However what occurred subsequent solely heightened his suspicions that rival group Benetton was utilizing some type of unlawful traction or launch management on its automobile.
Senna took pole place – the sixty fourth of his profession – due to his time in Friday qualifying. This was lucky for 2 causes: on Saturday, the observe was a lot slower and he’d spun at Revolver nook, leaving him twenty fourth quickest in that session.
Workforce-mate Damon Hill additionally spun on the similar nook on his second run, and though he topped the session his quickest time on his first run was method off what he’d achieved on Friday.
Senna stated on the time: “Once I was on my first run the automobile felt nice, the engine, every little thing labored okay, it was an affordable lap, the grip was good, however I actually do not know what occurred to be sincere. It’s odd it occurred the identical for each of us, and I actually do not perceive as a result of the automobile was good.
“I had a superb course into the nook, with among the finest positions I’ve had at that nook all through the weekend, so it ought to have been no bother in any respect. It was disappointing and irritating, but it surely was higher to occur right now and never tomorrow!”
Ayrton Senna, Williams FW16 Renault
Photograph by: Ercole Colombo
Ayrton Senna, Williams
Photograph by: Motorsport Photographs
Fateful phrases, certainly. Schumacher, in the meantime, was upset not to have the ability to problem for pole, however was buoyant about his race possibilities…
“I waited till close to the tip within the hope that the observe could be quicker and, once I lastly went out, the observe was lined in oil, so there was no level in even making an attempt to go faster,” he stated. “A pity, as a result of we had improved the set-up even additional.
“However at the least I’m ranging from the entrance row of the grid – the hole to Senna is smaller than Brazil – and I’m trying ahead to tomorrow as a result of we discovered a superb race set-up this morning.”
Ayrton Senna, Williams FW16
Photograph by: Sutton Photographs
Michael Schumacher, Benetton B194 Ford, Ayrton Senna, Williams FW16 Renault, Mika Häkkinen, McLaren MP4-9 Peugeot, Martin Brundle, McLaren MP4-9 Peugeot, Damon Hill, Williams FW16 Renault
Photograph by: Motorsport Photographs
Schumacher received an incredible launch from the startline in Sunday’s race – including gasoline to the suspicions over Benetton’s begins – and he was already forward of Senna, whose automobile snaked underneath energy off the beginning grid, earlier than Ayrton might transfer throughout to dam him within the race to Flip 1.
There, Senna opted to not problem Schumacher, however most likely wished he had moments later, as Hakkinen’s McLaren punted him from behind in the course of the nook right into a spin.
After rotating into the gravel entice, Senna’s depressing race was accomplished by Nicola Larini – subbing for the injured Jean Alesi at Ferrari – who joined him within the gravel entice and slammed into his Williams because it slid backwards.
The influence snapped the right-front suspension of Senna’s automobile, whereas Mark Blundell’s Tyrrell spun in sympathy, having additionally been punted from behind, this time by Erik Comas.
Ayrton Senna, Williams; Nicola Larini, Ferrari
Photograph by: Motorsport Photographs
Nicola Larini, Ferrari 412T1, Ayrton Senna, Williams FW16 Renault
Photograph by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch
Ayrton Senna, Williams
Photograph by: Motorsport Photographs
Senna recounted: “It was a traditional begin, however I did not get an excellent one. I had an excessive amount of wheelspin so Michael took the lead. On the primary nook we had been shut collectively and it was attainable to attempt an overtaking manoeuvre, however that may be very dangerous, so I made a decision to remain second and be protected.
“Then once I was into the nook Mika got here from behind, hit me and I used to be out. As a consequence different vehicles spun after which Larini got here and hit me. I used to be out of the race.”
Of the incident with Senna, his former McLaren teammate (from the tip of ’92) Hakkinen stated: “It is a pity I touched Ayrton, however he braked late, as did Michael in entrance of him. I could not keep away from him.”
Ayrton Senna, Williams FW16, crashes out of the Grand Prix on the primary lap
Photograph by: Sutton Photographs
Ayrton Senna, Williams; Nicola Larini, Ferrari
Photograph by: Motorsport Photographs
Sadly for Senna there could be no crimson flag and restart, as marshals shortly cleared up the mess. He was left to stomp again to the pits, shrugging off Larini’s makes an attempt at an apology as they crossed the observe.
Senna didn’t return to the pits instantly. Having been met by Williams group supervisor Ian Harrison (who was eager that his cost didn’t get right into a struggle with Larini), Ayrton selected to look at the race trackside for a couple of minutes.
Following this, Harrison has since stated that Senna was “totally positive” that there was one thing Benetton was doing that was untoward.
In time, Benetton was exonerated by the FIA following an investigation into its potential use of traction management that season, because it couldn’t show that the group had used such a system on race weekends.
Nevertheless, it did uncover {that a} launch management system was hidden in its software program, however the group efficiently argued that it couldn’t be accessed exterior of testing.
Schumacher was 2.6s away from Hakkinen on the finish of lap one, and rattled off the next 82 laps with ease. He gained by 1m15s from Ferrari’s Gerhard Berger and the Jordan of Rubens Barrichello – Hakkinen having dropped out on lap 19 with a hydraulic-related gearbox downside.
Michael Schumacher, Benetton B194 Ford
Photograph by: Ercole Colombo
Podium: race winner Michael Schumacher, second place Gerhard Berger, third place Rubens Barrichello
Photograph by: Motorsport Photographs
Schumacher was jubilant after the race, after scoring his second victory of the season having triumphed on Senna’s dwelling turf in Brazil.
“I feel we had been a bit unfortunate to not get pole place however I knew that our race set-up was good,” stated Schumacher. “Clearly, the beginning was going to be essential. I had performed all I might to ensure the observe was as clear as attainable despite the fact that I used to be ranging from the soiled facet of the grid.
“I had tried some begins lately – and that work paid off. I managed to outbrake Senna into the primary nook after which I appeared in my mirror and noticed that he was off the street. I used to be frightened that they’d cease the race and I have to admit to being relieved once I noticed no crimson flags on the finish of the primary lap.
“From then on, I knew we had an excellent chance of profitable, not simply because our predominant competitor had been eradicated, however as a result of the Benetton-Ford is absolutely, actually good.”
The subsequent cease was Imola…
Pacific GP 1994: Ayrton Senna, Williams; Michael Schumacher, Benetton
Photograph by: Motorsport Photographs
