1994 Formula One World Championship (Alt)

This is a fictional account of an alternative version of the 1994 F1 season. For the real 1994 season, see the 1994 Formula One World Championship

The **1994 FIA Formula One World Championship** was the 48th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1994 Formula One World Championship for Drivers and the 1994 Formula One World Championship for Constructors, which were contested concurrently over a sixteen-race series that commenced on 27 March and ended on 13 November.

1994 was one of the most hazardous and controversial seasons in the sport's history. The San Marino Grand Prix saw Austrian rookie Roland Ratzenberger and three-time World Champion Ayrton Senna injured; while a number of other incidents throughout the season resulted in injuries to drivers, mechanics, spectators and a track marshal. The FIA subsequently made sweeping changes to the rules and regulations of F1 in an effort to improve safety.

Mercedes-Benz returned to the sport for the first time since 1955, as an engine supplier to Swiss team Sauber. The season also saw the first win for Ferrari since 1990, whilst McLaren, following the departure of Senna, endured their first winless season since 1980. 1994 was also the final season for the original Team Lotus, one of the most successful constructors in Formula One history, as well as the last Formula One season for 1985 runner-up Michele Alboreto.

1994 was also marked by the first-ever presence of Peugeot Sport as an engine manufacturer.

## Drivers and constructors

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1994 FIA Formula One World Championship. All teams competed with tyres supplied by Goodyear.

### Team changes

**Mclaren: Ford -> Peugeot.**

**Sauber debuts**

**Larrousse: Lamborghini -> Ford.**

**Simtek debuts.**

**BMS Lola & Minardi -> BMS Minardi.**

### Driver changes

**Alain Prost retires.**

**Ayrton Senna: McLaren -> Williams.** 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. Prost's retirement also saw the second season in succession where the reigning World Champion would not defend their title after 1992 champion Nigel Mansell had spent 1993 racing in (and winning) the US-based Champ Car series.

**Martin Brundle: Ligier -> McLaren.**

**JJ Lehto: Sauber -> Benetton.**

**Heinz-Harald Frentzen -> Sauber.**

**Olivier Beretta -> Larrousse.** Larrousse signed Olivier Beretta to partner Érik Comas. Several drivers had since replaced them during the season as 1994 would turn out to be last season for the team.

**Mark Blundell: Ligier -> Tyrrell.** Tyrrell retained Ukyo Katayama and replaced Andrea de Cesaris with Mark Blundell.

**Éric Bernard & Olivier Panis -> Ligier.** Ligier signed returning Éric Bernard, who had been out of F1 racing since 1991 and the newcomer Olivier Panis, with both drivers from the previous year, Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell moving to McLaren and Tyrrell respectively.

### Mid-season changes

Test driver David Coulthard replaced Senna for two races after the Brazilian's accident at Imola.

JJ Lehto substituted for Michael Schumacher after the German was banned for two races. The team's Dutch test-driver, Jos Verstappen, and Johnny Herbert also drove for the team during the season.

Hakkinen was replaced by the team's test driver, Philippe Alliot for the 1994 Hungarian Grand Prix after the Finn was suspended due to causing an accident at the 1994 German Grand Prix.

Lotus, despite obtaining the Mugen-Honda engine deal (their first time running Honda power since 1988), was also facing a difficult future restricted by financial problems. Johnny Herbert and Portuguese driver Pedro Lamy started the season, but the Lotus cars would have 6 different drivers during the 1994 season, which would turn out to be the marque's last as a going concern. Larrouse also had numerous drivers over the season.

When Eddie Irvine was suspended 3 races for causing an pile-up accident in the 1994 Brazilian Grand Prix, Aguri Suzuki, who was out of drive since being released by Footwork at the end of 1993 season, took his seat at the 1994 Pacific Grand Prix and Andrea De Cesaris (also out of drive since being dropped from Tyrrell) filled the Irishman's seat for another 2 races.

At Ligier, Lotus outcast Johnny Herbert and newcomer Franck Lagorce replaced Bernard for the remainder of the season.

## Calendar

The following race was included on the original calendar but was cancelled:

### Calendar changes

The South African Grand Prix was dropped months after the Kyalami circuit was sold to the South African Automobile Association in July 1993 and found running a Formula One event proved too costly.

The Pacific Grand Prix hosted its first Grand Prix in 1994. The race was held at the TI Circuit in Japan and was held on 17 April.

The Spanish Grand Prix and Monaco Grand Prix swapped places on the calendar so that the Spanish round follows the Monaco Grand Prix.

The Argentine Grand Prix had been originally scheduled for 16 October, but was cancelled on 1 June as the Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez track, which was being modernized since 1991, was still undergoing work and the owners were not finished with the project.

The European Grand Prix was added as a replacement for the cancelled Argentine Grand Prix with the race being held on 16 October, the race was held at Circuito Permanente de Jerez. It was the first time since 1990 that a F1 race was held at Jerez.

## Technical changes

In order to combat the spiraling costs of running a Formula One team, and to counteract criticism that over-reliance on technology was reducing the drivers to a secondary role, sweeping rule changes were introduced for 1994, most notably a ban on all electronic "driver aids"; such as active suspension, anti-lock brakes, traction control and launch control. Ayrton Senna was among several observers who said that, with such features removed but no attempt to curtail the speed of the cars, 1994 would be "a season with a lot of accidents"; ironically, Senna had been a proponent of the ban on electronic driver aids.

1994 also saw the reintroduction of refuelling during the race for the first time since 1983. After Senna's crash at Imola, several rule changes were introduced to slow the cars. In Spain, front wing endplates and rear diffusers were reduced in size. For the following race in Canada, the effectiveness of the airbox was reduced by means of holes cut into the engine cover, resulting in less power. From Germany onwards, a 10 mm wooden plank was affixed to the underside of every car to reduce ground effect advantages, whilst also forcing an increase in ride height. Wear was permitted on the plank up to 1 mm by the end of the race. About five hours after winning in Belgium, Michael Schumacher would be disqualified after the plank on his Benetton showed a thickness of 8 mm (0.31 in), 1 millimetre (0.039 in) less than the stipulated by regulation.

## Season review

### Points scoring system

Points were awarded to the top six finishers in each race as follows: