sister Ferrari was down in seventh.
Overnight on Sunday there would be a re-positioning of tyre barriers at the two chicanes, with large bundles moved right to the edge of the apexes to prevent kerb hopping. The drivers were particularly unhappy with the change, although the Grand Prix Drivers' Association failed to muster a challenge.
The start of the race itself saw all of the top four drivers make poor starts, resulting in Jean Alesi streaking through into third. That appeared to be as far as the Frenchman would get, only for an aggressive defensive move from Hill to defend from Villeneuve to open the door for Alesi into the Rettifilo.
Alesi was hence gifted the lead through Curva Grande, with Hill, Villeneuve, Häkkinen, Coulthard and Schumacher falling into line behind. However, Hill, who could win the title in Italy, was determined to escape from Villeneuve, and duly scythed past Alesi through Lesmo to claim the lead.
Villeneuve was passed by Häkkinen on the run out of Parabolica, before bending his front suspension by clipping the tyre bundle at the second chicane. The tyres duly rebounded on their mounting point and smacked into Coulthard, destroying the Scot's steering.
Schumacher was hence left in fourth, while Hill, out front was easing clear of Alesi at an impressive pace. Indeed, Alesi was throwing his around as hard as he could in hopes of remaining with the Williams, and duly clipped the barriers at the second chicane.
Once again the tyres rebounded and smacked into the car behind, smashing the front wing on Häkkinen's McLaren. The Finn completed a full lap before coming in to replace his nose, slumping to the back of the pack as Schumacher move into third.
A couple of laps later and Hill was out completely, a rear-wheel clip on the tyre barriers at the first chicane pitching the Brit's Williams into an engine stalling spin. Alesi was hence left in the lead ahead of Schumacher, with the German knowing that his best hope of getting ahead of the Benetton would come during the pitstops.
That ultimately, proved to be the key, with a three lap period between Alesi and Schumacher's stops seeing the German go from 0.6s behind the Benetton, to over five seconds in front. However, as Schumacher pulled clear on fresh tyres he very nearly managed to have the same accident as Hill at the first chicane, meaning he could hardly relax.
With that the race was over, with Schumacher nursing his car, unsure of how damaged it was to the chequered flag, causing an eruption from the thousands of tifosi lining the circuit. Alesi was a content second ahead of Häkkinen, while Martin Brundle, Rubens Barrichello and Pedro Diniz secured the remaining points having survived to the end.
==Background==
Damon Hill had seen his Championship lead cut to thirteen points after his pit issues, although teammate Jacques Villeneuve believed he should have taken more out of the Brit's lead. Indeed, Villeneuve was genuinely expecting to challenge for the title in his maiden F1 season, although he knew he would have to take more than four points a race out of Hill's advantage. Behind Michael Schumacher had moved back into third, a point ahead of Jean Alesi, with Mika Häkkinen completing the top five.
In the Constructors Championship had ended the weekend on 149 points, moving them 94 points clear of second placed . Indeed, the now Italian registered team had also lost ground to in third, with just seven point separating the two with three rounds to go. were seven further back in fourth, meaning they were still in the hunt, while were a distant fifth.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Michael Schumacher 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	F310 	 	046 3.0 V10 	
2 	Eddie Irvine 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	F310 	 	046 3.0 V10 	
3 	Jean Alesi 	Mild Seven Benetton Renault 	 	B196 	 	RS8 3.0 V10 	
4 	Gerhard Berger 	Mild Seven Benetton Renault 	 	B196 	 	RS8 3.0 V10 	
5 	Damon Hill 	Rothmans Williams Renault 	 	FW18 	 	RS8 3.0 V10 	
6 	Jacques Villeneuve 	Rothmans Williams Renault 	 	FW18 	 	RS8 3.0 V10 	
7 	Mika Häkkinen 	Marlboro McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/11B 	 	FO 110D 3.0 V10 	
8 	David Coulthard 	Marlboro McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/11B 	 	FO 110D 3.0 V10 	
9 	Olivier Panis 	Equipe Ligier Gauloises Blondes 	 	JS43 	 	MF301HA 3.0 V10 	
10 	Pedro Diniz 	Equipe Ligier Gauloises Blondes 	 	JS43 	 	MF301HA 3.0 V10 	
11 	Rubens Barrichello 	B&H Total Jordan Peugeot 	 	196 	 	A12 3.0 V10 	
12 	Martin Brundle 	B&H Total Jordan Peugeot 	 	196 	 	A12 3.0 V10 	
14 	Johnny Herbert 	Red Bull Sauber Ford 	 	C15 	 	JD Zetec-R 3.0 V8 	
15 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	Red Bull Sauber Ford 	 	C15 	 	JD Zetec-R 3.0 V8 	
16 	Ricardo Rosset 	Footwork Hart 	 	FA17 	 	830 3.0 V8 	
17 	Jos Verstappen 	Footwork Hart 	 	FA17 	 	830 3.0 V8 	
18 	Ukyo Katayama 	Tyrrell Yamaha 	 	024 	 	OX11A 3.0 V10 	
19 	Mika Salo 	Tyrrell Yamaha 	 	024 	 	OX11A 3.0 V10 	
20 	Pedro Lamy 	Minardi F1 Team 	 	M195B 	 	EDM 3.0 V8 	
21 	Giovanni Lavaggi 	Minardi F1 Team 	 	M195B 	 	EDM 3.0 V8 	
Source:'Italy 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Gap 	Ave. Speed
1 	5 	Damon Hill 	 	1:24.204 	— 	246.687 km/h
2 	6 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:24.521 	+0.317s 	245.761 km/h
3 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:24.781 	+0.577s 	245.008 km/h
4 	7 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	1:24.939 	+0.735s 	244.552 km/h
5 	8 	David Coulthard 	 	1:24.976 	+0.772s 	244.445 km/h
6 	3 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:25.201 	+0.997s 	243.800 km/h
7 	2 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:25.226 	+1.022s 	243.728 km/h
8 	4 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:25.470 	+1.266s 	243.033 km/h
9 	12 	Martin Brundle 	 	1:26.037 	+1.833s 	241.431 km/h
10 	11 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:26.194 	+1.990s 	240.991 km/h
