1994 San Marino Grand Prix

San Marino  1994 San Marino Grand Prix
Race details
Race 3 of 16 in the 1994 Formula One season
Circuit Imola 1992.png
Date May 1, 1994
Official name 14° Gran Premio di San Marino
Location Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Course Permanent racing facility
4.933 km (3.065 mi)
Distance 58 laps, 286.114 km (177.77 mi)
Weather Sunny
Pole position
Driver Brazil Ayrton Senna Williams-Renault
Time 1:21.548
Fastest lap
Driver United Kingdom Damon Hill Williams-Renault
Time 1:24.335 on lap 10
Podium
First Germany Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford
Second Italy Nicola Larini Ferrari
Third Finland Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Peugeot

The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix (formally the 14° Gran Premio di San Marino) was a Formula One motor race held on May 1, 1994 at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy. It was the third race of the 1994 Formula One season. Events at this race proved to be a major turning point in both the 1994 season, and in the development of Formula 1 itself, particularly with regard to safety.

The race weekend was marred by the deaths of Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger and of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna in separate accidents. Other incidents saw driver Rubens Barrichello injured and several mechanics and spectators injured. BBC Television commentator Murray Walker described it as "the blackest day for Grand Prix racing that I can remember".[1]

Michael Schumacher won the restarted race. In the press conference following the race, Schumacher said that he "couldn't feel satisfied, couldn't feel happy" with his win following the events that had occurred during the race weekend. Nicola Larini scored the first points of his career when he achieved a podium finish in second position. Mika Häkkinen finished third.

The race led to an increased emphasis on safety in the sport as well as the reforming of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association after a 12-year hiatus, and the changing of many track layouts and car designs. Since the race, numerous regulation changes have been made to slow Formula One cars down and new circuits, such as Bahrain International Circuit, incorporate large run-off areas to slow cars before they collide with a wall. Senna was given a state funeral in his home country of Brazil, where around 500,000 people lined the streets to watch the coffin pass. Italian prosecutors charged six people with manslaughter in connection with Senna's death, all of whom were later acquitted. The case took more than 11 years to conclude due to an appeal and a retrial following the original not guilty verdict.

Contents

Report

Qualifying

Friday qualifying

On Friday, April 29, during the first qualifying session to determine the starting order for the race,[2] Rubens Barrichello, a driver for Jordan, hit a kerb at the Variante Bassa corner at 140 mph (225 km/h), launching him into the air.[3] He hit the top of the tyre barrier, and was knocked unconscious. His Jordan rolled several times after landing before coming to rest upside down. Medical teams treated him at the crash site, and he was taken to the medical centre. He returned to the race meeting the next day, although his broken nose and a plaster cast on his arm forced him to sit out the rest of the race weekend. Ten years after the incident, Damon Hill, who drove for the Williams-Renault team at the time, described the feeling after the crash: "We all brushed ourselves off and carried on qualifying, reassured that our cars were tough as tanks and we could be shaken but not hurt."[4]

Saturday qualifying

Roland Ratzenberger, in the Imola pitlane.

Twenty minutes into the final qualifying session, Roland Ratzenberger failed to negotiate the Villeneuve curva in his Simtek; he subsequently hit the opposing concrete barrier wall almost head-on and was critically injured. Although the survival cell remained largely intact, the force of the impact inflicted a basal skull fracture. Ratzenberger, in his first season as a Formula One driver, had run over a kerb at the Acque Minerali chicane on his previous lap, the impact of which is believed to have damaged his front wing. Rather than return to the pitlane, he continued on another fast lap. Travelling at 190 mph (306 km/h) his car suffered a front wing failure leaving him unable to control it.[5]

The session was stopped whilst doctors attended to Ratzenberger. The session was restarted approximately 25 minutes later, but several teams—including Williams and Benetton—took no further part.[6] Later in hospital it was announced that Ratzenberger had died as a result of his multiple injuries. His death marked the first Formula One race weekend fatality since the 1982 Canadian Grand Prix when Riccardo Paletti was killed. It had been eight years since Elio de Angelis died testing a Brabham car at the Circuit Paul Ricard. Professor Sid Watkins, then head of the Formula One on-track medical team, recalled in his memoirs Ayrton Senna's reaction to the news, stating that "Ayrton broke down and cried on my shoulder".[7] Watkins tried to persuade Senna not to race the following day, asking "What else do you need to do? You have been world champion three times, you are obviously the quickest driver. Give it up and let's go fishing", but Ayrton was insistent, saying, "Sid, there are certain things over which we have no control. I cannot quit, I have to go on."[7]

Senna had qualified on pole position, ahead of championship leader Michael Schumacher. Gerhard Berger qualified in 3rd, and Senna's team-mate Damon Hill started from fourth position. A time posted by Ratzenberger before his fatal crash would have been sufficient for entry into the race starting from the 26th and final position on the grid.

