1995 Monaco Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Michael Schumacher turned a close pursuit into a comfortable Monaco victory, defeating pole-sitter Damon Hill through pace and a well-judged one-stop strategy. Damon Hill had produced a superb qualifying lap, but race day belonged to Benetton after a first-corner collision forced a restart.

Result	Driver / Time	Team
Pole position	Damon Hill	Williams
Pole time	1:21.952
Fastest lap	Jean Alesi	Ferrari
Fastest-lap time	1:24.621 on lap 36
First	Michael Schumacher	Benetton
Second	Damon Hill	Williams
Third	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari

Weekend Schedule

Date	Session	Local Time
25 May 1995	Practice 1	09:30–11:15
25 May 1995	Qualifying 1	13:00–14:00
27 May 1995	Practice 2	09:30–11:15
27 May 1995	Qualifying 2	13:00–14:00
28 May 1995	Warm-up	11:00–11:30
28 May 1995	Race	15:30

All times are local. The race time is the scheduled start; weather delays and interruptions are described below.

Championship background

Michael Schumacher arrived at round 5 leading the 1995 F1 World Championship on 24 points, with Damon Hill on 23. Ferrari headed the constructors’ standings after the preceding race with 27 points.

Race entries

Mark Blundell returned to McLaren after Nigel Mansell‘s departure. Sauber introduced Jean-Christophe Boullion in place of Karl Wendlinger, giving the reigning Formula 3000 champion his Grand Prix debut. Simtek arrived with serious financial problems and a shortage of gearboxes; this would prove to be its final race weekend.

Thursday Free Practice

Jean Alesi led Thursday practice in sunshine, but several teams had a troubled morning. Jean-Christophe Boullion crashed at the chicane on his debut weekend, while Heinz-Harald Frentzen lost an engine cover. Jos Verstappen completed only five laps before gearbox trouble intervened. Michael Schumacher‘s concerns about handling prompted Benetton to inspect the rear of his car before qualifying.

Thursday Practice Classification

1995 Monaco Grand Prix Practice, 25 May 1995

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	1:25.457	22
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	+0.314s	15
3	5	Damon Hill	Williams	+0.375s	23
4	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.753s	21
5	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	+1.079s	23
6	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	+1.713s	23
7	6	David Coulthard	Williams	+1.947s	22
8	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	+2.105s	23
9	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	+2.426s	21
10	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	+2.627s	19
11	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	+3.002s	22
12	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	+3.227s	23
13	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	+3.554s	23
14	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+3.822s	21
15	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	+3.908s	23
16	11	Domenico Schiattarella	Simtek	+4.280s	24
17	23	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	+4.458s	23
18	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+4.714s	13
19	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	+5.330s	23
20	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	+5.346s	22
21	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	+5.466s	23
22	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	+5.897s	21
23	29	Jean-Christophe Boullion	Sauber	+6.285s	11
24	12	Jos Verstappen	Simtek	+8.364s	5
25	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	+8.484s	18
26	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	+10.712s	22

Thursday Qualifying

Jean Alesi carried his practice form into Thursday qualifying, taking provisional pole before a late shower disrupted the session. Michael Schumacher split the Ferraris, with Gerhard Berger third. Simtek‘s gearbox shortage forced its drivers to share a car, and Jos Verstappen then crashed it, adding to the small team’s mounting problems.

Thursday Qualifying Classification

1995 Monaco Grand Prix first qualifying session, 25 May 1995

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	1:23.754	8
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	1:24.146	9
3	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	1:24.509	8
4	5	Damon Hill	Williams	1:24.659	12
5	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	1:24.831	11
6	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	1:25.623	10
7	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:25.661	11
8	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	1:26.017	7
9	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	1:26.447	12
10	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	1:26.457	6
11	6	David Coulthard	Williams	1:26.556	11
12	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	1:26.579	12
13	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	1:26.787	12
14	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	1:26.828	11
15	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	1:27.615	12
16	23	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	1:27.714	10
17	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	1:28.123	12
18	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	1:28.439	11
19	12	Jos Verstappen	Simtek	1:29.391	4
20	11	Domenico Schiattarella	Simtek	1:29.439	5
21	29	Jean-Christophe Boullion	Sauber	1:30.014	11
22	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	1:30.149	12
23	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	1:30.461	6
24	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	1:31.542	8
25	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	1:34.963	5
26	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	13:33.570	1

Saturday Free Practice

Damon Hill was fastest on Saturday morning, while contact with Heinz-Harald Frentzen damaged Michael Schumacher‘s suspension. After the session, Taki Inoue‘s stranded Footwork was being towed back when a circuit safety car struck it and overturned it. Taki Inoue suffered concussion and missed qualifying, although he was subsequently cleared to race. The incident overshadowed the session’s sporting outcome.

