    the 1994 formula one season was the 45th season of fia formula one motor racing. it featured the 1994 fia formula one world championship which commenced on 27 march 1994, and ended on 13 november after sixteen races. the season is remembered as one of the most tragic and controversial seasons in the 1990s, if not in the sport's history. 1994 was one of the closest championships in history as michael schumacher won the drivers' title by a single point from damon hill after the two controversially collided at the final round in adelaide. british constructor williams-renault won the constructors' championship. however, the 1994 season will also be remembered for the deaths of three-time world champion ayrton senna and austrian rookie roland ratzenberger at the san marino grand prix. forty-six drivers competed in the 1994 world championship, including fourteen who made their f1 debut and numerous pay drivers. mercedes-benz also returned to the sport for the first time since 1955 as an engine supplier to the swiss sauber team. ==pre-season== the big news in the paddock after the 1993 season was the retirement of defending world champion alain prost after winning his fourth title, and his replacement at williams by long-term rival ayrton senna. it was commonly thought that senna's move to williams was a factor behind prost's retirement, which in a later interview was proved to be correct. * williams retained damon hill to partner incoming ayrton senna. test driver david coulthard would replace the brazilian following his fatal accident (except at monaco where williams only entered hill). nigel mansell took over the car alongside hill in france and the final three races of the season . * mclaren, having lost iconic driver ayrton senna to williams, promoted mika hÃ¤kkinen to team leader and brought in experienced martin brundle. following a year with customer ford power, the team had works peugeot engines for 1994. * benetton kept [[michael
1994_in_Formula_One Formula_One_seasons