Lament for Formula 1: Reminiscing the good old days (the 1993 Spanich Grand Prix)

1993 Formula 1 Grand Prix - Presentation of flags
1993 Formula 1 Grand Prix – Presentation of flags

Introduction

This post was triggered by the finding and opening a photo album of year 1993. In it I found a lot of photos from the 1993 Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix in Barcelona. This set of photos made me think about the passage of time, and the mysterious phenomenon of the emergence and blooming of the feeling that I had when looking at the photos again. The feeling was the near certainty that the photos were depicting an event I had witnessed in the near past, not a past that is 21 years ago. How can it be? I confess I was tempted to write something on this mysterious phenomenon, but then I opted for something infinitely simpler: to recount the story of the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix as I experienced it. But then again, things are not so simple. There is something else in the background. It is not so much the need to recount the specific race. Rather, it is the need to lament over the demise of what used to be a trully extreme sport.

Rest in Peace Formula 1
Rest in Peace Formula 1

I have been watching Formula 1 races in television this year and cannot but express my disbelief and then my acceptance of the sad reality. Formula 1 today is a sport that makes no sense whatsoever. The technological leadership of Mercedes Benz has turned the sport into a Research and Development Department for the automobile industry. Mercedes Benz have done so in a way that totally denies the essence of Formula 1, which was to provide room for innovation and ingenuity in racing, not in hybrid engine development or environmentally friendly technologies, and other R&D that is linked directly to the automobile industry.

It is not an accident that in parallel with the domination of Mercedes Benz (their cars are almost invariably one or more second faster per lap in all races of 2014), we see the demise and – almost – eclipse of the smaller teams as they used to be. We do have smaller teams in Formula 1 today, but they are totally different compared to the past, e.g. the period 1985 – 1995.

The Mercedes Benz Formula 1 Car of 2013
The Mercedes Benz Formula 1 Car of 2013

In the past the smaller teams were innovative ingenious and cutting edge outfits. Examples are the British team of Tyrell, and Jordan. They obviously did not have the huge budgets of the leading teams, but they could do a decent job because they were doing something right, and they wer first of all producing racing technology. Today Formula 1 produces automobile technology.

It is interesting to note that during the 1985-1995 period the German manufacturers were only marginally present in F1. As an example, Mercedes Benz provided the “concept” to the Sauber team in 1993. The leaders of F1 were the British, the Italians, and the French and the Japanese with their engines.

Talking about engines, the engine noise of a Formula 1 car was a real experience, especially during gear changes. In 1994 I could tell without looking whether the car passing by was a Ferrari or not. I never wore earplugs during a race, the noise of the roaring engines was unbelievable. It was like a chainsaw is twisting in your guts.

Today the engine noise has become timid, throaty, boring, unexciting, like the “sport” itself; so much so that the pundits no longer crowd the circuits and the stands.

This whimpish style has poisoned the drivers’ behaviour as well. In a sport that should be competitive to the end, we now have minor incidents on the track becoming huge because one driver did not give all the space in the world to another driver. What happened to the good old days when one leading driver could challenge another leading driver all the way to the tire wall?

The Williams-Renault  FW15C 1993 car
The Williams-Renault  1993 car

In any case, let us now proceed with the reminiscing. At first I will present two memorable incidents in the Circuit de Catalunya, then move on with the presentation of what I remember from Saturday before the race, concluding with the race on Sunday.

Memorable incidents in the Catalunya Circuit

Experience is not necessarily something that requires the presence of the body that encases one’s soul. Experience is also gained when the mind (always encased in the body but also not) indulges in a topic and fantasizes about it, in spite of the fact that the body is physically located elsewhere.

In this spirit, I want to start with the memorable incidents that occured in the Spanish Grand Prix over the years.

This is not meant to downgrade the 1993 race, but to provide a reference that supercedes the direct experience of 1993 and in a sense supplements it.

