San Marino GP - 5 May 1996
Red Bull Sauber Ford Press Release

There was very little time to do anything at home after the European Grand Prix before we were off again and heading towards Imola for the San Marino race, one of those that always has a great atmosphere because of all the support for Ferrari.

Well, the Italian fans certainly got their money's worth this year but it was much more disappointing for me and the Red Bull Sauber-Ford team as both Heinz-Harald and I were forced to retire. So no points again, although I really did feel for a long time that I was finally going in the right direction and had a chance of a strong finish. One of these days...

In the end this time, it was a combination of things which ended my hope, but the main one was that the engine started to misfire badly. I could hardly get the car to pull away at all and, after four pit stops, there was not much point in going on. For me, it was a disappointment because I had been feeling pretty good in the car for most of the weekend, except for qualifying and I was enjoying it. I felt the most confident I had been for several years. In practice, I was right up next to Heinz-Harald on free times and it was looking really good - until qualifying on Saturday.

Honestly, I just don't know what happened. I could not get a lap. I got sections, but not all of them at the same time and it was very frustrating. It left me down in 15th place on the grid. I felt I did not have the grip I had had during the morning and the time just did not come however hard I tried. Obviously I was very disappointed because I genuinely felt I could have been ahead of Heinz-Harald this time, judged on my form in general through the weekend. The progress we started to make at the Nurburgring was still there - but we had to make it work for us.

After such a poor qualifying, I was quite determined to put some hard work in to solve the problem in the warm-up on Sunday morning and I did. In fact, I was half a second quicker than Heinz-Harald so I was very pleased with that and to have clocked the eighth-fastest time.

It made me start to like Imola again. In 1995, it had been a tough weekend for me as I could hardly drive the Benetton and it put me where it felt I deserved to be on the grid. I could hardly control it. This year, it was the opposite - I felt happy with the Sauber and my only complaint before qualifying was that the straights were a bit short and it was difficult to overtake. But, on the other hand, I knew it was the same for everyone.

After my problems in qualifying, I was really keen to make a good start and luckily I did. There was a lot going on in front of me, but I was able to get through it all and move up behind Heinz-Harald which is where I felt I should have been anyway at the start. Then I tried to pass him on the first few laps, but it was very difficult. Obviously, we were on a par, engine-wise, with our cars so it was difficult for me to do anything. I thought he seemed to be slower generally everywhere the me, but particularly the second and third sections of the track. I thought I was sure to pass him, but when I settled down into a rhythm and stayed less than a second behind him I found I was just out of overtaking reach.

I knew Heinz-Harald was due to come in for his first pit stop three laps before me, so I decided to stay close to him and then go and push for a couple of quick laps, which I did. Unfortunately, around that time I had a few brake problems - Heinz-Harald had to retire because of brake trouble later on - and it made it all the more difficult for me.

I could not push as hard as I wanted to because the caliper temperatures were just too high. Even so, my laps were still a bit quicker by a couple of tenths before I pitted. It was a good stop, but just when the tyres were changed and I was revving up on the jack, the engine started to miss really badly. And as I began to pull away, it just would not pick up at all. I could hardly get above 3,000 or 4,000 revs. Eventually, it did pick up, but the power was gone. It was missing completely on one cylinder. I think one of the coils had stopped working. So, I came back in - and there was a bit of a misunderstanding and they changed the tyres but did nothing else.

It was not improving so I came in again and they took off the cover at the back and had a look. I think they changed the plugs, but it made no difference and really that was it, Four stops and a misfiring engine - I could not really do much more. It was quite a shame because I knew, from my quickest laps before the first pit-stop, that the car was pretty good.

It had felt good from the start of the weekend. It was quick in the wet. Good in the dry. I felt I could do something and felt the best I had about myself and the car in a long time. Looking back, it was the qualifying session that was the most disappointing thing, but I shall have to work on that one.

After the race, this time there was no need to rush away because we were staying on for testing along with most of the other top teams. It was a good opportunity for me to do some of the work. I wanted to keep up the progress with my car, so I was hoping for two good days work at least.

Unfortunately, it meant more time away from home which will have only added to the extra work for Becky, back at Monaco. I had been back in between the two European races just long enough to get sorted out and packed again - but we did have one day out along the coast at a special swimming centre with all kinds of slides and chutes.

It was good fun and a good break for me and for the girls. We have all had a tough run this year with so much travel at the start of the season and two double-headers in South America and in Europe to contend with as well.

But at least I knew that the next race on the calendar was my new home event - the Monaco Grand Prix. So, staying at home for that was something to look forward to for all of us! It is always a unique event with a special atmosphere and I must say I was looking forward to it more than usual this year.

With thanks to Johnny, Red Bull Sauber Ford and Bob Herbert
This page prepared 30 May 1996. All rights reserved.