Following a traumatic 1994 season, which saw Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger killed during the San Marino Grand Prix weekend, there were changes to Formula 1 cars for 1995. Downforce was reduced, making the cars more liable to slide while cornering. Engine capacity was also reduced, to three litres.
Benetton retained defending World Champion Michael Schumacher and Johnny Herbert, the latter having joined at the end of 1994. Williams once again had Damon Hill and David Coulthard. On several occasions in 1994 Nigel Mansell drove for Williams, but for 1995 hoped to drive a McLaren. Unfortunately, he proved to be too large for the cockpit, so McLaren started the season with Mika Hakkinen and Mark Blundell. Ferrari had the same driver line-up as before, with Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger.
Schumacher Wins Brazilian Grand Prix
Despite crashing in practice Schumacher qualified second at Interlagos in his Benetton, now powered by a Renault engine. Pole position went to Hill’s Williams, with his team-mate Coulthard third. Herbert was fourth in the other Benetton, followed by the two Ferrari drivers, with Berger ahead of Alesi.
Schumacher overtook Hill and led the race, but the two drivers were on different pit strategies. It proved immaterial, as Hill retired with a gearbox failure. Schumacher won, only to be disqualified for irregular fuel. Eventually, he was given the victory back. Second place went to Coulthard, with Berger third. Hakkinen was fourth for McLaren, Alesi fifth and Blundell sixth.
Hill Responds with Victory in Argentine Grand Prix
Argentina, a country with a proud motor racing history, hadn’t staged a World Championship Formula 1 race for over a decade before returning to the calendar in 1995. Coulthard recorded the first pole position of his short Formula 1 career in qualifying, with Hill second in the other Williams. Schumacher was right with them, third in the Benetton.
Alesi caused the race to be stopped and re-started after spinning in the middle of the pack. At the re-start Coulthard kept his lead, with Hill second and Schumacher third. The Scotsman’s hopes of a maiden victory were dashed by an engine problem which caused him to fall back and eventually retire.
Schumacher did all he could to keep Hill behind, but the Williams driver was simply faster. Hill got past and quickly pulled away, while Schumacher dropped even further back after a long pit stop. This allowed Alesi past into second place. At the flag it was Hill, Alesi and Schumacher in the first three places. Herbert was fourth, Heinz-Harald Frentzen fifth for Sauber and Berger sixth.
1995 F1 season review continues.
