The race in brief
Damon Hill makes a blistering start to lead Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard, pulling out nearly two seconds over the German’s Benetton on the first lap. Massimiliano Papis’ Footwork fails to make it across the line because of gearbox problems, whilst Mika Salo’s Tyrrell lasts only a few metres more until it loses drive.
Entering the first corner on lap 2 Hill’s Williams slews sideways and slides into the gravel trap, eventually hitting the tyre wall hard. Subsequently, Williams reveals that a left-hand driveshaft showed unusual signs of wear. Schumacher now leads from Coulthard, Gerhard Berger, Rubens Barrichello, Mika Hakkinen and Eddie Irvine.
