Schumacher’s controversial first championship title

The title for the 1994 Formula One season all came down to the final race of the season in Adelaide, Australia. The fight heating up between Michael Schumacher in the Benneton and Damon Hill in the Williams, one point separating the pair as the headed into the final race.

 

Earlier in the season the two were still battling, at the British Grand Prix. Schumacher overtook Hill on the formation lap, leading to the German driver being disqualified from the race, before ignoring the black flag and receiving a further two race ban. Later in the season Schumacher would go on to state his opinion that Hill “was not a world class driver”.

 

The 1994 season was marred by a series of fatal accidents, that lead to the passing off Rolan Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna at the San Marino Grand Prix, round 3 of the seasons. Williams and Simtek had only one driver compete at the Monaco Grand Prix, following the passing of their respective driver.

 

1994 Australian Grand Prix:

 

Hill’s teammate, Nigel Mansell, qualified on pole, with Schumacher completing the front row, followed by Hill in P3. Mansell was unable to maintain the lead, as Schumacher passed the Williams going into the first corner on the first lap. Hill climbed up from P3 up into P2, chasing down a young Schumacher The position would remain up until Lap 36 when things got heated between the pair.

 

Going into the East Terrace Corner, Schumacher lost control of his Benetton and hit the wall, as he attempted to re-join the track, Hill tried to clear the German driver and move up into the lead. Schumacher not making it easy for the British driver to pass, steered in, touching the Williams car, sending his B194 into the barrier once again, putting an end to his race and what he thought would be his title dream. Schumacher explained post-race “I got caught out on a bump when the car stepped out and went sideways, but I caught it,”, “Then I had to go on the white line and I had to use the run-off area. I went over the grass, touched the wall, but continued.” 

 

Hill limped his FW16 back to the pits with significant damage to his front suspension, the Williams mechanics ultimately ruling it a mistake to send Hill back out on track, putting an end to Hills race and the championship battle.

 

With Hill out of the race, Schumacher could breathe a sigh of relief now that he had secured his first title, but not his last, in Formula One. As they took the chequered flag it was Mansell to reclaim the lead and take victory, a win that would be shadowed by the controversial title fight.

 

Post-race reaction

 

The decision to let Schumacher walk away with the title, was one that was met with a lot of controversy, many fans blaming Schumacher for the incident and believing Hill should have taken the title.

 

A steward investigation into the incident, concluded with the decision that the contact between the pair was nothing but a racing incident and no further action was taken against Schumacher.

 

While Hill remained radio silent about the events following the race, in later years Hill accused Schumacher of deliberately driving into him