Italian Grand Prix 1996 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Michael Schumacher delivered Ferrari's third victory of the season at their home Italian Grand Prix, sparking scenes of wild celebration among the passionate Tifosi at Monza. The German led from start to finish after starting from pole position, controlling the race with measured precision and giving Ferrari their first Monza victory since Gerhard Berger's triumph in 1988. The result was a watershed moment for the Scuderia's rebuilding project, demonstrating that Schumacher's move to Maranello was beginning to pay dividends.

Jean Alesi finished second for Benetton after a strong drive, holding off Mika Hakkinen's McLaren in third place. The race was overshadowed by a dramatic first-lap incident involving both Williams drivers - Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve collided at the second chicane while battling for position, forcing both to pit for repairs. Hill recovered to finish sixth while Villeneuve retired, a disastrous result that handed Hill a crucial championship advantage. The collision highlighted the intense rivalry between the Williams teammates and raised questions about their ability to race cleanly against each other with the title on the line.

Schumacher's victory at Monza was deeply emotional for Ferrari, ending their eight-year winless drought at their home circuit and rewarding the Tifosi's unwavering support. The German's pole-to-flag performance demonstrated his growing confidence in the Ferrari F310, and the team's technical progress under Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne was becoming increasingly evident. For Hill, the championship calculus improved dramatically despite his sixth-place finish, as Villeneuve's retirement extended his lead to 13 points with just two races remaining. The Englishman was now within touching distance of the world championship, needing only to maintain consistent results in Portugal and Japan to secure the title.