After 15 Grands Prix the 1994 Formula 1 World Championship came down to s shoot-out between Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill at the final race of the year in Adelaide. Hill started the season as number two to Ayrton Senna, the title favourite. When Senna was killed at Imola Hill was suddenly thrust into the role of team-leader. Schumacher was disqualified from two events and received a two race ban, which allowed Hill to close up in the points standings. Heading into the Australian Grand Prix Schumacher led his rival by just one point.
Schumacher Wins Controversial Formula 1 Title
The pressure of the World Championship battle got to Schumacher on the Friday of the Australian Grand Prix weekend, as the German crashed his Benetton heavily. He was still second on the grid, behind the pole-sitting Williams of Nigel Mansell. Hill was third on the grid, and Mika Hakkinen fourth in his McLaren.
Mansell again made a poor start and was passed by both Schumacher and Hill. Despite his best efforts Schumacher could not drop Hill’s Williams, which shadowed his every move. Once again the pressure of the situation showed, as Schumacher ran wide and clouted a retaining wall. He regained the track just in front of Hill, but with a terminally damaged car. Unaware of this, Hill tried to pass and the two collided. Schumacher was out on the spot, while Hill made it back to the pits before retiring with suspension damage. The controversial collision meant that Schumacher was the 1994 Formula 1 World Champion.
After the race Schumacher spoke about the season and how he fully expected Senna to win the title. In the 2002 book, “Formula 1, The Autobiography”, edited by Gerald Donaldson and published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson, Schumacher is quoted speaking about his emotions and the loss of his rival;
“At the time it was difficult for me to show my feelings. But now is the right time to take something which I have achieved, and give it to him. This is for Ayrton Senna.”
Following the retirement of both title protagonists the Australian Grand Prix was eventually won by Mansell, followed home by Gerhard Berger’s Ferrari. Martin Brundle was third for McLaren, Rubens Barrichello fourth for Jordan, Olivier Panis fifth in a Ligier and Jean Alesi sixth for Ferrari.
1994 saw Schumacher claim the first of his seven Formula 1 title, but there was no use in pretending it had been anything other than a disastrous season. Senna, the greatest driver of his generation, had been killed. During the same weekend motor racing lost one of its most likeable characters, the Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger. Everyone hoped that 1995 would be a safe year.
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