On this day in... 1996

But that’s exactly what happened around the damp streets of the principality in what would prove to be one of the most unusual Monaco GPs on record.

It all started when polesitter Michael Schumacher uncharacteristically dropped the Ferrari F310 before the end of the first lap, having already lost out at the lights to the Williams FW18 of fellow front-row starter Damon Hill.  

With his fierce rival out of the picture, Damon, who’d won four of the first five races of the year, soon disappeared up the road and looked all set to emulate his late father Graham as a Monaco winner.

Further back, Frenchman Panis was making attention-grabbing progress for Ligier. Would his Sunday-morning prophecy that he could ‘get on the podium in these conditions’ come true? Up to fourth, he would hound the second Ferrari of Eddie Irvine, forcing his way past the Irishman at the hairpin to rob him of third. That podium slot looked well and truly possible…

Hill, meanwhile, had been imperious, leading the first 27 laps until his pit stop, briefly handing the initiative to Benetton’s Jean Alesi. He regained control two tours later and continued out front on what was now a drying track.

How cruel it was, then, when the Renault V10 in the back of Hill’s Williams cried enough through the tunnel on lap 41, forcing the Englishman to coast into the escape road at the chicane and climb dejectedly from the cockpit.

That put Alesi back into the lead of this dramatic Monaco GP and the Frenchman looked on course to take his second career win and first for Benetton. His moment of glory was soon snatched away, though, as suspension damage meant he had to climb from the B196, his race run.   

With 15 laps remaining, Ligier’s fairytale day was almost complete. Panis reeled off the remaining laps of his 39^th race for Guy Ligier’s squad, famously securing its eighth and final win.

David Coulthard eventually finished second for McLaren. The Scot wore one of Michael Schumacher’s helmets during the race after his own suffered demisting problems. Images of ‘Schumacher’ in the McLaren are still confusing to this day and make for fun ‘who, what, where, when?’ games. The final podium spot went to Johnny Herbert, who led home Sauber team-mate Heinz-Harald Frenten for a superb 3-4 finish for the small Swiss outfit.

Monaco Grand Prix, 1996

1. Olivier Panis (F) – Ligier JS43-Mugen-Honda, 75 laps

2. David Coulthard (GB) – McLaren MP4-11-Mercedes, 75 laps

3. Johnny Herbert (GB) – Sauber C15-Ford, 75 laps

4. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (D) – Sauber C15-Ford, 74 laps

5. Mika Salo (FIN) – Tyrrell 024-Yamaha, 70 laps

6. Mika Hakkinen (FIN) – McLaren MP4-11-Mercedes, 70 laps

Photographs courtesy of LAT Images