View source for Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher's 1994 Australian Grand Prix collision (lost fan footage of Formula One crash; 1994)

{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher's 1994 Australian Grand Prix collision (fan footage)</center>
|image=Hillandschumachercrash1.png
|imagecaption=Damon Hill (left) and Michael Schumacher (right) approaching the sixth corner.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
On lap 36 of the 1994 Australian Grand Prix, Williams-Renault's Damon Hill attempted to pass Benetton-Ford's Michael Schumacher at the sixth corner. It ended with the pair involved in a collision, terminally damaging both cars and giving Schumacher his first of seven World Championships by one point over Hill. The crash has been cited as among Formula One's most controversial, with allegations persisting that Schumacher intentionally triggered the collision to guarantee his title after damaging his Benetton a corner prior. Formula One Media (FOM) footage of the accident is widely available. However, '''fan footage also exists, with one video allegedly affirming claims Schumacher's actions were deliberate'''.

==Background==
The 1994 Australian Grand Prix culminated an infamous and controversial Formula One season.<ref name=1994untold">[https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/1994_The_Untold_Story/CMmbwwEACAAJ?hl=en ''1994: The Untold Story of a Tragic and Controversial F1 Season'' providing a detailed account of all the controversies surrounding the 1994 season, including how official and fan footage was used during the Australian Grand Prix investigation.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref> 1994 had witnessed the fatal accidents of Roland Ratzenberger and [[Ayrton Senna (partially lost on-board video of fatal Formula One crash; 1994)|Ayrton Senna]] at the San Marino Grand Prix;<ref>[https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/roland-ratzenberger-imola-death/4786550/ ''Motorsport'' detailing the final days of Roland Ratzenberger.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref>[https://racingnews365.com/sennas-crash-and-death ''Racing News 365'' summarising the deaths of Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref> several near-misses such as Karl Wendlinger's crash at Monaco and Jos Verstappen's botched German Grand Prix pitstop that led to an inferno;<ref>[https://racingnews365.com/wendlinger-recounts-career-ending-monaco-crash ''Racing News 365'' summarising Karl Wendlinger's crash at Monaco.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name="filter">[https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-story-behind-f1s-most-iconic-refuelling-picture/6639478/ ''Autosport'' detailing Verstappen's disastrous pitstop at the German Grand Prix.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name="escape">[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing-benetton-escape-penalty-after-confusion-over-refuelling-fia-world-council-decides-the-championship-leaders-and-mclarenpeugeot-merely-made-mistakes-and-did-not-cheat-1447503.html ''Independent'' reporting on Benetton and McLaren escaping punishment over cheating allegations throughout the season.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name="summary">[https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/news-f1-controversy-1994-season ''Sportskeeda'' summarising the main controversies of 1994.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref> a tense political situation between the FIA and its affiliated teams;<ref name=1994untold"/> and allegations of cheating primarily lodged against Benetton-Ford, Ferrari, and McLaren-Peugeot.<ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="escape"/><ref name="summary"/> 

Prior to his death, Senna kickstarted the cheating allegations by claiming he heard Michael Schumacher's Benetton B194 using traction control outlawed under the 1994 regulations.<ref>[https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ayrton-senna-pacific-1994-benetton-doubts/4781548/ ''Motorsport'' detailing Senna's accusations Schumacher's Benetton was using traction control at the Pacific Grand Prix.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="summary"/> Accusations against Benetton and Schumacher intensified throughout the season, particularly over revelations the B194's software contained a disarmed launch control system during an FIA investigation.<ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="summary"/> Further scorn emerged concerning the team's removal of a filter within the refuelling equipment that was blamed for Verstappen's incident.<ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="filter"/><ref name="escape"/><ref name="summary"/> Despite this, and likely influenced by Formula One's complex politics, Benetton were not found to have cheated and escaped punishment despite having pled guilty over the refuelling incident.<ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="escape"/> But accusations still emerged decades afterwards, such as when Verstappen in December 2011 alleged Schumacher's car contained illegal components like traction control.<ref name="verstappen">[https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-teammate-says-schumacher-cheated-in-1994/415378/ ''Motorsport'' reporting on Verstappen's allegation that Schumacher's Benetton was illegal.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref> 

