1993 F1 Season

1993 F1 Season

The 1993 F1 Season is the Seventeenth Season of the F1 Sim series and features the 1993 Drivers Championship and 1993 Constructors Championship

Driver Changes for 1993

* Williams completed the signing of Alain Prost who was returning to the sport after a year out in 1992. Prost's teammate would be Damon Hill, son of Graham Hill and Williams's test driver in 1992 (Hill also raced for the Brabham team in 1992). The absence of the defending champion meant that Williams could not use the number 1 on their cars, so the number 0 was used instead, by Hill, while Prost used the number 2.
* Uncertainty surrounded the McLaren team, whose driver Ayrton Senna was reluctant to re-sign for 1993 as Honda had withdrawn from the sport and the team were not expected to be competitive with customer Ford engines. McLaren signed Michael Andretti, a successful IndyCar driver and son of 1978 World Champion Mario Andretti, and Mika Häkkinen, who had impressed for Lotus in 1991 and 1992. Senna eventually signed on a race-by-race basis and was partnered by Andretti until the Italian Grand Prix. Häkkinen became the team's test driver.
* Benetton retained Michael Schumacher, but lost Martin Brundle who was replaced after numerous run-ins and disagreements with team manager Flavio Briatore. Taking the second seat at Benetton was the most experienced driver in Formula One, Italian veteran Riccardo Patrese, who was released by Williams after just over five seasons with the team since 1988.
* Ferrari retained Jean Alesi, but Ivan Capelli and Nicola Larini had both disappointed in 1992 and so Gerhard Berger returned to the team after three years at McLaren since 1990. Larini returned to his previous role as test driver for the team.
* Lotus retained Johnny Herbert and took on Alessandro Zanardi, who replaced Häkkinen.
* Tyrrell retained Andrea de Cesaris and took on Japan's Ukyo Katayama, who moved from Larrousse.
* Ligier reunited British drivers Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell: the two had previously driven for Brabham in 1991. This was the first and only time in Ligier's history that they did not have a French driver in their line-up (although they had former Larrousse driver Éric Bernard as a test driver).
* Footwork Arrows lost Michele Alboreto and replaced him with British veteran Derek Warwick, returning to the sport after two years away driving sports cars since 1991. Warwick had previously raced for Arrows in 1987–1989. Japanese driver Aguri Suzuki was retained as number two driver.
* The BMS Scuderia Italia team switched from Dallara to Lola chassis and took on five time Grand Prix winner Michele Alboreto (whose last win had been eight years earlier in 1985) and newcomer, Italian Luca Badoer.
* Jordan had lost both Stefano Modena and Maurício Gugelmin who quit Formula One after a frustrating 1992. Young Brazilian Rubens Barrichello made his debut with the team, with Ivan Capelli filled the second seat: The team also switched from using Yamaha V12 engines to the new Hart V10. Hart was making their F1 return with Jordan after last being in Grand Prix racing in 1986 with their 4 cyl 1.5L turbocharged 415T.
* March would cope with the loss of Wedlinger with the signing of Lammers who raced 2 races for March in 1992 and Jean-Marc Gounon
* Larrousse lost both Ukyo Katayama and Bertrand Gachot. Therefore, they signed Philippe Alliot (returning to the team after driving for Larrousse in 1987–1989) and Érik Comas, who moved from Ligier.
* Minardi retained Christian Fittipaldi, and took on Fabrizio Barbazza.
* The Swiss Sauber team were the only new entry to the grid in 1993, with much-publicized backing from German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, who were funding the team's engine supplier, Ilmor. The engines were badged as "Saubers" for their debut season (under the instruction of Mercedes). "Concept by Mercedes-Benz" decals were placed on the car's engine cover. Their drivers were Finland's JJ Lehto, who signed from BMS Scuderia Italia, and Austria's Karl Wendlinger, who had impressed with March in 1992. Wendlinger was also part of Sauber-Mercedes sportscar programme prior joining Formula One.