Following safety concerns, cockpit sides were significantly raised to better protect the driver's head.
Car numbers were now assigned based on the previous year's Constructors' standings, with the champion's team always receiving numbers 1 and 2. f1 1996
The 1996 grid featured several high-profile shifts that reshaped the sport's competitive landscape: Hill and Villeneuve collided on the first lap,
The turning point came in . Hill and Villeneuve collided on the first lap, taking each other out. The team was furious. After that, internal politics began to swirl. It was becoming clear that Williams boss Frank Williams and technical chief Patrick Head were more impressed by Villeneuve’s raw speed and charisma than Hill’s consistency. It was becoming clear that Williams boss Frank
The reigning IndyCar champion stunned the paddock by taking pole position in his debut race in Australia. He remained Hill's only serious title threat until the final round in Japan.