On track, Schumacher was dominant for much of the season, being victorious in half of the sixteen races and finishing second twice.<ref name="results">[https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1994/races.html ''Formula One'' providing the results of the 1994 season.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref> Despite his strong performances, his teammates Verstappen, JJ Letho and Johnny Herbert struggled to keep up, fuelling accusations the German's B194 was illegal.<ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="verstappen"/> He was also disqualified from second place at the British Grand Prix for failing to adhere to a five-second stop-go penalty he received for overtaking polesitter and Williams-Renault driver Damon Hill before the start.<ref name="british">[https://www.racefans.net/2014/07/10/1994-british-grand-prix-flashback/ ''RaceFans'' detailing the British Grand Prix and the subsequent sanctions against Schumacher and Benetton.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name=1994untold"/> Schumacher was later banned from the Italian and Portuguese Grand Prix by the FIA World Motorsport Council for the British Grand Prix incident.<ref name="british"/><ref name=1994untold"/> Additionally, the German driver was disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix when it was found that the wooden skid block, added to all cars as a safety feature to avoid excessively low ride height, had worn by more than 1mm.<ref>[https://www.racefans.net/2014/08/28/1994-belgian-grand-prix-flashback/ ''RaceFans'' detailing the Belgian Grand Prix and Schumacher's disqualification from it.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name=1994untold"/>

All this allowed Hill to considerably reduce Schumacher's championship lead.<ref name="motorsport">[https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/championships/1994-f1-world-championship/ ''MotorSport'' summarising the 1994 season.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="results"/> Hill struggled with the original Williams FW16 that proved difficult to drive following the banning of technologies like traction control and active suspension.<ref name="snap">[https://www.snaplap.net/williams-fw16/ ''Snaplap'' summarising the Williams FW16.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref> However, the FW16B's introduction following the San Marino Grand Prix sparked a dramatic change in fortune, as the Englishman subsequently won the Spanish Grand Prix and five others, while also achieving five second places.<ref name="motorsport"/><ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="snap"/><ref name="results"/> Three of his wins occurred at the Belgian, Italian and Portuguese Grand Prix.<ref name="results"/> After winning the penultimate Japanese Grand Prix over Schumacher, Hill was now on 91 points, one behind Schumacher.<ref>[https://www.racefans.net/2014/10/28/1994-japanese-grand-prix/ ''RaceFans'' detailing the Japanese Grand Prix.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref>[https://www.statsf1.com/en/1994/japon/championnat.aspx ''StatsF1'' detailing the points standings heading into the Australian Grand Prix.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref>

During qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix at the Adelaide Circuit, Hill's new teammate Nigel Mansell claimed pole position, setting a target of 1:16.179.<ref name="australian">[https://www.racefans.net/2014/11/13/1994-australian-grand-prix-flashback/ ''RaceFans'' detailing the Australian Grand Prix and the infamous collision.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name=1994untold"/> Schumacher's best time was 1:16.197; any further pole position attempts were squandered when the German made a rare unforced error, crashing into the first chicane and ending his session prematurely.<ref name="australian"/><ref name=1994untold"/> A new B194 was rebuilt from another chassis, leading some to ponder whether any illegal components were inserted into it.<ref name=1994untold"/> Hill was unable to profit from Schumacher's crash, qualifying third with a 1:16.830 lap time.<ref name="australian"/> The race occurred on 13th November and saw the title contenders easily pass Mansell at the start.<ref name="australian"/><ref name=1994untold"/> Mansell later claimed he was instructed beforehand to avoid influencing the championship outcome, and conformed to this with a deliberately poor start.<ref name="mansell">[https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-story-of-mansells-1994-comeback-5103960/5103960/ ''Autosport'' summarising Mansell's start at the Australian Grand Prix, which the driver later claimed was intentionally poor.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name=1994untold"/> Schumacher still led Hill by a few seconds following their second pit stops.<ref name="australian"/> Hence, it naturally appeared the new World Champion would be on the top step of the podium.<ref name="australian"/>  