11 	9 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:26.206 	+2.002s 	240.958 km/h
12 	14 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:26.345 	+2.141s 	240.570 km/h
13 	15 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:26.505 	+2.301s 	240.125 km/h
14 	10 	Pedro Diniz 	 	1:26.726 	+2.522s 	239.513 km/h
15 	17 	Jos Verstappen 	 	1:27.270 	+3.066s 	238.020 km/h
16 	18 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	1:28.234 	+4.030s 	235.419 km/h
17 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	1:28.472 	+4.268s 	234.786 km/h
18 	20 	Pedro Lamy 	 	1:28.933 	+4.729s 	233.569 km/h
19 	16 	Ricardo Rosset 	 	1:29.181 	+4.977s 	232.920 km/h
20 	21 	Giovanni Lavaggi 	 	1:29.833 	+5.629s 	231.229 km/h
107% Time: 1:30.098 	107% Time: 1:30.098 	107% Time: 1:30.098 	107% Time: 1:30.098 	107% Time: 1:30.098 	107% Time: 1:30.098 	107% Time: 1:30.098
Source:'Pioneer 67° Gran Premio D'Italia - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/651/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Italy 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Pioneer 67° Gran Premio D'Italia - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/651/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Italy 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Pioneer 67° Gran Premio D'Italia - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/651/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Italy 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Pioneer 67° Gran Premio D'Italia - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/651/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Italy 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Pioneer 67° Gran Premio D'Italia - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/651/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Italy 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Pioneer 67° Gran Premio D'Italia - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/651/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Italy 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Pioneer 67° Gran Premio D'Italia - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/651/italy/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Italy 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
===Grid===
** Panis would start from the back of the grid after stalling on the formation lap.
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	53 	1:17:43.632 	3 	10
2 	3 	Jean Alesi 	 	53 	+18.265s 	6 	6
3 	7 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	53 	+1:06.635 	4 	4
4 	12 	Martin Brundle 	 	53 	+1:25.217 	9 	3
5 	11 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	53 	+1:25.475 	10 	2
6 	10 	Pedro Diniz 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	14 	1
7 	6 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	2 	
8 	17 	Jos Verstappen 	 	52 	+1 Lap 	15 	
9* 	14 	Johnny Herbert 	 	51 	Engine 	12 	
10 	18 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	51 	+2 Laps 	16 	
Ret 	16 	Ricardo Rosset 	 	36 	Spin 	19 	
Ret 	2 	Eddie Irvine 	 	23 	Spin 	7 	
Ret 	20 	Pedro Lamy 	 	12 	Engine 	18 	
Ret 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	9 	Engine 	17 	
Ret 	15 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	7 	Spin 	13 	
Ret 	5 	Damon Hill 	 	5 	Spin 	1 	
Ret 	21 	Giovanni Lavaggi 	 	5 	Engine 	20 	
Ret 	4 	Gerhard Berger 	 	4 	Hydraulics 	8 	
Ret 	9 	Olivier Panis 	 	2 	Spin 	11 	
Ret 	8 	Damon Hill 	 	1 	Spin 	5 	
Source:'Italy 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Italy 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Herbert was still classified despite retiring as he had completed 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
* Damon Hill recorded the 120th pole position for a engine.'14. Italy 1996', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/italie.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)
* Michael Schumacher secured his 22nd victory.
* claimed their 108th win as both a constructor and engine supplier.
* Schumacher recorded his 25th fastest lap.'1996 Italian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1996&gp=Italian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 16/08/2019)
* Final points finish for as a constructor.
==Standings==
With neither Damon Hill nor Jacques Villeneuve managing to score there had been no change atop the Championship, although the results had worked in Hill's favour. Indeed, his thirteen point lead had emerged completely intact from the battle of Monza, meaning he could win the Championship if he finished ahead of Villeneuve in Portugal. Villeneuve, meanwhile, would likely have to win in Estoril just to keep his title hopes alive.
 had failed to score for only the second time in , although they had already won the Constructors Championship. In contrast the fight for second was hotting up, with a home victory for leaving them just three points behind with two rounds to go. had also inched closer to the second placed squad, and had essentially secured fourth in the Championship ahead of .
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Damon Hill 	81 	
2 	Jacques Villeneuve 	68 	
3 	Michael Schumacher 	49 	
4 	Jean Alesi 	44 	
5 	Mika Häkkinen 	27 	
6 	David Coulthard 	18 	
7 	Gerhard Berger 	17 	
8 	Rubens Barrichello 	14 	1
9 	Olivier Panis 	13 	1
10 	Eddie Irvine 	9 	
11 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	6 	
12 	Martin Brundle 	6 	2
13 	Mika Salo 	5 	1
14 	Johnny Herbert 	4 	1
15 	Pedro Diniz 	2 	
16 	Jos Verstappen 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	149 	
2 	 	61 	
3 	 	58 	
4 	 	45 	
5 	 	20 	
6 	 	15 	
7 	 	10 	
8 	 	5 	
9 	 	1 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
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References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:1996 Grands Prix
Category:Italian Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Italy