David Coulthard gives Mika Hakkinen a lift back to the pits after the Finn retired from the 2001 Spanish GP
David Coulthard gives Mika Hakkinen a lift back to the pits after the Finn retired from the 2001 Spanish GP

The first incident occurred in 2001, when Mika Hakkinen, driving for McLaren lost his clutch in the last lap and lost the first place to Michael Schumacher who was driving a  Ferrari. A devastating incident for a driver who did a splendid job throughout the race, only to be betrayed by his clutch in the last lap! As the old saying goes, “it is not over until the fat lady sings”.

Spanish GP 1991: Mansell and Senna were separated by mere centimetres as they battled for the lead (Source: DailyMail)
Spanish GP 1991: Mansell and Senna were separated by mere centimetres as they battled for the lead (Source: DailyMail)

The second incident occurred in 1991, between Ayrton Sena, driving for McLaren Honda, and Nigel Mansell, driving for Williams – Renault. They raced wheel to wheel on the pit straight, at a speed of approximately 190 mph. At the end of the straight, Mansell overtook Sena and went on to win the race. I remmebr this race as if it took place yesterday. At the time I was living in Putney, London. I was at home, during a wet Sunday, and was watching the race broadcast on BBC. Unforgettable.

The Catalunya Circuit

 

Montmelo Map
Montmelo Map

The circuit de Cataluna is located in Montmelo, a small town around 30 km southeast of the urban sprawl of Barcelona. It is a modern circuit and is easily accesible by train from Barcelona.

The Catalunya Race Circuit, annotated with remarks by racind griver Pedro de la Rosa
The Catalunya Race Circuit, annotated with remarks by racing driver Pedro de la Rosa

Saturday, 8 May 1993

Footwork Team - Pit traffic
Footwork Team – Pit traffic

In a Formula 1 Grand Prix event, the race is on Sunday but there is a lot of fun on Friday and Saturday.

My ticket was on the stand of the pit straight, so I could watch and photograph the going ons.

The teams have VIP guests who go around the pits and have their photos taken.

This photo is taken in front of the pit area of the Japanese team “Footwork”.

Mugen Power
Mugen Power

The full name of the team was Footwork-Mugen-Honda. “Mugen-Honda”, a firm owned by Honda’s founder son, were supplying the engines to the team.

Two of the guests pose with two girls dressed in the colors of the team.

This team no longer exists.

Footwork driver Dereck Warwick during the Saturday tests
Footwork driver Derek Warwick during the Saturday tests

Saturday is also fun because there are test runs and at the end a qualifying session. The test runs are in the morning and qualifying in early afternoon. Derek Warwick, a British driver with Footwork rests leaning on the pit wall during the Saturday tests. He qualified sixteenth for the race.

L'Equipe: Senna in Monaco's 1993 race (with Dereck Warrick's autograph)
L’Equipe: Senna in Monaco’s 1993 race (with Derek Warwick’s autograph)

I met Derek Warwick at the Nice airport, following the Monaco Grand Prix of 1993, which Ayrton Sena won. It was the day after the race, and I had with me the morning issue of L’Equipe. Naturally, Derek Warwick signed on the winner’s photograph.

Ligier drivers Blundell (left) and Brundle (right) at the pit wall during the Saturday tests
Ligier drivers Blundell (second from left) and Brundle (right) at the pit wall during the Saturday tests

Teams have their observation benches by the pit wall. In the photo we see the bench of French team Ligier-Renault, which no longer exists. Second from the left is British driver Mark Blundell and first from the right is British driver Martin Brundle.

Blundell qualified 12th for the race, whereas Brundle qualified 18th.

Martin Brundle, McLaren Driver 1994
Martin Brundle, McLaren Driver 1994

In 1994 Brundle drove for McLaren. I took his autograph at the Montreal Mirabel Airport in the Spring of 1994.

Ligier was bought by Alain Prost in 1997, and changed its name to Prost. It did not achieve much and went bankrupt in 2002.

