The 1996 FIA Formula One World Championship commenced on March 10, 1996, and concluded on October 13, spanning 16 races. It is historically defined by the intense battle between Williams-Renault and Ferrari, the retirement of the Williams team's dominant designer Adrian Newey (temporarily, before his move to McLaren), and a series of chaotic races that highlighted the changing demands of driver fitness and car reliability. While Damon Hill clinched the Drivers' Championship, the season is often remembered for the psychological warfare waged by his teammate, Jacques Villeneuve, and the dramatic transformation of Ferrari from an also-ran into a powerhouse.