Belgian Grand Prix 1996 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Michael Schumacher delivered one of the greatest wet-weather drives in Formula 1 history at the Belgian Grand Prix, dominating from start to finish in treacherous conditions at Spa-Francorchamps to claim Ferrari's second victory of the season. The German started from third on the grid but immediately seized the lead in the rain-soaked opening lap, building an astonishing advantage of over one minute by the checkered flag in a display of sublime car control.

Jacques Villeneuve finished a distant second for Williams, unable to match Schumacher's pace in the wet conditions despite having the superior car. Mika Hakkinen completed the podium for McLaren in third place, while Damon Hill could only manage fifth after struggling in the rain. The result was a crucial blow to Hill's championship hopes, allowing Villeneuve to close the gap to just nine points with three races remaining. Schumacher's margin of victory was an extraordinary 19 seconds over Villeneuve, a dominant performance that evoked memories of his sensational Monaco debut in 1992.

The Belgian Grand Prix showcased Schumacher's genius in wet conditions, confirming his status as the sport's finest rain master since Ayrton Senna. His ability to find grip where others saw only treacherous surfaces was mesmerizing, lapping cars that would finish in the points and demonstrating the gulf in class between himself and his rivals when conditions equalized machinery. Hill's fifth-place finish was damaging to his championship bid, with Villeneuve now breathing down his neck heading into the Italian Grand Prix. Ferrari's second victory of 1996 proved they could win when circumstances favored driver skill over pure car performance, offering hope for their long-term rebuilding project under Schumacher and technical director Ross Brawn.