Portuguese Grand Prix 1996 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Jacques Villeneuve claimed his fourth victory of the season at the Portuguese Grand Prix, leading home Damon Hill in a Williams one-two finish that kept the championship battle alive heading into the final round in Japan. The Canadian controlled the race from pole position at Estoril, demonstrating his complete mastery of the Williams FW18 and reducing Hill's championship lead to just nine points with one race remaining.

Hill finished second after a controlled drive, knowing that a podium finish was sufficient to keep him in the championship hunt heading to Suzuka. Michael Schumacher completed the podium for Ferrari in third place, his consistent points-scoring throughout the second half of the season confirming his position as the best of the rest behind the dominant Williams duo. The race was processional by modern standards, with Villeneuve's superior starting position proving decisive on a circuit where overtaking was difficult. Jean Alesi finished fourth for Benetton, while Mika Hakkinen took fifth for McLaren.

Villeneuve's victory at Estoril kept his championship dreams alive heading into the Japanese Grand Prix, though the mathematics remained challenging. The Canadian needed to win at Suzuka and hope that Hill finished no higher than fourth to steal the championship. Hill's second place demonstrated his growing maturity under pressure, resisting the temptation to fight Villeneuve for victory and risk throwing away certain points. The Williams one-two finish secured the Constructors' Championship for the team with one race remaining, their third consecutive title in the category. The stage was set for a dramatic championship showdown in Japan, where Hill would attempt to finally claim the world title that had eluded him in 1994 and 1995.