As Michael Schumacher stormed back into the championship race with his opening victory of the season, which also lifts him to the top of the drivers' championship, Damon Hill effectively silenced the rumours concerning his future at Jordan by grabbing his first points of the year with a superb drive to fourth place here yesterday.

Until yesterday, Hill's weekend had been a dispiriting one. Dogged by rumours that he is to retire at the end of season and give up his seat at Jordan to Eddie Irvine, Hill responded by posting the fourth fastest time in free practice. But a poor qualifying session on Saturday further fuelled the fires of speculation, and also left the Englishman eighth on the grid.

But as high temperatures took their toll on tyres and the punishing Imola circuit forced 11 of the 22 starters into retirement or accidents, Hill powered his Jordan to within a second of a podium finish, just failing to reel in Rubens Barrichello's Stewart after a long dogfight.

Hill was understandably elated at gaining the three points, which leave Jordan third in the constructors' championship, just three points behind McLaren and six clear of Williams. "This is the first race I've done well in since Suzuka last year and it felt great - although exhausting in this heat," he said. "This result was really important for me; not only has it given me some points, but it's given me the chance to know the car really well in racing circumstances."

Hill's performance also represented a vindication in the eyes of team owner Eddie Jordan. "Damon has now got the worry of the first two races out of his system and has won us some more points."

Hill's team-mate, Heinz Harald Frentzen, meanwhile, claimed he was a victim of the incident that ended Eddie Irvine's race. Well placed in fourth on lap 49, with Hill behind him and Barrichello 21 seconds adrift, the German inherited third when Irvine's engine blew up, forcing the Ulsterman to retire.

But as Frentzen negotiated the same corner, he too span and ploughed the Jordan into the fencing, and claimed that oil spilled from Irvine's engine had caused his crash.

"What happened was really disappointing as I had a very good chance of making the podium again," he said. "These things happen in Formula One, it's just unfortunate that the marshal was not quick enough to react and give me a warning."

While Hill was celebrating his finish, Michael Schumacher was putting Ferrari's world back on its axis, ending understudy Irvine's brief reign at the top of the drivers' championship and stretching the team's lead at the top of the constructors' table to 12 over chief rivals McLaren.

Schumacher's win came as a combination of tactical nous and stubborn backmarkers kept McLaren's David Coulthard at bay long enough for the German to claim his first victory of the season and the team's first at Imola for 16 years. "It's great," Schumacher said. "I really enjoyed it. To take Ferrari's first win here in 16 years and my first of the season is something very special. What made it even better was the seeing the enthusiasm of the tifosi. We have been on the pace all weekend and it seems we have managed to close the gap we saw at the first two races."

In the early stages though, it had seemed McLaren's power domination would continue as Hakkinen cruised into a comfortable lead ahead of Coulthard and Schumacher. But Ferrari were handed a lifeline after 17 laps when Hakkinen, powering through the Alta Bassa and into the start/finish straight, lost control and slewed off into the barriers.

With only three seconds to make up on new race leader David Coulthard, Schumacher began to reel in the Scot. And then, after 30 laps and with just one second dividing the two, Ferrari's winning strategy came into play. A first quick stop, followed by a charge from Schumacher to keep the gap to the McLaren static, left Coulthard, who had not stopped, with the narrowest of time margins available to pit and rejoin the race ahead of the German. When that stop came, the margin was not enough and the Scot rejoined to see Schumacher powering away ahead of him.

Fortune also favoured Ferrari as Coulthard became embroiled in the battle for 10th being fought in front of him by Benetton's Giancarlo Fisichella and Olivier Panis's Prost. Unable to pass the duelling back markers, Coulthard was helpless as Schumacher stretched out a 20-second gap, allowing him enough time to make his second stop and rejoin five seconds ahead of the McLaren.

Afterwards, Coulthard demanded that heavy fines be imposed on both Fisichella and Panis for their failure to respond to the blue flags of marshals. "I think a nice fine would help concentrate their minds," he said. "I am really disappointed. This is a race I should have won, but because of factors other than me or the car I didn't. They were particularly uncooperative."