Race

First start

The death of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna during the race permanently changed the sport.

At the start of the race, J.J. Lehto stalled his Benetton on the grid. Pedro Lamy, starting from further back on the grid, had his view of the stationary Benetton blocked by other cars and hit the back of Lehto's car, causing bodywork and tyres to fly into the air. Parts of the car went over the safety fencing designed to protect spectators at the startline causing minor injuries to nine people.[8] The incident caused the safety car to be deployed, with all the remaining competitors holding position behind it while travelling at a reduced speed. During this period, as a result of travelling at slower speeds, tyre temperatures dropped. At the drivers' briefing before the race, Senna, along with Gerhard Berger, had expressed concern that the safety car (itself only reintroduced in F1 in 1993) did not go fast enough to keep tyre temperatures high.[8] Once the track was reported clear of debris, the safety car was withdrawn and the race restarted with a rolling start. Two laps after the restart, with Ayrton Senna leading Michael Schumacher, Senna's car left the road at the Tamburello corner, and after slowing from 190 mph (306 km/h) to 131 mph (211 km/h), hit the concrete wall.

Tamburello corner, the location of Senna's crash.
Senna's Williams hits the wall at Tamburello.

At 2:17 p.m. local time, a red flag was shown to indicate the race was stopped and Sid Watkins arrived at the scene to treat Senna. When a race is stopped under a red flag cars must slow down and make their way back to the pit lane or starting grid until further notice. This protects race marshals and medical staff at the crash scene, and allows easier access for medical cars to the incident. Approximately 10 minutes after Senna's crash, the Larrousse team mistakenly[9] allowed one of their drivers, Érik Comas, to leave the pits despite the circuit being closed under red flags. Marshals frantically waved him down as he approached the scene of the accident travelling at "pretty much full speed".[10] Eurosport commentator John Watson described the incident as "the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen at any time in my life".[10] Comas avoided hitting any of the people or cars that were on the circuit but after going over towards Senna's accident scene, he was so distressed at what he saw that he withdrew from the race. The pictures shown of Senna being treated on the world feed (supplied by host broadcaster RAI) were very graphic, and the BBC switched to their own camera focused on the pit lane.[11] BBC commentator Murray Walker has frequently talked about how upsetting it was to have to talk to viewers while avoiding all mention of the distressing pictures he could see on the world feed. Senna was lifted from the wrecked Williams and airlifted to Maggiore Hospital in nearby Bologna. Medical teams continued to treat him during the flight. Thirty-seven minutes after the crash, at 2:55 p.m. local time, the race was restarted.

Second start

The results of the restarted race would be determined by the aggregate results of the aborted first race and the second race. From the restart, Gerhard Berger took the lead on track but Schumacher still led the race overall due to the amount of time he was ahead of Berger before the race was stopped. Schumacher took the lead on track on lap 12, and four laps later, Berger retired from the race with handling problems. Larini briefly took the lead as Schumacher pitted but the order was restored when Larini took his own pit stop.[12]

Ten laps from the finish the rear-right wheel came loose from Michele Alboreto's Minardi as it left the pit lane, striking two Ferrari and two Lotus mechanics, who were left needing hospital treatment.[13]

Michael Schumacher won the race ahead of Nicola Larini and Mika Häkkinen, giving him a maximum 30 points after 3 rounds of the 1994 Formula One season. It was the only podium finish of Larini's career, and the first of just two occasions when he scored world championship points. At the podium ceremony, out of respect for Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna, no champagne was sprayed.

