Having qualified only sixth, Ferrari’s Jean Alesi didn’t much look like a contender for victory when he made an awful getaway and made matters worse by spinning at Turn 1, narrowly missing his team-mate Gerhard Berger but succeeding in causing a chain-reaction crash behind him – Tyrrell’s Mika Salo being rear-ended by a flying Luca Badoer (Minardi). Ligier’s Olivier Panis went off on the outside of the corner, after contact with Pierluigi Martini’s Minardi.
More chaos ensued further around the lap, with Johnny Herbert’s Benetton clashing with Rubens Barrichello, who was in turn collected by the luckless Badoer.
Jean Alesi, Ferrari 412T2
Photo by: Sutton Images
Jean Alesi, Ferrari 412T2
Photo by: Motorsport Images
With cars littering the track, Alesi – whose Ferrari was stranded on the apex kerb – suddenly realized the race was being red flagged and ran back to the pits. Barrichello did likewise, having the sense to grab the seat from his stricken car before sprinting away.
Alesi explained: “I had wheelspin at the start and found myself on the inside line at the first corner, where the track was very dirty and treacherous. When I braked the car went sideways and the engine cutout.
“I was really desperate and when I saw the red flag I thought it was a gift from God.”
Michael Schumacher, Benetton B195 Renault, leads David Coulthard, Williams FW17 Renault
Photo by: Motorsport Images
Jean Alesi, Michael Schumacher, and Johnny Herbert
Photo by: Ercole Colombo
At the restart, first-time pole sitter David Coulthard led for Williams until his throttle failed on lap six, which allowed Benetton’s Michael Schumacher and Williams teammate Damon Hill ahead. Coulthard repassed Schumacher, but his throttle failed again, this time terminally.
Hill got the better of a fierce battle with Schumacher, and pulled away out front until making his pitstop. Alesi ran long in his first stint, leading for a few laps until making his stop. He rejoined in second, ahead of Schumacher but well behind Hill.
Alesi spent the remainder of the race chasing hard, but Hill stayed ahead to win by 6.4s.
Damon Hill, Williams FW17
Photo by: Sutton Images
Race winner Damon Hill, Williams celebrates on the podium
Photo by: Motorsport Images
“I haven’t enjoyed driving a car through a grand prix as much as that before,” said Hill about his 10th F1 victory. “I had a good race with Michael, he was very difficult to pass here,…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Motorsport.com – Formula 1 – Stories…