RACE REPORT : In an exciting race ...

Published on 28 July 1996 by Verstappen Info Page

RACE REPORT : In an exciting race Hill grabbed his 20th victory and his first one in Germany. Alesi finishes second and Villeneuve third.

Hill started from pole position but was outpaced by both Berger and Alesi. Coulthard crawled up just behind Schumacher and Hakkinen had a bad start having to let Alesi, Villeneuve, Coulthard and Irvine get past. At the first chicane it was Berger who led followed by Alesi, Hill, Schumacher, Coulthard and Villeneuve. Jos Verstappen had a very good start, getting past Katayama, Salo and Herbert and crawled up to a 14th position. Unfortunately he got mixed up in an incident caused by Panis in the first chicane, The Jim Clark Curve. He couldn't avoid the cars in front of him anymore, lost his front wing completely and was the first one to drop out of the race.

The pace then was set by Berger, Alesi and Hill. The trio made a gap of about 8 seconds to the following quintet Schumacher, Coulthard, Villeneuve, Irvine and Hakkinen. Both McLaren's were pushing up to both Ferrari's. In lap 13 Hakkinen and Lamy made the first pit stops. Hakkinen had problems pulling up from the pit and soon after retired from the race with clutch problems. In lap 15 and 16 the pit lane got crowded when Coulthard, Frentzen and Herbert had pit stops. Johnny Herbert stayed in the pit for 2:37 minutes having had his car checked up completely and got back on the track 2 laps behind Berger.

In lap 19 Katayama retired due to a spin in the Jim Clark Curve and Diniz retired due to mechanical problems. In lap 20 Hill opened the next series of pit stops, followed by pit stops from Barrichello, Alesi, Schumacher and Villeneuve who almost collided with Schumacher exiting from their pits. In the first chicane Villeneuve overtook Schumacher again and Brundle had to come in with a completely damaged tyre. After pit stops from Berger, Rosset and Panis, Hill took the lead in the race, followed by Berger, Alesi, Coulthard, Villeneuve and Schumacher. In lap 25 Herbert came in the pit again and this time it was terminal for him.

In lap 34 Hill had to come in again for a second short pit stop. The gap between him and Berger had grown to about 17 seconds but this was just not enough. Hill came back on the track just behind Berger but before Alesi. In the same lap Irvine's engine blew up and he had to retire. Hill was again closing in on Berger, diminishing the difference from 2.2 to 0.6 seconds but he just didn't seem to be able to overtake Berger. Then in lap 42 Berger's engine blew up giving Hill the lead.

Hill had no competition anymore and finishes first, celebrating his 20th Grand Prix victory and his first victory in Germany, Alesi comes in second and Villeneuve third. Schumacher, Coulthard, Barrichello and Panis all finish in the same lap.

See German Grand Prix results for the race results and standings.