Time to know what happened in the last 3 races of 1996
ROUND 14 - ITALIAN GP - Monza
Before the Grand Prix, I had told Eddie Jordan that I wouldn't continue with the team in 1997. He seemed quite disappointed with the news, but at the same time he said he understood my choice and we wished mutual success in the future and to finish the season scoring as good results as possible. Later on, on Friday evening at the track, I had a meeting with my agent, Frank Williams and Bernard Dudot to sign a contract for the 1997 & 1998 seasons, with an option to continue into 1999. Jacques Villeneuve to be my teammate.
Qualifying
No chance against the Renault-powered engines, but still made the most of the car
Race
I did an excellent start and placed 2nd behind Berger at the first corner. Berger was outrageously fast, and I could barely hold the Williams behind, by the end of lap one Berger was 1.9 ahead, by Lap 5, 9.7, and 5 laps later, 17.3; so I concentrated on keeping Damon Hill behind. Damon tried a really stupid pass at Parabolica on the outside, he stepped into the gravel trap and spun out of the race, so Villeneuve was already trying to pass me on the next straight, but on lap 11, coming into the 2nd chicane, he just tried again to pass me on the outside, I just opened a bit to take the chicane and to avoid contact he stepped a wheel on the crass and crashed out of the race... Both Williams drivers out in barely 30 seconds! Next lap Barrichello retired and Berger was still faster than me, but by lap 15 his advantage was growing slower. I had enough pace to be 2nd comfortably but the transmission went on lap 18 and that was the end of the race and any championship hope. Berger kept on leading but he retired with two laps to go! (Real Germany 1996 anyone????) and Eddie Irvine, on a better strategy than Schumacher, took the lead and won his first Grand Prix and took an incredible 1-2 for Ferrari at Monza!!
DOTR -- Eddie Irvine; Amazing win in front of the Tiffosi
ROTR -- Williams drivers; Stupid mistakes led to a double DNF
Start
Hill accident
Villeneuve accident
Barrichello accident
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1.Damon Hill -- 74 pts
2.Jacques Villeneuve -- 64 pts
3.Chris Dagnall -- 51 pts
4.Mika Hakkinen -- 32 pts
5.Michael Schumacher -- 30 pts
6.Gerhard Berger -- 25 pts
7.Eddie Irvine -- 15 pts
8.David Coulthard -- 14 pts
9.Rubens Barrichello -- 13 pts
10.Jean Alesi -- 12 pts
11.Martin Brundle -- 8 pts
12.Heinz-Harald Frentzen -- 5 pts
=. Mika Salo -- 5 pts
14.Giancarlo Fisichella -- 3 pts
15.Olivier Panis -- 2 pts
=.Jos Verstappen -- 2 pts
=. Johnny Herbert -- 2 pts
18.Ukyo Katayama -- 1 pt
Constructors
1.Williams-Renault -- 138 pts
2.Jordan-Peugeot -- 64 pts
3.McLaren-Mercedes -- 46 pts
4.Ferrari -- 43 pts
5.Benetton-Renault -- 37 pts
6.Ligier-Mugen-Honda -- 10 pts
7.Sauber-Ford -- 7 pts
8.Tyrrell-Yamaha -- 6 pts
9.Minardi-Ford -- 3 pts
10.Arrows-Hart -- 2 pts
Chris Dagnall said:
I felt I could have won this race; by the time I lost my gearbox I was improving my laptimes and I'm sure I would have ended being faster than Berger. I have nothing to comment on the incidents with the Williams drivers; I didn't even touch them or pushed them off the track, they went off on their own.
Tread lightly in ARWS. Every decision might be your last.