Post-race

Two hours and 20 minutes after Schumacher crossed the finish line, at 6:40 p.m. local time, Dr. Maria Teresa Fiandri announced that Ayrton Senna had died. The official time of death was given, however, as 2:17 p.m. local time, meaning that Senna had been killed instantly.[14] The cause of death established by an autopsy is that a piece of the car's suspension pierced his helmet and skull.[15]

The 1994 Imola layout, which had been in place since 1981,[16] was never again used for a Formula One race. The circuit was heavily modified following the race, including a change at Tamburello—also the scene of major accidents for Gerhard Berger (1989) and Nelson Piquet (1987)—from a high speed corner to a much slower chicane. The FIA also changed the regulations governing Formula One car design, to the extent that the 1995 regulations required all teams to create completely new designs, as their 1994 cars could not be adapted to them.[17] The concern raised at the drivers briefing the morning of the race, by Senna and Berger, would lead to the Grand Prix Drivers' Association reforming at the following race, the 1994 Monaco Grand Prix. The GPDA, which was originally founded in 1961, had previously disbanded in 1982. The primary purpose of it reforming was to allow drivers to discuss safety issues with a view to improve standards following the incidents at Imola. The front two grid slots at the Monaco Grand Prix that year, which were painted with Brazilian and Austrian flags, were left clear in memory of the two drivers who had lost their lives, while both Williams and Simtek entered only one car each. Additionally, a minute of silence was observed before the race.

The layout of the circuit was changed after the two fatal accidents at the 1994 event.

Senna was given a state funeral in São Paulo, Brazil on May 5, 1994. Approximately 500,000 people lined the streets to watch the coffin pass.[1] Senna's rival Alain Prost was among the pallbearers.[18] The majority of the Formula One community attended Senna's funeral; however the president of the sport's governing body, the FIA, Max Mosley attended the funeral of Ratzenberger instead which took place on May 7, 1994 in Salzburg, Austria.[19] Mosley said in a press conference ten years later, "I went to his funeral because everyone went to Senna's. I thought it was important that somebody went to his."[20]

In October 1996 FIA set about researching a driver restraint system for head-on impacts, in conjunction with McLaren and Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes contacted the makers of the HANS (Head and Neck Support) device, with a view to adapting it for Formula One. The HANS device was first released in 1991 and was designed to restrain the head and neck in the event of an accident to avoid basal skull fracture, the injury which killed Ratzenberger. Initial tests proved successful, and at the 2000 San Marino Grand Prix the final report was released which concluded that the HANS should be recommended for use. Its use was made compulsory from the start of the 2001 season.[21]

Senna remains the last driver to die in a Formula 1 accident, however two trackside marshals have been killed as a direct result of such crashes, at the 2000 Italian Grand Prix and the 2001 Australian Grand Prix.

Trial

Italian prosecutors brought legal proceedings against six people in connection with Senna's death. They were Frank Williams, Patrick Head and Adrian Newey of Williams; Fedrico Bendinelli representing the owners of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari; Giorgio Poggi as the circuit director and Roland Bruynseraede who was race director and sanctioned the circuit.[22] The trial verdict was given on December 16, 1997, clearing all six defendants of manslaughter charges.[23] The cause of Senna's accident was established by the court as the steering column breaking.[24] The column had been cut and welded back together at Senna's request in order for him to be more comfortable in the car.

Following the court's decision, an appeal was lodged by the state prosecutor against Patrick Head and Adrian Newey. On November 22, 1999, the appeal absolved Head and Newey of all charges, stating that no new evidence had come to light (there was missing data from the black box recorder on Senna's car due to damage, and 1.6 seconds of video from the onboard camera of Senna's car was unavailable because the broadcaster switched to another car's camera just before the accident), and so under Article 530 of the Italian Penal Code, the accusation had to be declared as "non-existent or the fact doesn't subsist".[25] This appeal result was annulled in January 2003, as the Court of Cassation believed that Article 530 was misinterpreted.[26] A retrial was ordered and on May 27, 2005, Head and Newey were both acquitted.[27]

