Australian GPVilleneuve is taken out of the race at the first corner by Schumacher's team-mate, Eddie Irvine. The Williams Renault driver slips his clutch for a bad start, something that will dog him for some time, before making for the first bend. Coming up on the inside at the right-hander, Irvine breaks hard and slides into the Canadian, eliminating him in controversial style.

Schumacher goes on to split the two McLarens to finish second behind David Coulthard. Schumacher (1st) - 6pts Villeneuve (DNF) - 0

Brazilian GP

Villeneuve opens his championship account with an emphatic victory after the race is red flagged following first corner run-offs. Again the Canadian makes a poor start from pole position and allows Schumacher to overtake in the run to the first corner. But within a lap of the second start, Villeneuve powers the Renault V10 ahead of Schumacher and the rest of the field, losing the lead only during pit stops. Schumacher shows his driving skills by making the most of an ill-handling Ferrari and snatches two points. Schumacher (5th) - 8 Villeneuve (1st) - 10

Argentina GP

The Canadian is on a saline drip in the run-up and is suffering from a severe stomach bug. But in a brilliantly measured and tactically astute performance, he holds off Irvine for a split-second win in sweltering conditions.

Schumacher can only consider his ill fortune as he is caught up in a first corner melee and is taken out of the race by Rubens Barrichello's Stewart car. The Canadian increases his lead in the driver's championship with Schumacher slipping to fifth. Schumacher (DNF) - 8 Villeneuve (1st) - 20

San Marino GP

Second place for Schumacher behind his German compatriot, HeinzHarald Frentzen, pushes him within six points of Villeneuve, who fails to finish. Schumacher puts the young German under severe pressure, particularly through the complex of bends around Tamburella and Tosa. But Frentzen resists the Ferrari driver's charges and is able to give himself a big enough cushion to resist Schumacher's later thrusts to hold on to first place. Schumacher (2nd) - 14 Villeneuve (DNF) - 20

Monaco GP

While his rivals were consulting their computerised weather forecasts, Schumacher looked at the sky. His rivals saw clear weather while he saw a rain-affected fifth championship race. It was the winning of the race for the German. Two hours later the Ferrari, which had been set up for rain, splashed across the finish line almost one minute ahead of his nearest rival for his first win of the year. It was not the first nor last time that Schumacher showed his brilliance in reading conditions and reacting with outstanding driving. Schumacher (1st) - 24 Villeneuve (DNF) - 20

Spanish GP

In Barcelona, Villeneuve finds his car performing better than it has done all season and bounces back into the lead of the driver's championship by winning the 64-lap race with almost six seconds to spare.

Tyres play a crucial part in the victory. The track, eating up the rubber and blistering the tyres after less than 20 laps, force most teams into a threestop strategy. The Williams Renault choice of rubber allows Villeneuve to take only two, saving precious seconds and leaving Schumacher back in fourth place. Schumacher (4th) - 27 Villeneuve (1st) - 30

Canadian GP

A spectacular, 140 mph crash which left Olivier Panis with two broken legs brings the race to a premature end with 14 of the 69 laps left to run. The crash overshadows Schumacher's fortuitous win after Villeneuve, the pre-race favourite, spins his car into a wall while running in second place at the end of the second lap. McLaren driver David Coulthard also contributes to the school of elementary errors as he stalls in the pits. The Ferrari driver moves back to a seven-point championship lead. Schumacher (1st) - 37 Villeneuve (DNF) - 30

French GP

Again, Schumacher illustrates his decision-making and his ability to conquer variable conditions as he leads the race from start to finish, with Frentzen not far behind. Both drivers opt to stay out on slick tyres at Magny-Cours, and when rain finally falls with 10 laps of the 72 lap race run, their main rivals, including Villeneuve, decide to change. But the rain only lasts for a couple of laps, allowing Schumacher to hold on to his first position. Villeneuve manages three championship points with a fourth place. Schumacher (1st) - 47 Villeneuve (4th) - 33

