When Damon Hill took out his Formula 1 title rival Michael Schumacher at the 1995 Italian Grand Prix the outcome was more beneficial to the latter. Hill had been trying to keep on terms with Schumacher for most of the season and the championship was beginning to look a distant hope.
Coulthard Wins First Grand Prix at Estoril
David Coulthard dominated the Portuguese Grand Prix in his Williams. After qualifying on pole the Scotsman went on to score the first Formula 1 victory of his career. The race had to be re-started after a serious accident at the startline involving Ukyo Katayama, Luca Badoer and Andrea Montermini. Katayama’s Tyrrell ended up inverted with the Japanese driver unconscious inside. Fortunately, he made a full recovery.
In the re-started race the main interest was the battle for second place, between Schumacher and Hill. After the pit stops were completed Hill led his title rival, but Schumacher finally found a way though. At the finish it was Coulthard ahead of Schumacher, with Hill third. Gerhard Berger was fourth, his Ferrari team-mate Jean Alesi fifth and Heinz-Harald Frentzen sixth in the Sauber.
Schumacher Passes Alesi to Win European Grand Prix
Coulthard, fresh from winning his first Grand Prix, took pole at the Nurburgring, reinstated on the Formula 1 calendar after a decade away. Hill was second and Schumacher third. Then came Berger, Eddie Irvine and Alesi.
On a damp track Coulthard spun while making his way to the grid, and had to start in the spare car. Despite this he led from Schumacher early on, but ultimately faded away due to handling problems. Alesi gambled and started on slicks, a decision which paid dividends as his rivals were forced to stop and change. The Ferrari driver found himself in the lead, while Schumacher and Hill diced for second place.
Hill caught Alesi, only to lose a front wing while trying to overtake. The Williams driver then crashed out of the race, all but ending his title hopes. Schumacher made another pit stop and resumed a long way behind Alesi, but drove fantastically to close the gap and passed the Frenchman a few miles from the flag. Coulthard was third, Rubens Barrichello fourth, Johnny Herbert fifth and Irvine sixth.
Schumacher Clinches Formula 1 World Championship
The Pacific Grand Prix at the TI Aida circuit was the setting for a Schumacher victory which confirmed him as a double Formula 1 World Champion. Coulthard again started from pole but was overtaken by Schumacher during the pit stops. The Benetton driver went on to win despite a late race scare when his gearbox developed a problem. Coulthard finished second, followed home by his Williams team-mate Hill. Berger and Alesi were fourth and fifth respectively, with Herbert taking the final point.
Formula 1 Grand Prix season review continues.