On the grid, Sunday 9 May 1993

Benetton driver Riccardo Patrese
Benetton driver Riccardo Patrese

Sunday is also fun, especially when the pit lane opens and the cars take their position on the grid.

Here the Italian driver Riccardo Patrese is getting ready for the race. He raced with Benetton-Ford, having Michael Schumacher as his driver colleague. It was tough going for Patrese.

Patrese qualified sixth for the race, whereas Schumacher qualified fifth.

Benetton driver Michael Schumacher
Benetton driver Michael Schumacher

Although Michael Schumacher was in the same team, Benetton-Ford, with Riccardo Patrese, the two of them could not differ more.

Schumacher was a star. He raced in Formula 1 for the first time in the Belgian Grand Prix of 1991 with Jordan. Immediately after this race, he was snatched by Benetton.

He earned his first world championship with Benetton in 1994.

Patrese, on the other hand, started 256 Formual 1 races, and won six of them. He ended his career in 1993.

McLaren driver Ayrton Senna
McLaren driver Ayrton Senna

Senna in 1993 was driving the clearly inferior McLaren-Ford car. The big problem of the car was its engine. The V8 Ford engine was not up to speed with the V10 Renault engine of the Williams, and was even inferior to the Ford engine that powered the Benetton cars. This was due to an agreement between Benetton and Ford, which gave Benetton the advantage. It is ironic that McLaren, the team that dominated Formula 1 racing from 1988 to 1991 found itseld in such an inferior position. This was the result of Honda’s decision to withdraw from F1 racing at the end of the 1992 season.

Ayrton Sena
Ayrton Senna

Of course, this withdrawal was not absolute, as Mugen-Honda remained in the game.

Senna qualified third for the race and finished second.

(The 1st May 1994, the day that Sena was killed in the Imola circuit, was one of the saddest days of my life.)

Williams driver Damon Hill
Williams driver Damon Hill

Damon Hill is the son of British champion Graham Hill. He qualified second for the race, driving the superb Williams- Renault FW15C car that completely dominated the 1993 season. Hill took Patrese’s place in 1993, when Patrese left Williams to go to Benetton. I met Damon Hill at the Montreal Mirabel airport in June 1994. He was waiting to collect his bags, and I took the opportunity to take his autograph. It was only a month after Ayrton Sena’s death at Imola, and I was carrying with me the June 1994 issue of Motorsport. Damon Hill signed at the lower right side.

The FW15C was designed by Adrian Newey and built by Williams Grand Prix Engineering. IT is worth noting that 1993 was the  last season before the FIA banned electronic driver aids, The FW15C has a decent claim to be the most technologically sophisticated Formula One car of all time, incorporating anti-lock brakes, traction control and active suspension (Wikipedia)

MotorSport's cover in June 1994, with Damon Hill's autograph (June 1994, Montreal)
MotorSport’s cover in June 1994, with Damon Hill’s autograph (June 1994, Montreal)

Damon Hill became world champion driving for Williams in 1996, but was dropped by the team the next year.

Williams driver Alain Prost
Williams driver Alain Prost

Alain Prost joined the Williams team in 1993, after a sabbatical in 1992, taking the place of World Champion Nigel Mansell. During 1992 among other things he was commentating Formula 1 events for a French TV station.

Also known as “the professor” for his cool approach to racing, Prost had the best car of the year in his hands, and he went on to win the world championship.

In the Barcelona race he qualified first, and won the race.

Ready to go

Derek Warwick (16th) on the starting grid
Derek Warwick (16th) on the starting grid

The grid is cleared for the formation lap within five minutes. Warwick was 16th on the grid, ahead of his Japanese teammate Aguri Suzuki who was 19th. Other than the incredible roar of the Mugen engine, I do not remember anything from this team.

