1994 Formula 1 Grand Prix Season
Schumacher and Hill Decided F1 World Championship at Final Race
Dec 30, 2008
While Michael Schumacher watched the Italian and Portuguese Grands Prix on the TV, his Formula 1 title rival Damon Hill won both races to close to within one point of him. Schumacher made his return from his two race ban at Jerez, venue for the 1994 European Grand Prix.
Schumacher Marks Return with Grand Prix Victory
Nigel Mansell rejoined Williams for the final three Grands prix of 1994, starting at Jerez. The Englishman was reputed to be earning £1 million per race for his troubles. In qualifying it was Schumacher on pole, with Hill second. Mansell was third fastest, with Heinz-Harald Frentzen an impressive fourth for Sauber.
Hill got the jump on Schumacher at the start and took the lead, while Mansell bogged down and was passed by several cars. It would be an unhappy day for the 1992 World Champion. A collision with Rubens Barrichello forced him to pit for a new nosecone, and he spun later in the race.
Quick work by the Benetton pit crew saw Schumacher emerge ahead of Hill. The Williams driver saw any chance of victory disappear when he had to make a further stop for extra fuel. Schumacher won, while Hill limited the damage in the points table by finishing second. Mika Hakkinen was third for McLaren, followed by Eddie Irvine, Gerhard Berger and Frentzen.
Hill Scores Brilliant Japanese Grand Prix Win
Johnny Herbert became Schumacher’s team-mate at Benetton in Suzuka, replacing the out of favour Jos Verstappen. Schumacher started from pole, with title rival Hill alongside him on the front row. Frentzen excelled again, qualifying third, with Mansell fourth.
On a wet track Schumacher had to block Hill to keep him behind at the start. As the rain intensified the safety car was deployed, but it was too late. Herbert, Ukyo Katayama and Taki Inoue (driving for Simtek) all crashed.
After the safety car pulled in Gianni Morbidelli (in a Footwork) had a major shunt. The situation became more serious when Martin Brundle’s McLaren slithered helplessly off the track and into a group of marshals working at the crash site. Fortunately, the worst injury was a broken leg. The incident caused the race to be stopped.
When the Grand Prix re-started Schumacher took a gamble. The Benetton crew did not put enough fuel in to make it to the end, anticipating that the rain would eventually become so heavy that the race would be abandoned. The gamble failed, as the rain stopped and the track dried. Schumacher was forced to pit and finished second, behind Hill. Jean Alesi was third for Ferrari, Mansell fourth, Irvine fifth and Frentzen sixth again. With one race remaining Schumacher led Hill by a single point in the World Championship.
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