1994
Monaco Grand Prix
Report
Before the Grand Prix.
The accidents at San Marino GP resulted in mass-media hysteria, which forced FIA to begin some action. The first thing was to investigate the crashes and to change the rules.The drivers line-up again changed. Andrea de Cesaris kept his place in Jordan for one race more and Jean Alesi was strong enough to take his place in Ferrari team. Williams and Simtek, in memorium of Senna and Ratzenberger, decided to run only one car each.
Thursday.
On first morning practice session another Austrian driver Karl Wendlinger crashed in the Chicane corner. In critical condition he was taken to hospital where he was put into coma. The reason of the crash was late braking, after it Austrian lost control, spun and hit the barriers.Robi Quet, the director of Public Relations at the Saint Roch Hospital in Nice, where Wendlinger was taken, said: "It's very serious. We don't know if he will live. Right now the doctors are speaking with his family and girlfriend."
... But going back to racing. The first time on morning session clocked... who do you think? Of course Schumacher - 1'21.822. The second and the third had "Brundell brothers" (this nickname two British drivers - Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell - got, when they were driving for Brabham team in 1991, and was caused by likeness of their surnames).
In afternoon qualifying session took part only 13 teams and 24 drivers - Sauber team decided to go back to Switzerland and not to participate in Monaco GP because of Wendlinger's accident.
However Schumacher put the best time on Monte Carlo circuit - 1'20.230, faster for 0.3 s. than Alain Prost's last year pole position on Williams with electronical aids and 0.9 s. faster than his own last year time.
We should ask - what was the secret of this progress? Absolutly one of the reasons was an annual improvement of car's aerodynamics, chasis and suspension, but there was one "but". All electronical aids were banned, so the car should go much slower than a year before, espesially on a slow tracks, such as Monaco circuit. And that's why some people in paddock supposed that Benetton team was still using some sort of traction control and something that helped the car to be more stable in the corners.
Here we should say that after San Marino GP FIA took Benetton's software to examine it for corresponding to the regulations.
But it was just talks and nothing more.
Friday
On Friday there were no racing, but there were some events which very close to this subject.At first Max Mosley (FIA president) announced expected rule changes.
From Spanish GP all teams according to FIA had to:
1. Reduce the size of the rear diffuser.
2. Remove all parts of the front wing behind the foremost part of the front wheel.
3. Raise the front wing endplates by a further 10 mm.And from Canadian GP it should be:
1. Increased lateral protection for the driver's head.
2. Strengthened lower wishbone (to reduce the possibility of wheel striking the driver in the event of an accident.)
3. Increased minimum weight by 25 kg (to help with the above two measures.)
4. Longer cockpit opening (to reduce danger of driver striking his head.)
5. Pump fuel. Obtained by the FIA from one or more of 100 petrol stations nominated by the fuel supplier, and delivered to the team under the supervision of the FIA.
6. Elimination of the engine airbox (dynamic intake).Besides that from Monaco GP was enforced pitlane speed limit - 80 km/h (remember Alboreto accident at Imola's pitlane?)
And also on Friday drivers held their own meeting and press conference. They told that they decided to form (reform) The Grand Prix Driver's Association to inspect and approve tracks with FIA and suggest safety modifications where necessary. Niki Lauda, Gerhard Berger (Austrian held his own press conference on Thursday and its main theme was "to race or not to race", of course he decided to race), Cristian Fittipaldi and Michael Schumacher were assigned representatives of GPDA.
Saturday
On Saturday practice again Schumacher was the fastest, this time he clocked 1'20.464 s. It promised the fall of Mansell's track record.And really the track on Saturday was much faster then two days ago.
In the beginning of qualifying Mika Hakkinen beat Michael Schumacher's time and set new track record - 1'19.488, 0.007 s. faster than Nigel Mansell on Williams FW14B with active suspension, ABS, brake assisit, traction control and groove tires in 1992. But soon Schumacher appeared on the track and improved time of "hot Finn" for more than 0.8 s.
Martin Brundle, who set the second time in the first qualifying, in the second could improve his own time only for 0.36 s. and fell down to 8th. Other pilots, like both Footwork drivers: Morbidelli and Fittipaldi, improved their time for more than 1.5-2 or even 3 seconds and grabed better positions.
