1996 San Marino Grand Prix

The 1996 San Marino Grand Prix, otherwise known as the 16° Gran Premio di San Marino, was the fifth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy, on the 5 May 1996.'San Marino GP, 1996', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr586.html, (Accessed 13/08/2019) The race would see Damon Hill secure his fourth victory of the season to increase his daunting Championship lead, despite the efforts of Michael Schumacher to rouse the home crowd.
Indeed, Italian hearts had soared when Schumacher swept to pole position in the scarlet , with his best qualifying lap coming moments before his suspension collapsed, a sign of his efforts. Hill, meanwhile, would claim second for ahead of teammate Jacques Villeneuve, while David Coulthard caused a stir by putting his up into fourth.
The Scot would go on to steal the show at the start, blasting past the two Williams and Schumacher's Ferrari to claim the lead, much to the ire of the tifosi. Schumacher himself, meanwhile, would just fend off Hill to secure second after a sluggish getaway, while Mika Salo quietly leapt into fourth as others tripped over one another.
Indeed, Finn would gain two places at one at Tamburello, with Jean Alesi and Villeneuve colliding to leave the Canadian with a puncture. Villeneuve duly stopped at the end of the opening lap for fresh tyres, while Alesi was left to fight with teammate Gerhard Berger.
Out front, meanwhile, Coulthard and Schumacher tried their best to pull clear of Hill, McLaren and Ferrari both having opted for short opening stints and low fuel in a bid to break clear. That ploy ultimately failed however, with Hill stalking them a few couple of seconds behind until they made their stops.
Once they were out of the way on lap 20 Hill made his bid for the lead, setting a string of strong laps as he burned off the rest of his fuel load. Schumacher, meanwhile, would get the jump on Coulthard during his out-lap, adapting very quickly to his cool tyres, and duly began exchanging fastest laps with Hill out front.
Hill's stop came on lap 30, and he would emerge just a few seconds ahead of the German ace, before easing away once again. Schumacher stopped again on lap 40, leaving Hill with a 45 second lead, before the Brit made his final "splash and dash" with thirteen laps to go.
With the fight for victory over attention would focus further down the field, with Berger inheriting third when Coulthard stalled at his second stop. Other fights would also fizzle out, with Salo retiring, Alesi dropping back, and Villeneuve's charge ending with a suspension failure, having climbed to sixth.
Out front, meanwhile, Hill cruised across the line to claim victory, while Schumacher secured second in his first "home" race for Ferrari. Berger was a content third ahead of Eddie Irvine, with Rubens Barrichello and Alesi claiming the remaining points.
==Background==
Damon Hill left the Nürburgring with his Championship lead largely intact, although Jacques Villeneuve had cut the gap down to eleven points. Indeed, it seemed as if the Canadian racer would be the only real challenger to the Brit with a quarter of the season down, with third placed Jean Alesi now 23 points back. The Frenchman was not alone in third, however, with Michael Schumacher level with Alesi on ten points, and with an identical race record.
In the Constructors Championship, meanwhile, it looked to be 's Championship to lose, leaving the European Grand Prix with 55 points to their name. That translated into a crushing 39 point lead over in second, meaning the Anglo-French squad could afford to miss two rounds and still hold a fair lead. Ferrari themselves, meanwhile, had moved ahead of , while and retained their places in the top five.
===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 	 	MP4/11 	 	FO 110D 3.0 V10 	
8 	David Coulthard 	Marlboro McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4/11 	 	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 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Minardi F1 Team 	 	M195B 	 	EDM 3.0 V8 	
22 	Luca Badoer 	Forti Corse 	 	FG03 	 	EDD 3.0 V8 	
23 	Andrea Montermini 	Forti Corse 	 	FG01B 	 	EDD 3.0 V8 	
Source:'San Marino 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/engages.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Gap 	Ave. Speed
1 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:26.890 	— 	202.684 km/h
2 	5 	Damon Hill 	 	1:27.105 	+0.215s 	202.184 km/h
3 	6 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:27.220 	+0.330s 	201.917 km/h
4 	8 	David Coulthard 	 	1:27.688 	+0.798s 	200.839 km/h
5 	3 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:28.009 	+1.119s 	200.107 km/h
6 	2 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:28.205 	+1.315s 	199.662 km/h
7 	4 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:28.336 	+1.446s 	199.366 km/h
8 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	1:28.423 	+1.533s 	199.170 km/h
9 	11 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:28.632 	+1.742s 	198.700 km/h
10 	15 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:28.785 	+1.895s 	198.358 km/h
11 	7 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	1:29.079 	+2.189s 	197.703 km/h
12 	12 	Martin Brundle 	 	1:29.099 	+2.209s 	197.659 km/h
13 	9 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:29.472 	+2.582s 	196.835 km/h
14 	17 	Jos Verstappen 	 	1:29.539 	+2.649s 	196.687 km/h
15 	14 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:29.541 	+2.651s 	196.683 km/h
16 	18 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	1:29.892 	+3.002s 	195.915 km/h
17 	10 	Pedro Diniz 	 	1:29.989 	+3.099s 	195.704 km/h
18 	20 	Pedro Lamy 	 	1:30.471 	+3.581s 	194.661 km/h
