 Michael Schumacher , driving for Ferrari , had led the championship by a single point ahead of Villeneuve going into the race . During the race Villeneuve and Schumacher collided while battling for the lead and the resulting damage to Schumacher 's car forced him to retire . The blame for the incident was later attributed to Schumacher by the sport 's governing body , the FIA , and he was stripped of his second @-@ place finish in the championship . Schumacher 's tactics were widely criticised by the media , including publications based in his home country of Germany , and in Ferrari 's home country of Italy . 