Patrese, Wendlinger, and Alesi on the grid
Patrese (5th), Wendlinger (6th), and Alesi (8th) on the grid

Patrese is fifth, Karl Wendlinger, the Austrian driver of team Sauber is sixth, and Jean Alesi, with number 27, driving for Ferrari, is eighth. Michael Andretti, driving for McLaren Ford, is seventh on the grid but not in the photo.

Patrese will finish fourth, Wendlinger will be betrayed by his fuel system, and Alesi by his engine. 1993 was a horrible year for Ferrari.

Damon Hill
Damon Hill

Damon Hill is second on the grid. But he will not finish the race due to engine failure.

Alain Prost
Alain Prost

The “professor” started first and finished first. But it was a rather boring race. The superior engine of the Williams – Renault car combined with the good weather conditions, made it impossible for inferior cars with better drivers (Senna driving McLaren-Ford) to win. As a matter of fact, Senna finished 16.873 seconds behind Prost.

Pit stops

Pit stop of Rubens Barichello, driving for Jordan team
Pit stop of Rubens Barichello, driving for Jordan team

Pit stops are important during the race. Here we see Jordan-Hart driver Rubens Barichello, with number 14. He finished 12th in the race. I had the opportunity to meet Barichello back in 1993 at the Frankfurt airport, after the Hockenheim race. He was in the middle of a group of people with an incredible volume of baggage. Barichello had an above average career, the highlight being his 2000-2005 period driving for Ferrari, and being Michael Schumacher’s teammate. He is also the first F1 driver to reach 300 entries in F1 races in 2010.

footwork

I cannot make out the driver in this Footwork car. IFrom the topline of the helmet, I assume it is Aguri Suzuki (Warwick’s helmet was light blue).

Did not finish

Martin Brundle's car
Martin Brundle’s car

Martin Brundle went out because of a tyre blow out.

Fabrizio Barbazza's car
Fabrizio Barbazza’s car

Fabrizio Barbazza, driving for Minardi-Ford spun off and did not finish the race.

Ukyo Katayama's car
Ukyo Katayama’s car

Ukyo Katayama, driving for Tyrell-Yamaha spun off and did not finish the race.

Andrea de Cesaris' car
Andrea de Cesaris’ car

Tyrell-Yamaha driver Andrea de Cesaris was disqualified from the race.

sauber_wendlinger
Karl Wendlinger’s car

Karl Wendlinger’s fuel system gave up.

The Podium

The Podium
The Podium

The sweetest moment for the drivers, champaign on the podium. Prost wins, Senna is second, Schumacher is third.

 

1001 ways to die – (4) Ayrton Senna, Racing Driver (1st May 1994, Imola Circuit, Italy)

Senna in the Barcelona Grand Prix, 1993 (my photo)

On the 1st of May 1994, in the Imola Circuit in Italy, Ayrton Senna crashed in the wall of the Tamburello turn (See Circuit Map, turns 2, 3, and 4 – in 994 there was no chicane in the turn) with a speed of approximately 200km/h. A bolt from the front wheels penetrated his helmet, crushing his forehead and causing excessive brain damage, and ultimately, his death.

Senna was rushed to nearby Bologna by helicopter and was hospitalised. A race begun to save his life. It was a short and failed one. Senna died a few hours later. Some claim that Senna’s brain stopped functioning on the track but his heart was kept working in order not to stop the race. It has been confirmed that the drivers who were in their cars, waiting for the restart of the race knew only that Senna had an accident and was moved to a hospital.

I was there in Tosa (Point 7 in the circuit map). It was my second visit to Imola for the Formula 1 race. The first was in 1993. Tragically, another driver, the Austrian Roland Ratzenberger, had crashed heavily in the Vileneauve curve (points 5 and 6 in the circuit map) and died on the spot the day before, during the official qualifying session.

Roland Ratzenberger

Senna was shocked after the death of Ratzenberger, even though people were saying that it was a racing accident. The day before, in Friday’s free practice the 21 year old Rubens Baricchelo flew off the track and ended up on the tire wall unconscious. Senna almost got to the point of asking for Sunday’s race to be cancelled.

