1995 European Grand Prix

The race in brief

As in Monza, David Coulthard spins on the formation lap, and reverts to the spare car. The FW17B, hitherto used only for qualifying, is thus given its race debut.

Both Ferraris elect to start on slick tyres on a very damp track, but the move looks suspect as the rest of the grid, bar the McLarens, start on wet tyres. But while Mika Hakkinen and Mark Blundell drop steadily backwards, plummeting to 19th and 22nd in front of 9000 Mercedes guests by lap 5, the Italian cars maintain a good pace.