Saturday Practice Classification

1995 Monaco Grand Prix Practice, 27 May 1995

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	5	Damon Hill	Williams	1:23.468	23
2	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	+0.784s	21
3	6	David Coulthard	Williams	+1.023s	23
4	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+1.072s	23
5	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	+1.419s	23
6	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	+1.647s	22
7	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	+1.652s	11
8	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	+1.839s	23
9	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	+2.192s	20
10	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	+2.720s	23
11	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	+2.783s	22
12	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	+2.858s	23
13	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	+3.626s	12
14	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	+3.712s	23
15	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+3.764s	11
16	23	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	+3.904s	22
17	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+4.272s	22
18	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	+5.300s	22
19	29	Jean-Christophe Boullion	Sauber	+5.677s	22
20	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	+5.848s	17
21	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	+6.144s	22
22	11	Domenico Schiattarella	Simtek	+7.027s	23
23	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	+7.145s	23
24	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	+7.247s	13
25	12	Jos Verstappen	Simtek	+7.797s	7
26	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	+12.157s	6

Saturday Qualifying

Damon Hill delivered an outstanding Saturday lap to take pole by almost eight tenths from Michael Schumacher. David Coulthard climbed to third as Ferrari‘s challenge faltered: Jean Alesi lost hydraulic pressure and had to share Gerhard Berger‘s car. The two Ferraris settled for fourth and fifth, ahead of Häkkinen.

Saturday Qualifying Classification

1995 Monaco Grand Prix second qualifying session, 27 May 1995

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time	Laps
1	5	Damon Hill	Williams	1:21.952	11
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	1:22.742	12
3	6	David Coulthard	Williams	1:23.109	12
4	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	1:23.220	9
5	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	1:23.857	11
6	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	1:23.885	12
7	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	1:24.023	4
8	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	1:24.447	12
9	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	1:24.857	10
10	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	1:24.933	12
11	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	1:25.081	12
12	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	1:25.125	12
13	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	1:25.447	12
14	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	1:25.808	12
15	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	1:25.969	12
16	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	1:26.473	12
17	23	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	1:26.913	12
18	29	Jean-Christophe Boullion	Sauber	1:27.145	10
19	11	Domenico Schiattarella	Simtek	1:28.337	12
20	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	1:29.039	12
21	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	1:29.244	11
22	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	1:29.608	7
23	12	Jos Verstappen	Simtek	1:30.015	4

Combined Qualifying Classification

Each driver’s faster time from the two qualifying sessions determined the overall order.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Thursday Time	Saturday Time	Best Time	Laps
1	5	Damon Hill	Williams	1:24.659	1:21.952	1:21.952	23
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	1:24.146	1:22.742	1:22.742	21
3	6	David Coulthard	Williams	1:26.556	1:23.109	1:23.109	23
4	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	1:24.509	1:23.220	1:23.220	17
5	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	1:23.754	1:24.023	1:23.754	12
6	8	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	1:24.831	1:23.857	1:23.857	22
7	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	1:25.623	1:23.885	1:23.885	22
8	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	1:26.457	1:24.447	1:24.447	18
9	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	1:26.447	1:24.857	1:24.857	22
10	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	1:26.017	1:24.933	1:24.933	19
11	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	1:26.787	1:25.081	1:25.081	24
12	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	1:26.579	1:25.125	1:25.125	24
13	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	1:26.828	1:25.447	1:25.447	22
14	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	1:25.661	no time	1:25.661	11
15	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	1:28.439	1:25.808	1:25.808	23
16	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	1:27.615	1:25.969	1:25.969	24
17	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	1:28.123	1:26.473	1:26.473	24
18	23	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	1:27.714	1:26.913	1:26.913	22
19	29	Jean-Christophe Boullion	Sauber	1:30.014	1:27.145	1:27.145	21
20	11	Domenico Schiattarella	Simtek	1:29.439	1:28.337	1:28.337	17
21	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	13:33.570	1:29.039	1:29.039	17
22	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	1:34.963	1:29.244	1:29.244	16
23	12	Jos Verstappen	Simtek	1:29.391	1:30.015	1:29.391	8
24	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	1:30.461	1:29.608	1:29.608	13
25	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	1:30.149	no time	1:30.149	12
26	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	1:31.542	no time	1:31.542	8

Sunday warm-up

Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger led the dry warm-up as Ferrari assessed both race and spare cars. Damon Hill struggled with understeer, and Williams prepared a two-stop race for him to reduce the fuel load. Michael Schumacher‘s one-stop plan demanded a heavier car early on, setting up a tactical contest that qualifying times alone could not predict.