British GP

Ferrari, who had 100 per cent reliability up until now, go out of the Silverstone race with mechanical failure, with Schumacher retiring on lap 40 of 60 with a broken wheel bearing. As usual, Villeneuve capitalises on his main rival's misfortune and that of Mikka Hakkinen, despite problems early in the race with a lose front wheel. Hakkinen's car blows on lap 54, allowing Villeneuve to record Williams' 100th win at the scene of their first in 1979. It is Villeneuve's fourth victory of the year. Schumacher (DNF) - 47 Villeneuve (1st) - 43

German GP

On one of the rare occasions that both Schumacher and Villeneuve are over-shadowed, 37-year-old Austrian Gerhard Berger dominates this race, finishing over 17 seconds ahead of the German championship leader. Williams, however, lose Frentzen after lap one with Villeneuve spinning off with 12 of the race's 45 laps yet to run. Even with the Canadian out, Schumacher, driving beyond the capabilities of the car, excels in finishing second, despite an unscheduled fuel stop. Schumacher (2nd) - 53 Villeneuve (DNF) - 43

Hungarian GP

Villeneuve, in second place, could not believe it when he found himself closing the ground on the crippled car of Damon Hill. Hill's leaking hydraulic fuel forced him to slow right down in an effort to limp home and claim first place. Villeneuve surged into view on the last lap and overtook Hill on the grass for a precious victory. Hill said after the race, "The problem was I had a 30-second lead and needed 40."

Villeneuve's win brings him to within three points of Schumacher, who finishes in fourth position. Schumacher (4th) - 56 Villeneuve (1st) - 53

Belgium GP

Schumacher's skill in the rain is taking on legendary status. Astute choice of tyres enables him to ram home the point that his decision-making is unparalleled in F1, as is his driving in the wet. In soaking conditions Schumacher produces one of his most emphatic victories when he concludes that intermediate tyres are the correct choice when all of his rivals opt for deep-grooved, wet tyres. Such is his dominance that he can take two pit stops without relinquishing his lead. Villeneuve manages sixth place after a tactically bad race. Schumacher (1st) - 66 Villeneuve (6th) - 55

Italian GP

Monza provides David Coulthard with an emotional win in the wake of Princess Diana's death, with neither Schumacher nor Villeneuve a frontrunning force. Both camps have trouble working out a competitive set-up for this high-speed circuit. In the event, the German takes sixth with the Canadian in fifth, which allows Schumacher to hold on to his championship lead by 10 points with just four races to go. Schumacher (6th) - 67 Villeneuve (5th) - 57

Austrian GP

By the third week in September the championship comes back to life as Villeneuve drives a superbly-judged race to win his sixth grand prix of the year. Schumacher, meanwhile, has a terrible time at the new A1 ring circuit, driving his second successive poor race. Despite leading at one stage, the German incurs a 10-second penalty for overtaking when the cautionary yellow flag is out. Villeneuve takes the lead on lap 44 of the 71-lap race, driving to victory with restraint and discipline to cut Schumacher's lead to just one point. Schumacher (6th) - 68 Villeneuve (1st) - 67

Luxemburg GP

The brothers Schumacher come to grief together on the first lap at Nurburgring and Michael's hopes are severely dented. The collision, which bends the suspension arm of the Ferrari, effectively robs him of any points and allows Villeneuve to waltz to victory. Villeneuve goes nine points clear. Schumacher (DNF) - 68 Villeneuve (1st) - 77

Japanese GP

Eddie Irvine drives the race of his life and illustrates the ultimate in team contribution. Leading the race, he waves Schumacher through to lead the field at Suzuka. Irvine takes the lead early and makes good ground at the front. When Schumacher finally overtakes Villeneuve behind Irvine, the Irishman responds to "the phone call" and allows the German into first place while at the same time delaying Villeneuve and sacrificing his own winning position. It works. Schumacher wins and Villeneuve manages only fifth place, bringing the two leaders to within a point of each other before tomorrow's showdown. Schumacher (1st) - 78 Villeneuve (5th) - 79

Villeneuve was then docked two points for a yellow flag in- fringement during the race at Suzuka, so Schumacher enters tomorrow's race with a one-point lead, 78-77.