How the other half lives:
by Gerhard Berger.
F1 Racing, October 1996 issue.

The Monza paddock was buzzing with all sorts of rumours about where Damon Hill would be driving next year. After
hearing that Heinz-Harald Frentzen had replaced him at Williams-Renault, I must admit it was nice to sit back and not have to worry about my own future. My Benetton contract runs until the end of next year, and I am more than happy to stay where I am. However, one of the most persistent rumours in Monza was that Hill would be driving alongside me for Benetton-Renault in 1997 - and that Jean Alesi was going to Jordan-Peugeot.

I don't see it happening myself. Jean has a contract the same as I do, and he wants to stay at Benetton for what will be our fifth season as team-mates. Indeed, Monza was our 60th consecutive race together - a Formula 1 record. And you know, we get on better now than we ever have. I think it's because I try to get along with everybody. If something is wrong I make every effort to sort it out straight away. The main thing is I'm not jealous. If a driver is quicker than me, I don't worry about him - I just try to find what's going wrong for me and put it right. There is very little confrontation.

Of course, Jean and I have had some difficult moments over the years - but we've also had some funny ones. Definitely the most hilarious of all was three years ago, when he and I took Jean Todt's new Lancia road car from the Ferrari factory round the corner to the test track - and crashed it! It was a dream. Jean was driving, and when - at full speed - we reached the parking area just behind the garage, I pulled on the handbrake. Jean got sideways on the grass, and we rolled. All the mechanics saw was us arriving at the garage, sliding along upside down on the car's roof! The entire roof was squashed flat: Jean and I were trapped inside with our two noses almost touching each other. The mechanics had to pull us through the back window...Then we called Todt and said we'd put a little scratch on his car. When he saw it, he certainly wasn't as amused as we were!

That was maybe the best moment I've ever had in F1; even better than the Senna stories - and there were lots of good ones in our time together. I play with Jean (Alesi) sometimes to try and get him upset. Twice at Ferrari, I called the pits, telling them to radio him to let me by. They called Jean and eventually he moved over. He didn't know I had called the pits and got pretty upset with the team afterwards! I get him every time - although I had absolutely nothing to do with the events in Hungary the other week (when Jean said that the Benetton pit told him to let me through).

The presentation lap on race morning in the old cars is always a good time to wind him up. In Spa, I pointed out to Jean how many spectators there were. Then I asked: "But how come there are so many Villeneuve flags and no Alesi ones?" I could see him wriggling in his seat!

If Damon does replace Jean as my team-mate next year, it would not change anything for me. I have already had Ayrton, the best driver in the world, as my partner, so I know it wouldn't be a problem with Hill. But anyway, it won't happen. Damon deserves to find a good team for next season though. I think he is a good driver. I don't want to say he's the best, but I think he is a lot better than people judge him. He has this kind of loser image which he doesn't deserve. For somebody winning so many races in such a short time, it's enough just to say: "Okay, it's because he has the best car".

Even if you have the best ar you've still got to win the race. Hill is close to winning the title, and, until Monza, he really didn't do anything wrong this year. Last season, okay, sometimes he lost under pressure, but two years ago he did well in very difficult situations. I remember those last two races when he caught Michael - especially Japan in the pouring rain. That was great. If Monza was unhappy for Damon, personally it meant a lot - despite the early end to my race. I was really amazed and very happy at the level of support I received there.

At Imola, I saw a lot of banners for me, but thought that was because I hadn't left Ferrari very long ago. By Monza I figured it would all be over - but it's just as if I was still there at Maranello. I have to say I am very happy about it. I always liked and felt very close to Italy, and it seems the Italian people like me too. In fact, I was surprised that Michael didn't have more supporters at Monza. Normally as a Ferrari driver, you only have to win to get the support of the tifosi. But with two victories in the last two races, and the way he is driving, I think they've come round to him at last.
Especially now he's won at Monza....

--End of Article--

_______________________________________________________________________________________________