Schumacher bounces back
German ace Michael Schumacher stormed home in Montreal to take his fifth GP win out of six with another commanding performance. Schumacher was never in trouble as he powered away from pole and typically pulled away in the seemingly unstoppable Benetton . Britain's Damon Hill battled up from fourth but had to settle for second, some 39 seconds behind in the Williams. Jean Alesi took third, while Scotland's David Coulthard picked up his first points with fifth spot.
Runaway Championship leader Michael Schumacher turned yet another Grand Prix into a Sunday afternoon stroll with victory in Montreal. Mechanical trouble wrecked his chances in Barcelona - though he still took second - but there were no problems this time. His lead in the Championship looks unassailable, even with 10 races still to go. Damon Hill, in second, stuck to his task stoically but ultimately only a Schumacher slip-up would have allowed him a second straight win.
Scotland's David Coulthard showed his burgeoning talent as he picked up his first Grand Prix points with a superb fifth place. The Williams driver even had the audacity to push team-mate Damon Hill into fifth early on before succumbing after nine laps. A slow pit-stop seemed to have hit his chances but the Scot oozes confidence and he was back in sixth after Gianni Morbidelli retired. Coulthard went fifth five laps from the finish as Mika Hakkinen had to retire with engine trouble.
Damon Hill was reasonably happy to settle for second behind Michael Schumacher - and he paid tribute to Williams team-mate David Coulthard. Coulthard finished fifth and Hill said: "David's done a fantastic job all weekend. He is very promising. I enjoyed the race - the only small drawback is that we didn't win. We'll have to work harder and push harder to beat Benetton." Schumacher said: "The car performed fantastic. I had all the gears this time and I could do what I wanted."
Championship leader Michael Schumacher is hoping Nigel Mansell will make a Formula One comeback to add spice to the season. Rumours are rife that Mansell will replace David Coulthard for the French GP at Magny-Cours on July 3. Schumacher said: "I think it would be good for Formula One if Nigel returned. It would bring more competition and I would like that." Unconfirmed reports suggest that a package for Mansell's return has already been worked out.
French flier Jean Alesi equalled his best finish of the season so far with a hard-fought third place. He looked good in the Ferrari all weekend and his only slip came on the last lap when he appeared to miss the new chicane. Eddie Irvine, in the Jordan , was sixth early on but his race ended on lap 42 when he hit a wall, but he escaped unscathed. Johnny Herbert (Lotus) was ninth with Mark Blundell (Tyrrell) 11th and David Brabham (Simtek) 15th. Martin Brundle retired on lap five.
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69 Laps at 2.753 miles
= 189.957 miles
total race distance
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