To commemorate the 25th anniversary of that horrific race weekend and the passing of two F1 drivers there will be 3 separate blogs over the coming days. Tomorrow’s blog pays tribute to Roland Ratzenberger and how his accident helped spark an important safety legacy within F1. Wednesday’s blog will remember Ayrton Senna’s final 24 hours. However, today’s blog gives a more personal recollection. Mike Fairholme is well known and respected
Many believe Schumacher ran illegal driver aids during 1994 because one of Benetton’s former drivers, Jos Verstappen, once claimed so during an interview in 2011. This along with all the other arguments are analysed extensively in the book however, what is not commonly appreciated is five other drivers stepped inside the B194 that year also. Schumacher, Lehto, Herbert and Allan McNish all drove the 1994 Benetton and their views on
1994, is in many ways a weird and unexplainable season. With lots of gossip and rumours of illegal software used on the car of Schumi, the dead of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna and let’s not forget the battle between Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher. Both drivers reached a point they started to hate each other. Ibrar’s new blog is about this specific Feud between Hill and Schumi. “I do
The Flying Dutchman, Jos Verstappen, the father of current F1 star Max, arrived in the sport with a BANG. On his debut, the 1994 Brazilian GP, he arguably caused one of the most horrific looking multi car pileups ever. This had followed massive hype surrounding the 22-year old that he was F1’s next big thing. Some believed the pressure of debuting for one of F1’s top teams (Benetton) alongside the
1994 was supposed to be the year JJ Lehto became one of F1’s top drivers, but the season ended his Grand Prix career. How did such a golden opportunity turn into a poisoned chalice? After beating former race winner Alboreto to the second Benetton seat for 1994, Lehto would have been forgiven for thinking regular podium visits were just around the corner. This was the Finn’s first top F1 drive after
The upcoming book details what can be learnt about the1994 Benetton controversies whenever other drivers sat within the car, like Herbert. So what was the Grand Prix winner’s view of driving it? Johnny Herbert had been tipped for F1 stardom before sustaining serious leg injuries following a horrific multi-car pileup during anF3000 race in the summer of 1988. Despite not having fully recovered, the Englishman bravely returned to racing at
1994 would change the Formula One forever, especially after the dark Grand Prix weekend in Imola. First Rubinho crashed badly with his Jordan 194, however he only broke his arm. On Saturday, Roland Ratzenberger died due a horrible accident during the qualification session, 12 hours later Ayrton Senna would die when his steering wheel from the Williams broke. Only bad things happened in 1994 ? No Nigel Mansell made his
The upcoming book details what is learnt about the Benetton controversies when Schumacher tested a Ligier for one day in December 1994. For instance was the German as impressive when not driving a Benetton? Before we answer this let us remember the background surrounding this test. In early 1994 the Ligier team were in financial trouble following their team owner, Cyril de Rouvre, having been jailed on fraud charges. Benetton
During the winter of 1993/1994 F1 was subjected to infighting, politicking and accusations that cheating was rife within the sport, all of which is explained within the upcoming book. During this time Martin Brundle took a massive gamble with his F1 career, as he refused offers from the likes of Jordan in order to secure the prized race seat at McLaren vacated by the Williams bound Ayrton Senna. There was
Nigel Mansell won the 1992 F1 world championship comfortably before announcing his shocking switch to American Indy car racing for the following year. He had become fed up with protracted contract renewal negotiations so departed his beloved Williams and F1 on sour terms. Given these circumstances, it makes Mansell’s return to both for 1994 all the more remarkable. The newest blog from Ibrar Malik. The upcoming book provides more detail,