Nevertheless JJ Lehto (the second Benetton driver) contrived to become one of the pilots, who like Brundle improved the time, but lost the position - in final qualifying he clocked 1'22.679 and with time fell down to 17th place from 12th in first session.
Andrea de Cesaris made a small sensation 'overtaking' in qualifying his teammate Barrichello.
Pacific team for the first time easily qualified and took 23rd and 24th positions, thanks to absence of Sauber team and second cars of Williams and Simtek.
Sunday
On morning session Schumacher once again was the fastest, his time was - 1'21.294 and like in qualifying was faster than race track record. The second time, 0.3 behind Michael's had Mika Hakkinen. Damon Hill, Martin Brundle and Gerhard Berger clocked 3rd, 4th and 5th times.Before the start, the drivers observed a brief silence in the memory of Senna and Ratzenberger, before taking their places starting with the second row, the first row was left empty for Senna and Ratzenberger.
Like in Imola and Aida the race began with the collision. At the start Martini couldn't share the track with Morbidelli and few moments latter Damon Hill and Mika Hakkinen repeated 'achievement' of two Italians. The result of these collisions was immediate retirement of three drivers. Hill tried to continue racing with one broken wheel, but it didn't get him very far - near Casino he finally had to park his car.
Thus Schumacher was leading with Berger on his tail. Alesi on the second Ferrari was behind this pair. After Frenchman were: Fittipaldi, "Brundell brothers" Martin and Mark, Katayama, Alboreto, Comas, de Cesaris, Herbert, Barrichello, Beretta, the second Benetton with Lehto in cockpit, two Ligiers, Brabham, Lamy and two Pacifics of Gachot and Belmondo.
Without presure of Hakkinen and Hill Schumacher was able to pull clear from the rest of the field and the second place runner Gerhard Berger wasn't an exception. German brought about a second to Austrian on every lap. But when Schumacher began lapping Berger could clock the same time as German. But Schumacher still had his 11 seconds advantage over Berger.
The most interesting thing that moment was a fight for the 3rd place between Alesi and surprising Fittipaldi. Cristian was faster than Jean, but couldn't overtake Frenchman due to the track width and Ferrari's engine power.
By the lap 20 Schumacher have already lapped all pilots upto 8th. On the next lap Martin Brundle went to the boxes for fuel and tyres. After the pit stop he received clear track and fresh tyres so Briton was able to improve his time and to short his lag from the leader.
Three laps latter Berger recured Brundle's action and went back to pits too. Meanwhile Alesi and Fittipaldi moved upto 2nd and 3rd, but not for too long. On lap 33 both turned for their first pit stops letting pass Berger and Brundle to 2nd and 3rd position.
On 41st lap Mark Blundell (he was 6th that moment) retired with engine problem. This event could be forgotten - it wasn't so important, if only the oil from Yamaha engine didn't fill Saint Devote corner. Thanks to it firstly the race leader nearly crashed his Benetton and secondly Berger spun and spent about ten seconds to go back in the race, it was enough to Brundle to catch up Berger. Soon in Mirabeau corner Briton overtook car N28 and moved upto the second position, but far behind the leader.
Seven laps latter the other Ferrari was in the center of interest. Jean Alesi (4th) couldn't lap David Brabham's Simtek and two cars collided: Alesi went back to pits for the new front wing and Brabham for new car.
Now Fittipaldi should move upto his 'legal' 4th and score another 3 points for Footwork team, on the same lap he retired with gearbox failure. And so the 4th position passed to Andrea de Cesaris.
Almost nothing changed till the end of the race. Schumacher the 4th time became the winner (this time he became the owner of so called "Grand Slem" - win in qualifying, race win, fastest lap and leading from start to finish). Martin Brundle finished 2nd losing less than 40 seconds to German. Berger drove Ferrari to another podium finish. Andrea de Cesaris finished his 199 race on 4th position proving his skill. Alesi finished 5th losing about 15 seconds to Italian at the finish. Another Italian - Michele Alboreto completed top six.
JJ Lehto at last could finish, but in spite of his teammate win, he could grab just 7th place.
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TBFOC, 2003.