19 	21 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	1:30.814 	+3.924s 	193.926 km/h
20 	16 	Ricardo Rosset 	 	1:31.316 	+4.426s 	192.860 km/h
21 	22 	Luca Badoer 	 	1:32.037 	+5.147s 	191.349 km/h
107% Time: 1:32.972 	107% Time: 1:32.972 	107% Time: 1:32.972 	107% Time: 1:32.972 	107% Time: 1:32.972 	107% Time: 1:32.972 	107% Time: 1:32.972
NC 	23 	Andrea Montermini 	 	1:33.685 	+6.795s 	187.983 km/h
Source:'16° Gran Premio Di San Marino - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/642/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 13/08/2019)'San Marino 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'16° Gran Premio Di San Marino - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/642/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 13/08/2019)'San Marino 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'16° Gran Premio Di San Marino - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/642/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 13/08/2019)'San Marino 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'16° Gran Premio Di San Marino - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/642/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 13/08/2019)'San Marino 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'16° Gran Premio Di San Marino - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/642/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 13/08/2019)'San Marino 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'16° Gran Premio Di San Marino - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/642/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 13/08/2019)'San Marino 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'16° Gran Premio Di San Marino - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/642/san-marino/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 13/08/2019)'San Marino 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)
*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===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	5 	Damon Hill 	 	63 	1:35:26.156 	2 	10
2 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	63 	+16.460s 	1 	6
3 	4 	Gerhard Berger 	 	63 	+46.891s 	7 	4
4 	2 	Eddie Irvine 	 	63 	+1:01.583 	6 	3
5 	11 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	63 	+1:18.490 	9 	2
6 	3 	Jean Alesi 	 	62 	+1 Lap 	5 	1
7 	10 	Pedro Diniz 	 	62 	+1 Lap 	17 	
8* 	7 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	61 	Engine 	11 	
9 	20 	Pedro Lamy 	 	61 	+2 Laps 	18 	
10 	22 	Luca Badoer 	 	59 	+4 Laps 	21 	
11* 	6 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	57 	Suspension 	3 	
Ret 	9 	Olivier Panis 	 	54 	Engine 	13 	
Ret 	18 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	45 	Spin 	16 	
Ret 	8 	David Coulthard 	 	44 	Hydraulics 	4 	
Ret 	16 	Ricardo Rosset 	 	40 	Engine 	20 	
Ret 	17 	Jos Verstappen 	 	38 	Hydraulics 	14 	
Ret 	12 	Martin Brundle 	 	36 	Spin 	12 	
Ret 	15 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	32 	Brakes 	10 	
Ret 	21 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	30 	Engine 	19 	
Ret 	14 	Johnny Herbert 	 	25 	Electrical 	15 	
Ret 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	23 	Engine 	8 	
DNQ 	23 	Andrea Montermini 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'San Marino 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)	Source:'San Marino 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin/classement.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Häkkinen and Villeneuve were still classified despite retiring as they had completed 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
* Twentieth entry for Jos Verstappen.'1996 San Marino GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1996&gp=San%20Marino%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 13/08/2019)
* Damon Hill claimed his seventeenth career victory.'5. San Marino 1996', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/saint-marin.aspx, (Accessed 13/08/2019)
* scored their 88th win as a constructor.
** claimed their 79th win as an engine supplier.
* Gerhard Berger claimed the 80th podium finish for a chassis.
** Berger also set a new record for most third place finishes - 21.
*Final race finish for Forti Grand Prix in Formula One.
==Standings==
Damon Hill had, once again, extended his Championship lead with his fourth victory of the season, leaving Italy with 43 points to his name. His advantage over Jacques Villeneuve had therefore blossomed back out to 21 points, more than two race wins, with the Canadian now only six points ahead of Michael Schumacher in third. Elsewhere, Jean Alesi and Eddie Irvine completed the top five, with thirteen drivers on the board.
In the Constructors Championship it was, as ever, a strong afternoon's work for , who left Imola with 65 points to their credit. With on 25 points in second that meant that Williams-Renault had a 40 point lead after just five races, a daunting advantage that made all of their rivals write-off hopes of claiming the crown. Elsewhere, defending Champions were third, seven off of Ferrari, while had yet to break into double figures in fourth.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Damon Hill 	43 	
2 	Jacques Villeneuve 	22 	
3 	Michael Schumacher 	16 	1
4 	Jean Alesi 	11 	1
5 	Eddie Irvine 	9 	
6 	Gerhard Berger 	7 	3
7 	Rubens Barrichello 	7 	
8 	Mika Häkkinen 	5 	2
9 	David Coulthard 	4 	1
10 	Mika Salo 	3 	
11 	Olivier Panis 	1 	
12 	Martin Brundle 	1 	
13 	Jos Verstappen 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	65 	
2 	 	25 	
3 	 	18 	
4 	 	9 	
5 	 	8 	
6 	 	3 	
7 	 	1 	
8 	 	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:San Marino Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Italy