Senna in his MacLaren Ford in Barcelona, 1993 (my photo)

I arrived in Bologna on Friday evening, and stayed at a hotel in the old town. On Saturday morning I drove to Imola, some 40 km east of Bologna. The weather was great, the atmosphere in the circuit wonderful. My Saturday seat  was on the main  straight (21, 22 on the circuit map), just opposite the pits.

Senna in the pits during qualifying for the 1993 Imola Grand Prix (My Photo)

When the Ratzenberger accident happended, I could see Senna jump the pit wall and run to get in a circuit car so that he could go immediately to the scene.

1994 was Senna’s first year in the Williams team. From 1988 to 1993 he was racing with MacLaren. His teammate was Damon Hill, the son of Graham Hill, the only son of  a world champion to win the title (he won it in 1996). The irony of the matter was that in June 1994, one month after Senna’s death, I met Damon at the Montreal Airport and got his autograph(although faded, you can see it below the “Boss”mark on the lower side of the helmet).

MotorSport's cover in June 1994, with Damon Hill's autograph (June 1994, Montreal)

In 1993, Senna’s last year with the Maclaren team, I went to many races in Europe and was fortunate to see the great man racing in a totally inferior car, compared to the all powerful Renault Williams. In 1993 Maclaren had the V8 Ford engine and the chassis was not exactly perfect. On the other hand, Williams had the V10 Renault engine that had delivered them the title in 1992 (Nigel Mansell).

Senna in Magny Cours, 1993 (My Photo)
 
Senna in Hockenheim, 1993 (My Photo)

By far the best race I have been to was in England, in Donnington Park. Donnington Park is a racing circuit some 150 miles north of London, near the town of Milton Keynes.

Senna’s drive was sensational. His underpowered car was flying, while the Williams Renault cars of Prost and Hill were struggling. If I remeber correctly, Prost had to stop for more than 4 times to change tires, as the rain would flood the circuit, then stop, then start again.

Ayrton Senna in Donnington Park on Saturday qualifying, 1993 (My photo)

The race was thoroughly wet, and Senna turned everything upside down. He comprehensively beat the chief Williams driver, Alain Prost, and went to drive a stunning race in horrible conditions. It was one of the greatest races ever.

Senna overtakes Prost in Donington's race

If Donnington Park was the most spectacular race I Saw where Senna unfolded his immense talent, Monaco in 1993 was another splendid opportunity for Senna to exhibit his determination to win the “difficult” races of the calendar, the races where Renault Williams’ superiority was not enough, but had to be coupled with the driver’s talents.

L'Equipe: Senna in Monaco's 1993 race (with Dereck Warrick's autograph)

I was fortunate to see the Monaco race. Spellbinding!

I now return to the horrific incident that killed Senna. After the deadly incident, the race continued. And ended with a chill. Everyone was wondering what happenned to Senna and what was his condition. We were to find out very soon that he was fighting against death, and had almost lost the battle.

Why Senna died?

The Italian judicial system closed the case in 2007, having confirmed that Senna’s car never turned in Tamburello but went straight to the wall, due to failure of the steering column.

Back to Imola, on the 1st May 1994.

After the race ended, the crowd entered the circuit and walked to Tamburello. It is common to walk the track after the race is over, but usually this is a fun thing to do. It was not so in 1994. There was an eerie silence hanging over us. As if we all knew that Senna was no longer with us.

On the way back to Bologna I took the road that passes through small towns, rather than the Autostrada.  There were people out this Sunday afternoon, but they were silent. So uncharacteristic of the tifosi to be quiet on a Sunday afternoon after a Formula 1 race. But they weere.  Same in Bologna.

Next morning, on the flight from Bologna to Heathrow, I saw Flavio Briatore, who was at the time running the Benetton team. He was like a ghost.