1995 Argentine Grand Prix

Previous race

Schumacher crossed the line first in Brazil, with Coulthard second, but both were excluded from the classification several hours after the race — fuel samples from their cars did not match the reference lodged with the FIA ahead of the event. Gerhard Berger has been declared the winner, with Häkkinen and Alesi promoted to the podium. Benetton and Williams have lodged appeals, with a hearing scheduled for April 13.

Between-race developments

The FIA has rescinded the regulation requiring holes to be cut in the cars’ airboxes. All teams arrive at Buenos Aires with the openings filled.

Practice

This is the first running of the Argentine Grand Prix since 1981, removed from the calendar after the retirement of Carlos Reutemann and Argentina’s invasion of the Falkland Islands. The Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez No. 6 circuit configuration is new to the Formula One calendar; a familiarisation session was held on Thursday. Reutemann drove a demonstration lap in the 1994 Ferrari 412T1 on Thursday afternoon to mark the race’s return. The track has been criticised for its “dirtiness.”

Both qualifying sessions were held in wet conditions, with only a brief improvement towards the end of Saturday. Coulthard took the first pole position of his Formula One career (1:53.241), with Hill alongside and Schumacher third. Irvine qualified an impressive fourth in the Jordan, ahead of Häkkinen, Alesi, Salo, Berger, Frentzen, and Barrichello in the top ten.

Weather

Conditions are dry for race day.