Classification

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Team Q1 Time Q2 Time Gap
1 2 Brazil Ayrton Senna Williams-Renault 1:21.548 no time —
2 5 Germany Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford 1:22.015 1:21.885 +0.337
3 28 Austria Gerhard Berger Ferrari 1:22.113 1:22.226 +0.565
4 0 United Kingdom Damon Hill Williams-Renault 1:23.199 1:22.168 +0.620
5 6 Finland JJ Lehto Benetton-Ford 1:22.717 1:24.029 +1.169
6 27 Italy Nicola Larini Ferrari 1:22.841 1:23.006 +1.293
7 30 Germany Heinz-Harald Frentzen Sauber-Mercedes 1:23.119 no time +1.571
8 7 Finland Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Peugeot 1:23.611 1:23.140 +1.592
9 3 Japan Ukyo Katayama Tyrrell-Yamaha 1:24.000 1:23.322 +1.774
10 29 Austria Karl Wendlinger Sauber-Mercedes 1:23.788 1:23.347 +1.799
11 10 Italy Gianni Morbidelli Footwork-Ford 1:23.663 1:24.682 +2.115
12 4 United Kingdom Mark Blundell Tyrrell-Yamaha 1:23.703 1:23.831 +2.155
13 8 United Kingdom Martin Brundle McLaren-Peugeot 1:24.443 1:23.858 +2.310
14 23 Italy Pierluigi Martini Minardi-Ford 1:24.078 1:24.423 +2.530
15 24 Italy Michele Alboreto Minardi-Ford 1:24.276 1:24.780 +2.728
16 9 Brazil Christian Fittipaldi Footwork-Ford 1:24.655 1:24.472 +2.924
17 25 France Éric Bernard Ligier-Renault 1:24.678 1:40.411 +3.130
18 20 France Érik Comas Larrousse-Ford 1:26.295 1:24.852 +3.304
19 26 France Olivier Panis Ligier-Renault 1:24.996 1:25.160 +3.448
20 12 United Kingdom Johnny Herbert Lotus-Mugen-Honda 1:25.114 1:25.141 +3.566
21 15 Italy Andrea de Cesaris Jordan-Hart 1:25.234 1:25.872 +3.686
22 11 Portugal Pedro Lamy Lotus-Mugen-Honda 1:26.453 1:25.295 +3.747
23 19 Monaco Olivier Beretta Larrousse-Ford 1:27.179 1:25.991 +4.443
24 31 Australia David Brabham Simtek-Ford 1:27.607 1:26.817 +5.269
25 34 France Bertrand Gachot Pacific-Ilmor 1:27.732 1:27.143 +5.595
26 32 Austria Roland Ratzenberger Simtek-Ford 1:27.657 1:27.584 +6.036
27 33 France Paul Belmondo Pacific-Ilmor 1:28.361 1:27.881 +6.333
28 14 Brazil Rubens Barrichello Jordan-Hart 14:57.323 no time +13:35.775
Source:[28]

Race

Pos No Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 5 Germany Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford 58 1:28:28.642 2 10
2 27 Italy Nicola Larini Ferrari 58 +54.942 secs 6 6
3 7 Finland Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Peugeot 58 +70.679 secs 8 4
4 29 Austria Karl Wendlinger Sauber-Mercedes 58 +73.658 secs 10 3
5 3 Japan Ukyo Katayama Tyrrell-Yamaha 57 +1 lap 9 2
6 0 United Kingdom Damon Hill Williams-Renault 57 +1 lap 4 1
7 30 Germany Heinz-Harald Frentzen Sauber-Mercedes 57 +1 lap 7
8 8 United Kingdom Martin Brundle McLaren-Peugeot 57 +1 lap 13
9 4 United Kingdom Mark Blundell Tyrrell-Yamaha 56 +2 laps 12
10 12 United Kingdom Johnny Herbert Lotus-Mugen-Honda 56 +2 laps 20
11 26 France Olivier Panis Ligier-Renault 56 +2 laps 19
12 25 France Éric Bernard Ligier-Renault 55 +3 laps 17
13 9 Brazil Christian Fittipaldi Footwork-Ford 54 Spun off 16
Ret 15 Italy Andrea de Cesaris Jordan-Hart 49 Spun off 21
Ret 24 Italy Michele Alboreto Minardi-Ford 44 Wheel 15
Ret 10 Italy Gianni Morbidelli Footwork-Ford 40 Engine 11
Ret 23 Italy Pierluigi Martini Minardi-Ford 37 Spun off 14
Ret 31 Australia David Brabham Simtek-Ford 27 Spun off 24
Ret 34 France Bertrand Gachot Pacific-Ilmor 23 Engine 25
Ret 19 Monaco Olivier Beretta Larrousse-Ford 17 Engine 23
Ret 28 Austria Gerhard Berger Ferrari 16 Suspension 3
Ret 2 Brazil Ayrton Senna Williams-Renault 5 Fatal accident 1
Ret 20 France Érik Comas Larrousse-Ford 5 Withdrew 18
Ret 6 Finland JJ Lehto Benetton-Ford 0 Collision 5
Ret 11 Portugal Pedro Lamy Lotus-Mugen-Honda 0 Collision 22
DNS 32 Austria Roland Ratzenberger Simtek-Ford Fatal accident
DNQ 33 France Paul Belmondo Pacific-Ilmor -
DNQ 14 Brazil Rubens Barrichello Jordan-Hart Injury -

