Michael Schumacher became Formula 1 world champion for the first time twenty years ago today. It started a continuing success that lasted for over a decade, picking up another six titles along the way and finishing with 91 victories.
But 1994 was when he rose up to be king in a season that was tragic, controversial and epic. Everyone expected Ayrton Senna to dominate this season when he joined Williams but he got a surprise when Schumacher in the Benetton was immediately on the pace.
It was a marker, a new challenger in town ready to take the fight to the expected champion. That we didn't get that fight is immensely sad after Senna died at the San Marino Grand Prix. Senna's team mate Damon Hill took up the baton and gave it his best shot, getting to within one point by the final race.
Senna had suspected Benetton to be running illegal traction control and launch control, although the software was found it wasn't proved it was used. Ross Brawn and Pat Symonds technical director and engineer at Benetton both say they didn't run it. But that was just the start of the issues that affected the team. Schumacher was disqualified from Silverstone after ignoring a black flag after he'd jumped ahead of Damon Hill on the formation lap. The team had told him to stay out but he was banned for two races afterwards.
He won the Belgian Grand Prix but again was disqualified for his car running too low to the ground after the wooden plank underneath the car had worn away too much. He had spun over kerbs during the race which likely resulted in the wear, but the stewards were having none of it and again another 10 points were lost handing the victory to Hill.
Through it all Schumacher remained dignified and focused winning race after race and never commenting on his teams apparent indiscretions. He had eight victories in all, but perhaps his best drive was finishing second to Hill in the Spanish Grand Prix after being stuck in fifth gear for half the race.
Coming back from his ban, he immediately won before Hill brilliantly beat him in the rain in Japan at the penultimate race. So to Australia and the final race separated by one point. Schumacher and Hill immediately took the top two positions and drove away from the rest of the field, in a class of their own.
For most of the season, Schuey had been in a class of one, but finally as the season reached its climax Hill joined him there. They raced for 36 intense laps before for whatever reason, just as he'd pulled a bit of a gap to Hill, Schumacher went off. Hill saw the Benetton come back on the road not realising it was damaged, he immediately went for the inside of the next corner. Schumacher was already turning though, the two collided, the Benetton almost flipping before coming to rest out of the race.Hill continued but the damage had been done, his suspension was gone and he sat forlornly in the pits. Had Schuey clashed deliberately? Judging from the future, perhaps, but I still believe it's arguable and he's never admitted to this one.
Despite this, anyone looking to argue Schumacher didn't deserve the title has to remember he won eight out of the 12 races he could score in. In two others he was disqualified and a further two, harshly banned. Hill had 16 races to fall one point short.
As I've said, Schumacher truly emerged as the next major driver in Formula 1 during 1994, he was the one that all others would be judged by and that didn't stop until 2006 when he retired for the first time. Schumacher showed a flaw that would emerge every now and then over the years, but he also showed just how brilliantly he could drive on the edge. 1994 was a tough year for the sport, but through it emerged a new hero and one of the best showdowns the sport has seen.
If Abu Dhabi in just over a weeks time can come close to this race, it's going to be quite the ride.
#keepfightingmichael #forzaJules
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