1996 Formula 1 Season | [exclusive]

The championship atmosphere was tense. Schumacher needed a miracle. He led early but suffered a catastrophic engine failure. Hill finished second behind the McLarens of Häkkinen and Coulthard, securing a mathematical lead that was nearly insurmountable.

1996 was the last year where a team wholly owned by a private entity (Williams, though backed heavily by Renault and tobacco money) dominated the sport so thoroughly. By 1997, the manufacturer works teams (McLaren-Mercedes and a resurgent Ferrari) would rise, leading to a decade of factory dominance. 1996 formula 1 season

The 1996 season saw Michael Schumacher leave Benetton to join a struggling team that hadn't won a drivers' title since 1979. The championship atmosphere was tense

After two years of finishing runner-up to Michael Schumacher , Damon Hill finally secured his title in 1996. Driving the legendary , Hill won eight races, demonstrating both speed and maturity. Hill finished second behind the McLarens of Häkkinen