When Jacques Villeneuve came close to a historic feat in his very first F1 Grand Prix

To comply with the Évin Law of January 10, 1981, we have graphically modified the photograph illustrating this article.

The 1996 Australian Grand Prix was the scene of several firsts. Firstly, it symbolized the end of the Adelaide era on the calendar of the Formula 1whose last appearance was five months earlier at the close of the 1995 season. Two drivers were also making their first appearance on the grid of motorsport's premier category: Giancarlo Fisichella at Minardi and Jacques Villeneuve at Williams.

The Canadian was inevitably an attraction at the dawn of the 1996 season with his victory at the Indianapolis 500 and his CART championship title (predecessor to theIndyCar) the previous year. The Quebecer was also preceded by the aura of his father Gilles, an icon of motorsport who died on May 8, 1982 after an accident during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Pole position and successful starts for Villeneuve

For his F1 debut at the age of 24, Jacques Villeneuve did not disappoint, securing pole position at the Albert Park circuit. The rookie remained composed at the start, making a perfect launch, while his teammate Damon Hill, second on the grid, made a mistake and let the others pass him. Classic Ferrari for sale by Eddie Irvine and Michael SchumacherThe race was interrupted by the spectacular accident involving David Coulthard (McLaren) and the miraculously unharmed Martin Brundle, whose Jordan had launched into the Melbourne sky before traveling several hundred meters on its roll bar. The Irishman fortunately emerged unscathed from the mangled wreckage.

A new start was given after the interruption caused by the accident. Villeneuve then made another perfect start, followed this time by Hill, who held off the two Ferraris. Newcomer to Maranello, Michael Schumacher, initially kept pace with the blistering FW18s, but a brake problem forced the reigning two-time world champion to retire, leaving the two cars from the British manufacturer to battle it out for the win.

The battle raged on track between the two Williams drivers, but unfortunately, a mechanical problem decided the outcome of the race. car Villeneuve has indeed been spraying oil onto the front wing of the runner-up in the world championship for several laps. His sprayed oil had been coming straight at me since lap 30. the Englishman recounted after the race. It was everywhere. On my helmet, my visor, the top of my suit. And it was a thick, sticky oil. Like glue. I knew about his problem and I was dreading the worst. Like his engine blowing up right in front of me and me getting a face full of debris or a cloud of oil. Or him giving out during one of those moments when we were in the middle of a fight. It was a guaranteed crash or a collision. »

Villeneuve must concede victory to Damon Hill

Since it's best to avoid a double retirement, especially at the start of the season when the world title is at stake, Villeneuve was instructed at the end of lap 53 to relinquish first place to Hill. Hearing my stand erupt in shouts for two laps, I realized something was seriously wrong. testified the Quebecer. At the time, it was a real disappointment, but my pit crew wouldn't have asked me to ease off for nothing. So I did it. Otherwise, the engine would have blown two laps from the end. For the team, as well as for me, it was important to finish this first race of the season in the top two positions. It's still a shame… which just goes to show, the only lap you absolutely must lead is always the last one! Of course, Damon would certainly have tried his luck, but the victory was ours. »

Despite the disappointment, Villeneuve, who finished second, was satisfied with his first Formula 1 Grand Prix. “II am still very happy with this result. he admitted. Especially since this race was quite lively! A great battle with Damon and a great technical demonstration from Williams.RenaultThe FW18, as it currently stands, is truly the best car on the grid. We would have had no excuse not to finish in the top two positions. "Dominant, the Williams FW18, in Rothmans colors and powered by an engine of Viruses-Châtillon, offers the championship title to Damon Hill at the end of the season. Just as FW19 would do in 1997 with Villeneuve.

Villeneuve close to a historic feat

On March 10, 1996, an oil problem robbed the Canadian of a historic achievement. Had he won his debut race, he would have been only the fourth driver to accomplish this feat, after Giuseppe Farina (1950 British Grand Prix, the first ever Grand Prix), Johnnie Parsons (1950 Indianapolis 500, a race then part of the F1 calendar), and Giancarlo Baghetti (1961 French Grand Prix). With pole position to boot, Villeneuve would have achieved a major first since Farina in the very first Grand Prix of the Formula 1 World Championship.

After retiring in Brazil during the following race, the Canadian secured another second-place finish in Argentina before triumphing for the first time in F1 at the 1996 European Grand Prix, held at the Nürburgring. This was the first of his eleven F1 victories.

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