1996 French Grand Prix

1996 French Grand Prix
Race 9 of 16 in the 1996 Formula One World Championship ← Previous race Next race →
Race details
Date	30 June 1996
Official name	LXXXII French Grand Prix
Location	Circuit de Nevers, Magny-Cours, France
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	4.250[1] km (2.641 miles)
Distance	72 laps, 305.814[2] km (190.024 miles)
Weather	Dry
Pole position
Driver	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Time	1:15.989
Fastest lap
Driver	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams-Renault
Time	1:18.610 on lap 48
Podium
First	Damon Hill	Williams-Renault
Second	Jacques Villeneuve	Williams-Renault
Third	Jean Alesi	Benetton-Renault
Lap leaders

The 1996 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Circuit de Nevers, Magny-Cours, France on 30 June 1996. It was the ninth race of the 1996 Formula One World Championship.

The 72-lap race was won by Briton Damon Hill, driving a Williams-Renault, after he started from second position. German Michael Schumacher took pole position in his Ferrari but failed to start the race after his engine blew on the warm-up lap, leaving Hill to lead from start to finish except for the pit stops. Hill's teammate, Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, who had crashed heavily at Estoril corner in qualifying, finished second, with local driver Jean Alesi third in a Benetton-Renault.

This was the last Grand Prix where a Forti car started the race as they would fail to qualify for the remaining Grand Prix they would enter, however both cars were forced to retire.^[3]