==The Collision==
On lap 36, Hill began closing in on Schumacher after losing some time passing backmarkers.<ref name="australian"/> The latter pressed on but upon reaching turn 5, made another critical error.<ref name="atlas">[https://web.archive.org/web/20151007021024/http://atlasf1.autosport.com/98/ger/schum.html Archived ''Atlas F1'' summarising the collision and other incidents involving Schumacher later in his career.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name="australian"/><ref name=1994untold"/> A slight lapse in control meant Schumacher hit a bump at the East Terrace corner which directed the Benetton into a nearby barrier.<ref name="atlas"/><ref name="australian"/> His car suffered some damage to its right wheels and it limped into turn 6.<ref name="australian"/> Hill crucially did not witness the incident.<ref name="australian"/><ref name=1994untold"/> Thus, upon seeing Schumacher considerably slowing into turn 6, Hill made his move.<ref name="australian"/><ref name=1994untold"/> Schumacher turned into the corner at the racing line, which forced Hill, who was on the inside, to brake and hit the kerb to avoid a possible collision.<ref name="australian"/><ref name="atlas"/> 

Alas, it was too late and the pair collided.<ref name="australian"/><ref name="atlas"/> Schumacher was almost overturned in the accident, eventually hitting a nearby barrier which ended his race.<ref name="australian"/><ref name=1994untold"/> Meanwhile, Hill carried on but his Williams suddenly limped back towards the pits.<ref name="australian"/><ref name=1994untold"/> During the collision, Hill's front-left wheel hit the Benetton's sidepod and rear wheel, which bent a front wishbone.<ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="australian"/> The Williams team's initial joy at Schumacher's retirement turned to concern, despair and anger as Hill entered the pits as repairing the wishbone was a tall order.<ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="australian"/> Forcibly re-straightening it proved a no-go and a full repair would take too many laps for Hill to have any chance of scoring points.<ref name="australian"/><ref name=1994untold"/> Thus, the car was retired, giving Schumacher the title by one point.<ref name="postpoints">[https://www.statsf1.com/en/1994/australie/championnat.aspx ''StatsF1'' detailing the points standings following the Australian Grand Prix.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name="australian"/> Not even Mansell's victory at the event and subsequently winning the Constructors' Championship improved the Williams team's morale.<ref name="australian"/><ref name="mansell"/><ref name="postpoints"/>

The contentious end prompted a stewards' investigation, suspicious of whether it was merely a racing incident.<ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="australian"/> After the assessment of FOM and any fan footage that was transferred to them, it was decided that Schumacher would retain his championship.<ref name="v10s">[https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/bring-back-v10s-podcast-schumacher-v-hill-in-1994-controversy/ ''Bring Back V10s'' discussing the incident and intriguing amateur footage that has never been publicly released.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="australian"/> Interestingly, Williams never protested the decision, despite consensus within the team that Schumacher's actions were deliberate.<ref name="head">[https://www.racefans.net/2007/08/22/schumacher-would-have-lost-94-title-under-modern-rules/ ''RaceFans'' reporting on additional comments made by Mosley regarding the incident and Head's explanation on why Williams did not lodge a protest.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="australian"/> Director of Engineering Patrick Head later explained the team was still affected over Senna's accident, and a further protest would be inappropriate.<ref name="head"/><ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="australian"/> Then-FIA President Max Mosley, while accepting the stewards' decision, believed that Schumacher's escape from any sanctions was fortunate.<ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="head"/> Meanwhile, Schumacher and his supporters criticised Hill for his approach to turn 6, deeming the move as an unnecessary risk.<ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="atlas"/><ref name="v10s"/>

Schumacher's 1995 campaign was considerably less controversial, winning back-to-back titles with 102 points compared to Hill's 69.<ref>[https://www.f1-fansite.com/f1-results/1995-f1-championship-standings/ ''F1 Fansite'' detailing the 1995 F1 standings.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref> But after the German moved to Ferrari and endured an inconsistent campaign, it allowed Hill to win his sole title in 1996 over teammate Jacques Villeneuve.<ref>[https://www.f1-fansite.com/f1-results/1996-f1-championship-standings/ ''F1 Fansite'' detailing the 1996 F1 standings.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref> Initially, Hill was frustrated over how he lost the 1994 title but did not necessarily blame Schumacher for it.<ref name="atlas"/> However, this changed at the 1997 European Grand Prix, when, in a similar incident, Schumacher collided with title rival Villeneuve when the latter tried to overtake.<ref name="jerez">[https://www.racefans.net/2017/10/26/1997-european-grand-prix/ ''RaceFans'' detailing the 1997 European Grand Prix and Schumacher's collision with Villeneuve.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name="atlas"/> This time, not only was Villeneuve able to limp home in third to win his only championship, but Schumacher was excluded from it after footage showed he deliberately tried to take his rival out.<ref>[https://www.f1-fansite.com/f1-results/1997-f1-championship-standings/ ''F1 Fansite'' detailing the 1997 F1 standings.] Retrieved 6th Oct '23</ref><ref name="jerez"/><ref name="atlas"/><ref name=1994untold"/> His reputation was greatly affected in the aftermath, and while he did rebuild it thanks to five consecutive World Championships from 2000 to 2004, some observers believed his 1994 win would never be universally accepted.<ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="atlas"/>       

