1995 Belgian Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = Belgium
Grand Prix = Belgian
Official name = LIII Grand Prix de Belgique


Date = August 27
Year = 1995
Race_No = 11
Season_No = 17
Location = Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa, Belgium
Course = Permanent racing facility
Course_mi = 4.358
Course_km = 6.974
Distance_laps = 44
Distance_mi = 191.785
Distance_km = 306.856
Weather = Cloudy then Heavy Rain
Pole_Driver = Gerhard Berger
Pole_Team = Ferrari
Pole_Time = 1:54.392
Pole_Country = Austria
Fast_Driver = David Coulthard
Fast_Team = Williams-Renault
Fast_Time = 1:53.412
Fast_L

Fast_Country = United Kingdom
First_Driver = Michael Schumacher
First_Team = Benetton-Renault
First_Country = Germany
Second_Driver = Damon Hill
Second_Team = Williams-Renault
Second_Country = United Kingdom
Third_Driver = Martin Brundle
Third_Team = Ligier Mugen-Honda
Third_Country = United Kingdom

The 1995 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on August 27, 1995 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa. It was the 11th race of the 1995 Formula One season. Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill both qualified further down the grid than usual in a wet-dry qualifying session, but fought back during the race. Both Jean Alesi and Johnny Herbert briefly lead the race, but Alesi broke down and Herbert struggled for pace once the track was dry. Polesetter Gerhard Berger struggled before dropping out.

Schumacher was given a one-race suspended ban for driving aggressively in order to stop Hill from passing him. Schumacher's performance didn't impress Hill after his defensive moves forced Hill to either back off or go off the track. Some paddock people _who?commented that, "there are 2 things you should not do in this world, box with Tyson or go racing with Schumacher" (at that time Tyson was at the peak of his powers). Schumacher claimed that he had only blocked Hill at the low-speed corners, but video evidence suggested that Schumacher had blocked Hill on some of the high speed corners, such as the "Radillion" and "Blanchimont". Hill later commented that "We (he and Schumacher) had some pretty hairy moments and I am not satisfied with being driven into; I don't think that was acceptable. That is all well and good but if it was meant on purpose I would be very upset, F1 cars are not go-karts. I think there are some things which are acceptable and some things which are not." Schumacher defended himself by agreeing that touching wheels in high-speed corners is "not acceptable" but added that at the speed he and Hill were doing, he though it was acceptable. [" [http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns00260.html "Schumacher in trouble again"] " GrandPrix.com. Retrieved 15 December 2006]

Drivers were thrown into confusion as the conditions fluctuated but the field levelled out when the safety car appeared. Schumacher led from Hill but Hill then had to pit again to serve a stop go penalty for pit lane speeding. Hill recovered to pass Martin Brundle on the last lap.

Classification

Notes

*Last podium: Martin Brundle

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Belgian Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1995
Previous_race_in_season = 1995 Hungarian Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 1995 Italian Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1994 Belgian Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1996 Belgian Grand Prix

References