1993-1994 Silly season
3rd Part
(click here to return to the beginning)
At the first time talks about banning electrical aids began after a great Mansell's victory in 1992. At that time only Williams team could get and realize a big advantage from using traction control and active suspension.
Of course, the other teams were not happy with that situation and when Williams team missed the date of presenting the application to participate in 1993 World Championship began a scandle. It began because according the rules Williams team for participating in that championship had to recive consent from all other team, but Benetton's and Minardi's team managers (Flavio Briatore and Giancarlo Minardi) refused to give it.
Natuarlly, Briatore (and Minardi, who's team was in dependence from Briatore's supply of Ford HB engines) didn't want Williams team not take part in races of that championship. And so in exchange for his and Minardi's content he wanted to put some restrictions on using of "smart electronics".
But he didn't took into account that without British team the conduction of championship had no sense and because of it FISA (Federation Internationale de Sport Automobile) had to make a "heroic" effots for solving that conflict. The results were the followings: Williams team appeared in championship, but nothing was banned (however it was announced that there would be a banning since 1994 of all electronic aids).
Nevertheless it still wasn't the end of this story. After the British Grand Prix, where Prost and Williams team had another confident win, FISA president Max Mosley, who like Bernie Ecclestone (FOCA president and the real "owner" of F-1), wasn't satisfied with the course of the championship (Prost was leading with 20 points ahead of Ayrton Senna, who was the second, in constructors championship the situation was even more awful Williams was ahead of McLaren team with 45 pts advantage, just after 9 rounds) announced the banning of traction control and active suspension from the next (German) Grand Prix, because "the spirit" of the rules didn't permite any help to driver.
Here should be made a little remark: Williams FW15C had not just traction control, active suspension and some other devices wich allowed car to go faster and without wheelspin, but there was a system with some photo elemets for following the start ligths, which allowed Williams car to do a clean automatic start with no participation of driver, just after the red lights have turned to green. However that system was not the object of banning.
But this ban was beating not just Williams team. The others (mostly Benetton and McLaren) during 1992-93 spent millions to catch Williams and surely they didn't agree with that ban. On the next day three teams (Williams, McLaren and Footwork) filled an appeal on FISA's decision. Besides that Williams team threatened not to participate in the next two races. At this situation FISA had to retreat and finally permite the use of electronics till the end of the season.
Those were the most interesting stories of 1993-94 mid-season. But reading this you can't understand the real arrangement of forces at the start of the 1994 season.
To find out season's "forecast" click here!
TBFOC, 2003.