Brazilian Grand Prix 1996 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Damon Hill made it two wins from two races with a dominant victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix, extending his early championship lead and demonstrating Williams' crushing superiority. The Englishman led from pole position to checkered flag at Interlagos, controlling the race despite intense pressure from Jean Alesi's Benetton in the closing stages.

Alesi finished second after a strong drive, holding off Michael Schumacher's Ferrari in third place. The result marked Schumacher's first podium for Ferrari and showed the Scuderia's improving form, though they remained well off Williams' pace. Jacques Villeneuve's difficult afternoon ended with a spin while challenging for the lead, the rookie learning that Formula 1's unforgiving nature could punish even the smallest mistakes. The Canadian's retirement highlighted the difference between his aggressive IndyCar style and the precision required in F1.

Hill's second consecutive victory extended his championship lead to 16 points over Villeneuve, and the Williams domination had rivals fearing a repeat of the team's 1992 and 1993 crushing superiority. Schumacher's podium was encouraging for Ferrari, but the gap to Williams highlighted the scale of the rebuilding task he had undertaken. The Brazilian Grand Prix confirmed that Hill was the early championship favorite, with his combination of experience and the best car on the grid proving decisive.