European Grand Prix 1996 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Jacques Villeneuve claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory at the European Grand Prix, converting superior Williams pace into a commanding win that announced his arrival as a championship contender. The rookie Canadian led from start to finish at the Nurburgring, becoming the first driver since Jacques Laffite in 1977 to win in his fourth Grand Prix start.

Michael Schumacher finished second for Ferrari after a strong drive, demonstrating his ability to extract maximum performance from an inferior car. David Coulthard completed the podium for McLaren-Mercedes in third place, the Scot's first podium since moving from Williams. Damon Hill's unbeaten start to the season ended with a fifth-place finish after a spin, his first mistake of the year costing him valuable points and allowing Villeneuve to close the championship gap to just 11 points.

Villeneuve's victory was a watershed moment in the championship battle, proving he had the speed and temperament to challenge Hill for the title. The Canadian's aggressive style and fearless overtaking had won him admirers throughout the paddock, and his victory demonstrated that Williams' decision to sign him had been vindicated. Hill's spin while chasing Villeneuve raised questions about whether the pressure of fighting his rookie teammate was getting to him, adding psychological intrigue to their intra-team rivalry.