==Availability==
The official FOM footage is widely available for public viewing. It was assessed alongside fan footage taken from the stands during the investigation.<ref name="v10s"/><ref name=1994untold"/><ref name="australian"/> Unlike the FOM coverage, the additional recordings have not been publicly released.<ref name="v10s"/> The most interesting of these was discussed on a 14th May 2020 ''Bring Back V10s'' podcast which featured Glenn Freeman, Edd Straw and Andrew van de Burgt.<ref name="v10s"/> At the 40:57 mark, Freeman mentions that a fan transferred his recording of the incident to the FIA, insisting it "proved" the accident was intentional on Schumacher's part.<ref name="v10s"/> Alas, not only was it dismissed during the investigation, but its whereabouts remain entirely unknown.<ref name="v10s"/><ref name=1994untold"/> Whether it actually did prove Schumacher's actions were malicious remains a point of debate.

==Gallery==
===Videos===
{{Video|perrow  =2
  |service1     =youtube
  |id1          =5zNCzbvN_dg
  |description1 =HD BBC coverage of the incident.
  |service2     =youtube
  |id2          =91JoW4mSiZo
  |description2 =The incident and post-race comments from both drivers.
}}

==See Also==
*[[1953-1954 Formula One World Championships (partially found footage of Formula One races; 1953-1954)]]
*[[1955 Formula One World Championship (partially found footage of Formula One races; 1955)]]
*[[1956 Formula One World Championship (partially found footage of Formula One races; 1956)]]
*[[1957-1958 Formula One World Championships (partially found footage of Formula One races; 1957-1958)]]
*[[1959 Formula One World Championship (partially found footage of Formula One races; 1959)]]
*[[1960 Formula One World Championship (partially found footage of Formula One races; 1960)]]
*[[1961 Formula One World Championship (partially found footage of Formula One races; 1961)]]
*[[1962 Formula One World Championship (partially found footage of Formula One races; 1962)]]
*[[1963 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1963)]]
*[[2005 San Marino Grand Prix (partially found ITV advert break during final laps of Formula One race; 2005)]]
*[[Advanced Driving with Graham Hill (lost ITV motoring series; 1974)]]
*[[BBC F1 Forum (partially lost Formula One media coverage; 2009-2015)]]
*[[Donkey Does F1 (partially found photos of Shrek character inflatable at Formula One races; 2004)]]
*[[F-1 World Grand Prix III (lost build of cancelled Nintendo 64 Formula One racing game; 2000-2001)]]
*[[F1 2000 (lost pre-release builds of Formula One game; 2000)]]
*[[F1 2010 (lost pre-alpha build of Formula One game; 2010)]]
*[[F1 Racing Championship 2 (lost build of cancelled PC/PlayStation 2 Formula One game; 2001)]]
*[[Fernando Alonso's 2015 testing accident (lost footage of Formula One test session crash; 2015)]]
*[[Grand Prix 3 (lost build of cancelled Dreamcast port of PC Formula One racing game; 2001)]]
*[[Grand Prix 4 (lost build of cancelled Xbox port of PC Formula One racing game sequel; 2002)]]
*[[McLaren MP4-18 (lost footage of unraced Formula One car; 2003)]]
*[[Michele Alboreto's 1991 testing accident (found footage of Formula One test session crash; 1991)]]
*[[Racing Arrows (partially found Formula One TV series; 2001)]]
*[[Robert Kubica's 2010 Japanese Grand Prix Q3 lap (lost audio of Formula One qualifying lap; 2010)]]
*[[Williams FW15C (partially found footage and lap time information of unraced CVT Formula One car; 1993)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lost recordings of sports events]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]
[[Category:Historic]]