1995 Formula 1 World Championship
Johnny Herbert Won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone
Dec 26, 2008
Following an immensely popular win for Ferrari’s Jean Alesi in Canada the Formula 1 teams made their way back to Europe for the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours. The Williams was obviously a very good car, but Benetton had a formidable weapon in the shape of Michael Schumacher. Williams driver Damon Hill was Schumacher’s main rival for the Formula 1 World Championship.
Schumacher Beats Hill in French Grand Prix
At Magny-Cours, in rural France, it was Schumacher on pole, with Hill alongside him at the front. David Coulthard was third in his Williams and Canadian winner Alesi was fourth in the Ferrari. Rubens Barrichello showed good pace to qualify his Jordan fifth.
Schumacher’s lead only lasted a few yards before Hill passed him by, while Barrichello made an excellent start, slotting into third position. The Brazilian’s getaway proved to be a little too quick, and he was later penalised for a jump start. This allowed Coulthard back into third place.
Ferrari’s race was compromised when Alesi drove into Johnny Herbert’s Benetton, ending the latter’s involvement. Alesi continued but the incident forced his team-mate Gerhard Berger to slow and a grateful Martin Brundle passed both cars in his Ligier. Schumacher proved to be far too fast for Hill after the first pit stops were made and pulled away to win the Grand Prix by over 30 seconds. Coulthard was third, Brundle fourth, Alesi fifth and Barrichello recovered to sixth.
Herbert Wins Maiden Grand Prix at Silverstone
Hill satisfied his fans at Silverstone in qualifying, putting the Williams on pole, but Schumacher was right there in second. Coulthard was again third, in front of Berger’s Ferrari. Herbert qualified fifth and Alesi was sixth on the grid.
Alesi made an incredible start and rocketed through from sixth to second, behind Hill. This gave hill the opportunity to pull away as the others struggled to pass Alesi’s Ferrari. Despite building a gap it was not big enough to compensate for making two pit stops compared to Schumacher’s one. Hill emerged from his second stop behind Schumacher. He tried a highly speculative move on the German, resulting in an accident which sidelined both cars and left Schumacher remonstrating with his title rival.
The main benefactor of this incident was Herbert, who found himself in the lead. Coulthard passed him, only to be handed a ten second stop/go penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Herbert held on to win his first ever Formula 1 race, with the brilliant Alesi second. Coulthard finished third, ahead of Olivier Panis in the Ligier. The Frenchman passed Mark Blundell for fourth position on the last lap as the McLaren driver limped round with a crippled car after colliding with Barrichello. Blundell crawled across the line in fifth and Heinz-Harald Frentzen was sixth for Sauber.
Formula 1 season review continues here.