Warm-up Classification

1995 Monaco Grand Prix Warm-up, 28 May 1995

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Time / Gap	Laps
1	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	1:24.356	16
2	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	+0.658s	11
3	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	+0.874s	13
4	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	+0.890s	15
5	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	+2.124s	14
6	5	Damon Hill	Williams	+2.412s	13
7	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	+2.489s	17
8	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	+2.537s	11
9	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	+2.762s	17
10	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	+2.926s	12
11	6	David Coulthard	Williams	+3.178s	10
12	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	+3.254s	15
13	23	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	+3.476s	15
14	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	+3.626s	9
15	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	+3.721s	10
16	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	+4.204s	11
17	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	+4.444s	14
18	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	+5.474s	10
19	29	Jean-Christophe Boullion	Sauber	+6.303s	15
20	12	Jos Verstappen	Simtek	+6.689s	4
21	11	Domenico Schiattarella	Simtek	+7.071s	10
22	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	+7.599s	12
23	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	+7.764s	7
24	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	+7.892s	4
25	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	+8.043s	16
26	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	+9.821s	7

What happened in the 1995 Monaco Grand Prix?

David Coulthard and both Ferraris collided at Sainte Dévote, blocking the circuit and forcing a fresh start. All three drivers returned in spare cars. Simtek‘s afternoon ended before the restarted race began, with Domenico Schiattarella unable to return and Jos Verstappen stopped by another gearbox failure.

Damon Hill led again, but Michael Schumacher stayed close despite carrying fuel for a longer opening stint. Once Damon Hill stopped, the Benetton took control. David Coulthard retired with transmission trouble, while Jean Alesi‘s challenge ended when he encountered Martin Brundle‘s spinning Ligier. Six drivers received jump-start penalties; Andrea Montermini was excluded after failing to serve his in time.

Michael Schumacher won by more than half a minute, with Damon Hill second and Gerhard Berger third. Johnny Herbert, Mark Blundell and Heinz-Harald Frentzen completed the points. Benetton‘s second successive victory extended Michael Schumacher‘s championship advantage, while Damon Hill was left to reflect on a brilliant Saturday that had not delivered the Sunday reward.

After the race, Michael Schumacher headed the drivers’ standings with 34 points, followed by Damon Hill on 29. Benetton led the constructors’ table on 36, with Williams on 32.

1995 Monaco Grand Prix race results

The 1995 Monaco Grand Prix was held on 28 May 1995, with a scheduled start of 15:30 local time.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time / Retired	Pts.
1	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	78	1:53:11.258	10
2	5	Damon Hill	Williams	78	+34.817	6
3	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	78	+1:11.447	4
4	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	77	+1 Lap	3
5	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	77	+1 Lap	2
6	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	76	+2 Laps	1
7	23	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	76	+2 Laps	0
8	29	Jean-Christophe Boullion	Sauber	74	Spun off	0
9	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	74	+4 Laps	0
10	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	72	+6 Laps	0
Ret	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	68	Suspension	0
Ret	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	65	Accident	0
Ret	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	63	Gearbox	0
Ret	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	60	Throttle	0
Ret	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	42	Gearbox	0
Ret	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	41	Accident	0
Ret	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	40	Spun off	0
Ret	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	27	Gearbox	0
Ret	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	26	Spun off	0
DSQ	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	23	Failed to serve stop-go penalty	0
Ret	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	22	Spun off	0
Ret	6	David Coulthard	Williams	16	Gearbox	0
Ret	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	9	Brakes	0
Ret	8	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren	8	Engine	0
DNS	12	Jos Verstappen	Simtek	0	Gearbox	0
DNS	11	Domenico Schiattarella	Simtek	0	Car damaged	0

Montermini was black flagged for failing to serve his stop-and-go penalty within the required three laps since its issue.

Verstappen’s result is often given as a retirement rather than a failure to start, even though he did not take the second start as his gearbox failed at the start of the second formation lap.

Schiattarella did not take the restart as his undamaged car was not recovered from the first corner, and was later seriously damaged when it fell off a recovery vehicle.

