1994 Formula One Season

The **1994 Formula One season** was the 45th season of Formula One motor racing. The championship was contested concurrently over an eleven race series that commenced on 27th March and ended on 2nd October.

Ezequiel Zarco and Jordan entered the season as the defending Drivers' and Constructors' Champions. Otto Makkinen won his first Drivers' title, with Williams winning the Constructors' Championship.

## Pre-Season

1993 champion Ezequiel Zarco left Jordan at the end of 1993 to join McLaren alongside his 1993 rival Jack Wilson. Jordan also lost Jimmy Russell as he moved to Benetton, resulting in Jordan having all-new lineup of David Johnson and Silis Carmichael.

Alexander Parker, the son of the late Maria Parker, signed with the new Margheriti team for the new season. The 18 year old would be partnered with the experienced Santiago Reyes. Margheriti had replaced Lola and was founded by the two-time Formula One champion Fabiano Margheriti.

## Season Summary

### **Round 1: Pacific**

The first round of the season was due to take place in Kyalami, South Africa, but civil unrest and disruption forced the race organisers to cancel the event. Despite many circuits submitting bids for a race, Okayama was eventually chosen to be the replacement.

Ferrari dominated practice and locked out the front row of the grid in qualifying, with Alexsandro Pinho grabbing pole position and Danilo Koren lining up behind. Jordan rookie David Johnson impressed many by qualifying in third.

Ferrari maintained their positions off the start whilst Jack Wilson moved up to third after an aggressive start. Wilson was on the back of Koren and was shaping up a pass until Jordan's David Johnson collided with the McLaren's rear, sending both Wilson and Johnson into a half-spin. Both were able to continue but dropped down a number of positions.

Further back, Parker attacked Rolph Mills in a bold move down the inside of turn eight. The pair made contact, with Parker's front wing clipping Mills' rear tyre, giving Mills a puncture. Mills span out of the race at the next corner, ending his race on just lap two.

Passing proved difficult around the circuit and trains started to develop as drivers struggled to gain any positions. Despite this, the trio of Zarco, Parker, and Vinter were engaged in an epic battle for the final points positions as the race neared it's end.

The front of the field closed up as the race entered the final laps. Race leader Pinho had elected for a risky one-stop strategy and started to drop off in pace but just about held on ahead of Jimmy Russell and Otto Makkinen. Pinho's teammate Koren finished just off the podium in fourth, with Wilson taking fifth place.

### **Round 2: Brazil**

Ferrari took pole position for the second race in a row, with Danilo Koren starting from pole. Koren's teammate Alexsandro Pinho would start from the back of the grid after reliability issues in qualifying.

Koren had a clean start whilst much of the grid got caught up in a messy turn one incident caused by the slow start of Benetton's Timo Pakkinen. Despite starting at the back, Pinho had avoided the chaos and moved up to 12th by the end of lap one. Pakkinen's race went even further downhill when he ran into the back of Alexander Parker at the end of the *Reta Oposta* straight, causing Parker to retire. He would later pick up a time penalty for causing the incident.

Rolph Mills was holding position in second place after a fierce battle with his teammate until Collin McDougall missed his braking point and hit the rear of Mills' Williams just before *Juncao*. The incident sent Mills into the barriers and also resulted in McDougall retiring. Mills jokingly quipped after the race: "Takes more than a Scottish bloke up the a\*\*\* to finish me off."

Pinho, encouraged by the support of his home fans, led the race for eight laps on an alternate strategy and came close to challenging Koren for the race win until he span at the exit of turn one and had to settle for second place. Otto Makkinen finished in third place.

### **Round 3: San Marino**

Otto Makkinen would take pole position for the Williams team, with the young Collin McDougall taking a qualifying ban for an incident in the previous race.

A chaotic start allowed Pakkinen to take the lead into Tosa, under pressure from Makkinen and Mills behind. Further back, the Ferraris collided entering Acque Minerale, Pinho retiring. Danilo Koren would continue, but with damage. Pakkinen would lead the race until the pitstops, Makkinen jumping his countryman. However, all eyes were on the battle for 3rd, between Jack Wilson and Rolph Mills. Wilson exited the pits ahead of Mills, who attempted to go around the outside of the McLaren in Tamburello. Wilson jinked left to avoid a collision on the exit - but Mills had attempted to switch back to the other side, losing control of his car and smashing into the inside wall. Mills suffered broken legs and a concussion, and would not return in 1994.

Meanwhile, Wilson began attacking Makkinen's lead. It appeared that all had fallen apart for the McLaren driver with a spin with two laps to go - but the passing Pakkinen ran out of fuel exiting the final corner, allowing Wilson back past. Makkinen took the victory ahead of Wilson and Pakkinen.

## Results and Standings

### **Grands Prix**

**1994 Drivers' Championship - Final Standings**

**1994 Constructors' Championship - Final Standings**