1996 Portuguese Grand Prix

The 1996 Portuguese Grand Prix, otherwise officially known as the XXV Grande Prémio de Portugal, was the fifteenth and penultimate round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged on the 22 September 1996 at the Autódromo do Estoril in Estoril, Portugal.'Portuguese GP, 1996', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2014), https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr596.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019) The race, which was the 25th and final Portuguese Grand Prix to be staged, would see Jacques Villeneuve sweep to victory to keep his title hopes alive.
The two s had duelled for pole position as usual in qualifying, with Damon Hill edging out Villeneuve by just 0.009s. A huge gap then followed before Jean Alesi appeared in third on the grid, with the Frenchman hoping not to get involved in the title fight ahead of him.
The start of the race seemed to have ensured that Hill would win the title, with a strong start for the Brit seeing him sprint away to claim the lead. He would, however, have to defend from a fast starting Alesi, who found himself brushing the grass in a bid to take the lead, while Michael Schumacher got the jump Villeneuve to relegate the Canadian down to fourth.
With Alesi dealt with Hill was away, pulling out a ten second lead in the early stages, while Villeneuve remained stuck behind Alesi and Schumacher. Indeed, Villeneuve could see his Championship hopes drifting away with every lap he remained behind the duo, and so he was left to try an audacious move.
That move came on lap sixteen, when the trio came to lap a slow of Giovanni Lavaggi towards the end of the lap. Alesi sneaked through before Schumacher had to back off as they entered the long, fast, final corner, allowing Villeneuve to sweep right around the outside of the to claim third.
A couple of laps later and Villeneuve was in for his first stop, the Williams team opting to stop the Canadian early in hopes of jumping the Frenchman during the stops. The ploy worked and Villeneuve swept past the pits as Alesi exited from his stop on lap 22, leaving the Canadian clear to chase Hill.
Hill would maintain a fifteen second lead over his teammate, although that would be cut considerably when the Brit got caught behind Ukyo Katayama and Ricardo Rosset as they squabbled at the back of the field. Indeed, further traffic issues for Hill saw his lead all but disappear by the time he made his second stop, with Villeneuve emerging from his second stop right on the Brit's tail.
The #6 Williams remained glued to the tail of the sister car through to their third and final round of stops, where a poor out-lap for Hill, who stopped first, ultimately determined the fate of the race. Indeed, Villeneuve would manage to just ease out of the pits from his stop as Hill, initially thinking it was a , came past the pits.
With that the race was over, with Hill unable to match Villeneuve's pace during the closing stages. Behind, Alesi and Schumacher enjoyed a spirited duel for third, even surviving a mid-race clash, before Schumacher grabbed the position late on with a superior strategy.
Villeneuve, meanwhile, would be unconcerned, sweeping to victory ahead of Hill to close the gap to the Brit to nine points ahead of the final race. Schumacher was third ahead of Alesi to grab the advantage in their fight for third in the Championship, with the remaining points heading to Eddie Irvine and Gerhard Berger, despite the pair having a collision with each other on the final tour.
The results meant that Hill simply had to finish in the points in Japan to claim his maiden Championship, while Villeneuve would have to win the race.
==Background==
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 .
===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:'Portugal 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/engages.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/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 	 	1:20.330 	— 	195.394 km/h
2 	6 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	1:20.339 	+0.009s 	195.372 km/h
3 	3 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:21.088 	+0.758s 	193.567 km/h
4 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	1:21.236 	+0.906s 	193.215 km/h
5 	4 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:21.293 	+0.963s 	193.079 km/h
6 	2 	Eddie Irvine 	 	1:21.362 	+1.032s 	192.916 km/h
7 	7 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	1:21.640 	+1.310s 	192.259 km/h
8 	8 	David Coulthard 	 	1:22.066 	+1.736s 	191.261 km/h
9 	11 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	1:22.205 	+1.875s 	190.937 km/h
10 	12 	Martin Brundle 	 	1:22.324 	+1.994s 	190.661 km/h
11 	15 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	1:22.325 	+1.995s 	190.659 km/h
12 	14 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:22.655 	+2.325s 	189.898 km/h
13 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	1:22.765 	+2.435s 	189.645 km/h
14 	18 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	1:23.013 	+2.683s 	189.079 km/h
15 	9 	Olivier Panis 	 	1:23.055 	+2.725s 	188.983 km/h
16 	17 	Jos Verstappen 	 	1:23.531 	+3.201s 	187.906 km/h
17 	16 	Ricardo Rosset 	 	1:24.230 	+3.900s 	186.347 km/h
