For his beginnings in Formula 1, Jacques Villeneuve had already impressed everyone. Pole position during the opening round, in Australia, in front of his teammate Damon Hill. The Williams driver could even have won the victory, but his car decided otherwise; His FW18 experienced an oil leak, which cost him the highest step of the podium. The rookie will nevertheless finish 2nd for his first race.
Jacques Villeneuve did not have to wait long before tasting victory for the first time. It was on Sunday April 28, 1996, during the European Grand Prix, on the Nürburgring. The Canadian starts second on the starting grid, just ahead of Michael Schumacher, the national hero.
On the first impulse, Damon Hill, who left in pole, is completely missing and falls in 5th row. Jacques Villeneuve is at the top of the race. In the 5th round, he is 4 seconds ahead of David Coulthard, who points to second place. The Briton is in a battle at 4 with Barrichello, Schumacher and Hill, to the delight of the leader of the day. At the end of the first relay, 14 seconds separate Villeneuve de Coulthard.
Schumacher’s rise
Michael Schumacher, who had stopped a few turns earlier, was able to scratch time on all his competitors; He is only 8 seconds left on the canadian Williams. The Ferrari driver is much faster than the leader and takes him a second per turn to him. When starting the 38th loop of the Nürburgring, Schumacher is glued to Villeneuve but without finding the fault, he stops for his second pitstop, 6 laps later.
Villeneuve – Schumacher, a fierce struggle. © DPPI
-The Red Baron waste time at the exit of the stands behind Damon Hill, who does teamwork. Jacques Villeneuve in turn returns and keeps the head of the race. On the 51st round, Michael Schumacher is once again junction, and finds himself glued to the FW18. Despite the numerous attacks of the double world champion, the rookie does not flank the European Grand Prix. Only seven little tenths separate the two men at the end of a battle that will have marked fans of the time.
“It’s fantastic to win a race, exclaims the winner of the day at the end of the race. Especially after the start of the season we had where we were riding quite strong. We just missed the victory! »»
Villeneuve writes its legend
For his fourth career Grand Prix, Jacques Villeneuve climbed the highest step of the podium. On his first four races, there are three podiums including one victory. In addition, the Canadian is one of the pilots who won a Grand Prix with the least races to their credit. Emerson Fittipaldi, for example, also won his first Grand Prix at the end of his fourth race.
In this first season as a rookie, Jacques Villeneuve showed the expanse of his talent by winning three Grands Prix and going up on the podium each time he saw the checkered flag.
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