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
Pos Driver Points
1 Germany Michael Schumacher 30
2 United Kingdom Damon Hill 7
3 Brazil Rubens Barrichello 7
4 Austria Gerhard Berger 6
5 Italy Nicola Larini 6
Constructors' Championship standings
Pos Constructor Points
1 United Kingdom Benetton-Ford 30
2 Italy Ferrari 16
3 United Kingdom Williams-Renault 7
4 Republic of Ireland Jordan-Hart 7
5 United Kingdom McLaren-Peugeot 4

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Race ace Senna killed in car crash". BBC News. 1994-05-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/1/newsid_2479000/2479971.stm. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  2. ↑ Longmore, Andrew (1994-10-31). "Ayrton Senna: The Last Hours". The Times (News International). http://www.cstudio.net/may194.html. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  3. ↑ Hamilton, Maurice. Frank Williams. Macmillan. p. 232. ISBN 0-333-71716-3. 
  4. ↑ Hill, Damon (2004-04-17). "Had Ayrton foreseen his death?". The Times (London: News International). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,12771-1077121,00.html. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  5. ↑ Spurgeon, Brad (1999-04-30). "5 Years After Senna's Crash, Racing Is Safer – Some Say Too Safe: Imola Still Haunts Formula One". International Herald Tribune. http://www.iht.com/articles/1999/04/30/prix.2.t_1.php. Retrieved 2007-05-01. 
  6. ↑ Kalff, Allard; Watson, John (commentators). (1994-04-30). Eurosport. [Television production]. Paris: Eurosport. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Hamilton, Maurice. Frank Williams. Macmillan. p. 234. ISBN 0-333-71716-3. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "A tragic weekend". The Times (London: News International). 2004-04-19. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,12771-1079325,00.html. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  9. ↑ "TITLE REQUIRED". Autosport. 1994-05-05. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Watson, John (Commentator). (1994). Eurosport Live Grand Prix. [Television]. Eurosport. 
  11. ↑ Horton, Roger (2000). "There's Something about Murray". Autosport. http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2000/dec20/horton.html. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  12. ↑ "Grand Prix Results: San Marino GP, 1994". GP Encyclopedia. www.grandprix.com. http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr551.html. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  13. ↑ Rider, Steve (Presenter). (1994). San Marino Grand Prix. [Television]. London, United Kingdom: BBC. 
  14. ↑ "Secrets of Senna's black box". Senna Files. www.ayrton-senna.com. 1997-03-18. http://www.ayrton-senna.com/s-files/newsfle5.html. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  15. ↑ Thomsen, Ian (1995-02-11). "Williams Says Italy May Cite Steering In Senna's Death". International Herald Tribune. http://www.iht.com/articles/1995/02/11/prix_0.php. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  16. ↑ "Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari - Imola". www.gpracing.net192.com. http://www.gpracing.net192.com/circuits/45.cfm. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  17. ↑ Wright, Peter (1995). "Preview of 1995 Formula1 Cars". www.grandprix.com. http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00187.htm. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  18. ↑ "Open Warfare". www.gpracing.net192.com. http://www.gpracing.net192.com/drivers/prost-senna.cfm. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  19. ↑ David Tremayne, Mark Skewis, Stuart Williams, Paul Fearnley (1994-04-05). "Track Topics". Motoring News (News Publications Ltd.). 
  20. ↑ "Max went to Roland's funeral". www.f1racing.net. 2004-04-23. http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=48657. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  21. ↑ Stonefeld, Ross (2001-02-21). "Helping Hans". AtlasF1. Haymarket. http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2001/feb21/stonefeld.html. 
  22. ↑ Hamilton, Maurice. Frank Williams. Macmillan. p. 276. ISBN 0-333-71716-3. 
  23. ↑ "All six cleared in Senna trial". Senna Files. www.ayrton-senna.com. 1997-12-16. http://www.ayrton-senna.com/s-files/newsfl10.html. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  24. ↑ "Faulty Steering Caused Crash!". Senna Files. www.ayrton-senna.com. http://www.ayrton-senna.com/s-files/trialidx.html. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  25. ↑ "Appeal absolves Head and Newey". Senna Files. www.ayrton-senna.com. http://www.ayrton-senna.com/s-files/apelindx.html. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  26. ↑ "Senna death case back in court". BBC Sport. 2003-01-28. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2701713.stm. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  27. ↑ "Top designers acquitted on Senna". BBC Sport. 2005-05-27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4587195.stm. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
  28. ↑ Henry, Alan (ed.) (1994). AUTOCOURSE 1994-95. Hazleton Publishing Ltd. pp. 128–129. ISBN 1-874557-95-0. 

See also

External links

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