18 	10 	Pedro Diniz 	 	1:24.293 	+3.963s 	186.208 km/h
19 	20 	Pedro Lamy 	 	1:24.510 	+4.180s 	185.729 km/h
20 	21 	Giovanni Lavaggi 	 	1:25.612 	+5.282s 	183.339 km/h
107% Time: 1:25.953 	107% Time: 1:25.953 	107% Time: 1:25.953 	107% Time: 1:25.953 	107% Time: 1:25.953 	107% Time: 1:25.953 	107% Time: 1:25.953
Source:'Grande Premio de Portugal - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/652/portugal/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Portugal 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Grande Premio de Portugal - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/652/portugal/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Portugal 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Grande Premio de Portugal - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/652/portugal/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Portugal 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Grande Premio de Portugal - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/652/portugal/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Portugal 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Grande Premio de Portugal - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/652/portugal/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Portugal 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Grande Premio de Portugal - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/652/portugal/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Portugal 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Grande Premio de Portugal - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1996/races/652/portugal/qualifying-0.html, (Accessed 16/08/2019)'Portugal 1996: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/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===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	6 	Jacques Villeneuve 	 	70 	1:40:22.915 	2 	10
2 	5 	Damon Hill 	 	70 	+19.966s 	1 	6
3 	1 	Michael Schumacher 	 	70 	+53.765s 	4 	4
4 	3 	Jean Alesi 	 	70 	+55.109s 	3 	3
5 	2 	Eddie Irvine 	 	70 	+1:27.389 	6 	2
6 	4 	Gerhard Berger 	 	70 	+1:33.141 	5 	1
7 	15 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	 	69 	+1 Lap 	11 	
8 	14 	Johnny Herbert 	 	69 	+1 Lap 	12 	
9 	12 	Martin Brundle 	 	69 	+1 Lap 	10 	
10 	9 	Olivier Panis 	 	69 	+1 Lap 	15 	
11 	19 	Mika Salo 	 	69 	+1 Lap 	13 	
12 	18 	Ukyo Katayama 	 	68 	+2 Laps 	14 	
13 	8 	David Coulthard 	 	68 	+2 Laps 	8 	
14 	16 	Ricardo Rosset 	 	67 	+3 Laps 	17 	
15 	21 	Giovanni Lavaggi 	 	65 	+5 Laps 	20 	
16 	20 	Pedro Lamy 	 	65 	+5 Laps 	19 	
Ret 	7 	Mika Häkkinen 	 	52 	Collision 	7 	
Ret 	17 	Jos Verstappen 	 	47 	Engine 	16 	
Ret 	10 	Pedro Diniz 	 	46 	Collision 	18 	
Ret 	11 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	41 	Spin 	9 	
Source:'Portugal 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)	Source:'Portugal 1996: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal/classement.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
==Milestones==
* 25th Portuguese Grand Prix to be staged, and the last until 2020.
* Last race to be held at Estoril.
* 2,500th entry for a car using Elf as a lubricant supplier.'1996 Portuguese GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1996&gp=Portuguese%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 16/08/2019)
* Damon Hill claimed his twentieth and final pole position.'15. Portugal 1996', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1996/portugal.aspx, (Accessed 16/08/2019)
* Fourth victory for Jacques Villeneuve.
* scored their 94th win as a constructor.
** This was also the final one-two for Williams until the 2002 Malaysian Grand Prix.
** powered a car to an 85th win as an engine supplier.
* Villeneuve recorded the 100th fastest lap for a Williams chassis.
==Standings==
Jacques Villeneuve scored his fourth win of the season to keep his title hopes alive, although with Damon Hill finishing second the Canadian's task was made all the more difficult. Indeed, Hill held a nine point advantage heading into the finale in Japan, meaning he would win the title if he finished in the points, regardless of what Villeneuve could achieve. For Villeneuve, however, no result other than victory would earn him the title, with the Canadian racer also needing Hill to fail to score.
The Constructors Championship had seen open out a 100 point lead after their fifth one-two of the season, leaving Portugal on 165 points. Behind, however, there was just a point between in second and in third, with those two set to duel for the runner-up spot at the finale. , meanwhile, were out of the fight for second and third, but had secured fourth ahead of .
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Damon Hill 	87 	
2 	Jacques Villeneuve 	78 	
3 	Michael Schumacher 	53 	
4 	Jean Alesi 	47 	
5 	Mika Häkkinen 	27 	
6 	Gerhard Berger 	18 	1
7 	David Coulthard 	18 	1
8 	Rubens Barrichello 	14 	
9 	Olivier Panis 	13 	
10 	Eddie Irvine 	11 	
11 	Heinz-Harald Frentzen 	6 	
12 	Martin Brundle 	6 	
13 	Mika Salo 	5 	
14 	Johnny Herbert 	4 	
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 	 	165 	
2 	 	65 	
3 	 	64 	
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:Portuguese Grand Prix