Mika Hakkinen posted the fastest time of 1996 on the day Verstappen made his comeback into Formula One with the Arrows-Hart team in the morning session. Hakkinen broke Damon Hill's testing record, set yesterday (1:21.10), with a 1:20.87. Hill came in close behind the Fin with 1:20.95. But Rubens Barrichello did an astonishing 1:19.93, leaving the Benneton of Berger behind him with 1:20.50 and all the rest. Dutch driver Verstappen came in behind Katayama in the Tyrrell (1:23.06) with 1:23.53. Salo, in the other Tyrrell, posted a best time of 1:21.91.
The Arrows team has now Philips as their new sponsor. Michael Schumacher could not drive the 412 T2 Ferrari in the morning session because of problems with the V10 engine and the gearbox. A new V10 was flown in from Fiorano in the afternoon. Schumacher did 22 laps under race conditions to set up his car for the long run planned tomorrow. Eddie Irvine will test the new F 310 Ferrari at Fiorano (Italy) on Thursday.