Spanish Grand Prix 1996 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Michael Schumacher delivered Ferrari's first victory in nearly two years with a brilliant strategic drive at the Spanish Grand Prix, sparking wild celebrations at Maranello. The German driver started from third on the grid but used a daring three-stop strategy to overhaul Damon Hill's Williams, delivering on his promise to return Ferrari to winning ways.

Jean Alesi finished second for Benetton after a strong drive, while Jacques Villeneuve salvaged third for Williams after both he and Hill struggled with tire strategy. Hill, who started from pole position, could only finish fifth after Williams' two-stop strategy proved slower than Ferrari's aggressive three-stopper. The race was a tactical masterclass from Schumacher and Ferrari strategist Ross Brawn, demonstrating that superior racecraft could overcome raw pace.

Schumacher's victory was his first for Ferrari and ended the Scuderia's 45-race winless drought stretching back to the 1995 German Grand Prix. The emotion in the Ferrari garage was palpable, with team principal Jean Todt and technical director Ross Brawn celebrating a breakthrough moment in their rebuilding project. The Spanish Grand Prix proved that Ferrari could challenge Williams when strategy and driver skill combined perfectly. For Hill, the result was a setback in the championship battle, with Villeneuve closing to within 15 points after a difficult Spanish weekend.