1995 Monaco Grand Prix Fastest Laps

Pos.	No.	Driver	Team	Lap	Time
1	27	Jean Alesi	Ferrari	36	1:24.621
2	1	Michael Schumacher	Benetton	33	1:24.773
3	5	Damon Hill	Williams	54	1:24.790
4	28	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari	49	1:25.379
5	6	David Coulthard	Williams	15	1:25.884
6	25	Martin Brundle	Ligier	39	1:25.985
7	14	Rubens Barrichello	Jordan	51	1:26.279
8	7	Mark Blundell	McLaren	33	1:26.717
9	30	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Sauber	49	1:26.741
10	26	Olivier Panis	Ligier	62	1:26.819
11	2	Johnny Herbert	Benetton	8	1:26.923
12	15	Eddie Irvine	Jordan	19	1:26.933
13	8	Mika Hakkinen	McLaren	5	1:27.091
14	24	Luca Badoer	Minardi	60	1:27.359
15	9	Gianni Morbidelli	Footwork	45	1:27.532
16	3	Ukyo Katayama	Tyrrell	10	1:27.568
17	23	Pierluigi Martini	Minardi	60	1:27.761
18	4	Mika Salo	Tyrrell	45	1:27.914
19	29	Jean-Christophe Boullion	Sauber	57	1:28.417
20	17	Andrea Montermini	Pacific	20	1:29.548
21	10	Taki Inoue	Footwork	21	1:30.174
22	21	Pedro Diniz	Forti	55	1:30.193
23	16	Bertrand Gachot	Pacific	7	1:30.394
24	22	Roberto Moreno	Forti	6	1:30.532

Only drivers with a recorded lap time appear. No fastest-lap bonus point was awarded.

1995 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings after the 1995 Monaco Grand Prix.

1995 Post-Race F1 Drivers' Championship Standings

POS	Driver	Nationality	Car	PTS
1	Michael Schumacher	German	Benetton	34
2	Damon Hill	British	Williams	29
3	Gerhard Berger	Austrian	Ferrari	17
4	Jean Alesi	French	Ferrari	14
5	Johnny Herbert	British	Benetton	12
6	David Coulthard	British	Williams	9
7	Mika Häkkinen	Finnish	McLaren	5
8	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	German	Sauber	4
9	Mark Blundell	British	McLaren	3
10	Eddie Irvine	British	Jordan	2
11	Olivier Panis	French	Ligier	1
–	Mika Salo	Finnish	Tyrrell	0
–	Pierluigi Martini	Italian	Minardi	0
–	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Jordan	0
–	Aguri Suzuki	Japanese	Ligier	0
–	Ukyo Katayama	Japanese	Tyrrell	0
–	Jean-Christophe Boullion	French	Sauber	0
–	Gianni Morbidelli	Italian	Footwork	0
–	Domenico Schiattarella	Italian	Simtek	0
–	Martin Brundle	British	Ligier	0
–	Andrea Montermini	Italian	Pacific	0
–	Pedro Diniz	Brazilian	Forti	0
–	Nigel Mansell	British	McLaren	0
–	Jos Verstappen	Dutch	Simtek	0
–	Karl Wendlinger	Austrian	Sauber	0
–	Luca Badoer	Italian	Minardi	0
–	Roberto Moreno	Brazilian	Forti	0
–	Taki Inoue	Japanese	Footwork	0
–	Bertrand Gachot	Belgian	Pacific	0

1995 Post-Race F1 Constructors' Championship Standings

POS	Car	PTS
1	Benetton	36
2	Williams	32
3	Ferrari	31
4	McLaren	8
5	Sauber	4
6	Jordan	2
7	Ligier	1
8	Tyrrell	0
9	Minardi	0
10	Footwork	0
11	Simtek	0
12	Pacific	0
13	Forti	0

1995 Formula 1 Race Calendar

Round	Grand Prix	Circuit	Date
1	1995 Brazilian Grand Prix	Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo	26 March
2	1995 Argentine Grand Prix	Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, Buenos Aires	9 April
3	1995 San Marino Grand Prix	Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola	30 April
4	1995 Spanish Grand Prix	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló	14 May
5	1995 Monaco Grand Prix	Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo	28 May
6	1995 Canadian Grand Prix	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal	11 June
7	1995 French Grand Prix	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours	2 July
8	1995 British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone	16 July
9	1995 German Grand Prix	Hockenheimring, Hockenheim	30 July
10	1995 Hungarian Grand Prix	Hungaroring, Mogyoród	13 August
11	1995 Belgian Grand Prix	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot	27 August
12	1995 Italian Grand Prix	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza	10 September
13	1995 Portuguese Grand Prix	Autódromo do Estoril, Estoril	24 September
14	1995 European Grand Prix	Nürburgring, Nürburg	1 October
15	1995 Pacific Grand Prix	TI Circuit-Aida, Aida	22 October
16	1995 Japanese Grand Prix	Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka	29 October
17	1995 Australian Grand Prix	Adelaide Street Circuit, Adelaide	12 November