Formula 1’s records books take into account many amazing debut performances, however Jacques Villeneuve’s success in Melbourne in this day in 1996 changed into possibly one of the maximum remarkable.
Admittedly, whilst the 24-year-vintage Canadian entered F1 with Williams he wasn’t precisely an unknown quantity, having loved a outstanding profession withinside the US, capped in 1995 through a CART Indycar identify and a big triumph on the showpiece Indy 500.
In order to provide Villeneuve the very nice prospects, Williams had supplied its younger debutant with a prolonged check software throughout the winter, and no efforts had been spared to permit his expertise to become familiar with the team’s machinery.
Off the bat, Villeneuve pipped his skilled team-mate Damon Hill to pole function with a late-consultation burst in qualifying, turning into the 1/3 rookie withinside the records of F1 to clinch pole on his maiden outing, emulating the achievements of Mario Andretti at Watkins Glen in 1968 and Carlos Reutemann in Argentina in 1972.
With the Williams FW18 so with ease in advance of the opposition, each drivers knew the race might quantity to a crew-mate war with Villeneuve withinside the function of a challenger below no strain whatsoever.
After an preliminary launch, the race required a 2d begin due to Martin Brundle barrel-rolling his Jordan into the gravel on the primary lap.
Villeneuve blasted in to the lead and the Williams locked itself in near war, taking centre degree for the whole afternoon.
It appeared like the whole thing turned into putting in for a sensational and best debut for Villeneuve, till his automobile began out emitting the occasional puff of smoke.
Back withinside the Williams a garage, the ominous signal turned into showed via way of means of the telemetry analyzing from the computer systems and via way of means of Hill’s very own lawsuits over the radio of being included in oil.
The crew had no preference however to present Villeneuve the SLOW signal, which left the oily Hill to shy away fast and head toward his 14th profession win.
But Jacques Villeneuve had truly emerged because the Australian Grand Prix’s ethical winner, impressively placing to relaxation all of the pundits’ doubts.
