With Benetton and McLaren both in trouble with their controversies found by the FIA after the German Grand Prix. Benetton were troubled with the result of Jos Verstappen's fiery pit stop at Hockenheimring which was caused by the team removing a filter from the fuelling system and the FIA believed it allowed a piece of debris to become lodged within a valve of the nozzle that caused the fuel to spill out onto the bodywork as it was highly criticised by the FIA with the design of the fuel rig, as to which the FIA had required all teams to use with the regulation changes. McLaren however were troubled with the result of Mika Hakkinen receiving a one race ban for causing a crash on the first lap of the German Grand Prix and was replaced by Philippe Alliot who made his first grand prix since the French Grand Prix the previous year but had spun off the circuit during first practice which left to take over Brundle's car not showing much satisfaction for the head of Peugeot engineering and fellow Frenchman Jean-Pierre Jabouille.
Qualifying
The front row was locked out by the championship contenders Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill with Schumacher half a second quicker than Hill with the Benetton of Schumacher also quickest during the Sunday morning warm-up. With the top ten being completed by Coulthard third in the other Williams, Berger fourth for Ferrari as Berger's teammate Alesi could do not better than 13th due to handling issues behind Jos Verstappen's Benetton but also ahead of Alliot's McLaren who was 14th, Katayama fifth for Tyrrell, Brundle sixth for McLaren, Eddie Irvine seventh for Jordan, Frentzen eighth for Sauber, Panis was ninth for Ligier & Rubens Barrichello completing the top ten in the other Jordan.
Race
At the start Schumacher despite being on the clean side of the track got off to a bad start compared to Hill's Williams but managed to brake later than Hill allowing him to retake the lead ahead of Hill, Coulthard, Berger, Katayama & Brundle through turn 1. As the Jordan's of Irvine and Barrichello were quick and surpassed Brundle and Katayama. But the Jordan teammate's had collided at the second turn and took off Katayama as well forcing all three drivers to immediately retire. Alesi was able to pass Panis for sixth. Nothing had changed with the order after the first round of pit stops, eventually however there was action behind as Berger stalled which left him to drop behind Brundle, Alesi & Verstappen. Ferrari's luck soon changed as Alesi's engine failed by lap 59 and left oil on the track which caused David Coulthard to spin off and crash out of 3rd place into the wall by lap 60 as the other Ferrari of Gerhard Berger also retired with engine failure by lap 73. Martin Brundle stopped on the last lap with an electrical failure denying him of a podium but was classified 4th giving his place to Jos Verstappen was just behind him. Michael Schumacher claimed his 7th victory of the season ahead Damon Hill, teammate Jos Verstappen, Martin Brundle, Mark Blundell for Tyrrell and Olivier Panis scoring 6th for Ligier.
