Your favourite F1 season: the 90s

[Antonov]

Bottom post of the previous page:

if you were my wife, I'd file for divorce.

[Michael Ferner]

And if you were my dog, I'd sell you.

[kals]

1990 and 1997 were seasons when almost every race had some kind of excitement or entertainment. The cars were also the best looking of the period. Multiple teams had front running performances and chances to win races, there were a few surprises.

1998 and 1999 were poor seasons by comparison (of that decade, not in comparison with today's standards). 1994 is better left forgotten. 1993, 1995 and 1996 had some good races and some nice stories. 1991 was either up or down.

[Antonov]

and 1992 had the most deserving champion, ever.

[kals]

and 1992 had the most deserving champion, ever.

Last tache'd champion ever, too

[erwin greven]

And if you were my dog, I'd sell you.

i would leave it in the forest.

[Antonov]

I don't see Senna winning four championships, much less in a row. I think he was pretty much spent in 1994, it wouldn't have made much of a difference.

I don't subscribe to this point of view.
Quite on the contrary, I think Senna was at his peak.
The fact that he was way ahead of Hill makes me believe the championship would have been merely a formality for the Brazilian - certainly once the Williams started behaving less bitchy.

By the way, was it ever released on what strategy Senna was during Imola 94? Schumacher kept up quite well.

[Everso Biggyballies]

The fact that he was way ahead of Hill makes me believe the championship would have been merely a formality for the Brazilian - certainly once the Williams started behaving less bitchy.

Not sure where you get your stats from, but at the time of his death Senna trailed Hill, not only in points but also in podiums. And had never been ahead of Hill points-wise in 1994, trailing him from the first race.

[Antonov]

The fact that he was way ahead of Hill makes me believe the championship would have been merely a formality for the Brazilian - certainly once the Williams started behaving less bitchy.

Not sure where you get your stats from, but at the time of his death Senna trailed Hill, not only in points but also in podiums. And had never been ahead of Hill points-wise in 1994, trailing him from the first race.

lol, don't be such a hamburger.

You know what I mean. When he kept it on the road (no negatives meant), it was way ahead of Hill, both during qualifying sessions and races.

[Everso Biggyballies]

That Senna outqualified Hill is no surprise.... Senna was the best qualifier by a quantum leap over anyone. Hill was behind Senna in 3rd when Senna made an error and spun. In the next race, Senna crashed out of the opening lap. At Imola, Hill was 4th, where he had started, but stuck in that position following a Safety Car from the first lap. He was still 4th the next lap when Senna crashed and the race stopped.

Bottom line is Senna did not keep it on the road in any race in 1994. Hill did, finishing Brazil in 2nd place, and having qualified in 3rd at the Pacific GP suffering a gearbox failure having climbed up to 2nd after a spin dropped him to 9th when trying to pass Hakkinen... Senna of course made a slight error again and crashed out on the opening lap.

[kals]

That Senna outqualified Hill is no surprise.... Senna was the best qualifier by a quantum leap over anyone. Hill was behind Senna in 3rd when Senna made an error and spun. In the next race, Senna crashed out of the opening lap. At Imola, Hill was 4th, where he had started, but stuck in that position following a Safety Car from the first lap. He was still 4th the next lap when Senna crashed and the race stopped.

Bottom line is Senna did not keep it on the road in any race in 1994. Hill did, finishing Brazil in 2nd place, and having qualified in 3rd at the Pacific GP suffering a gearbox failure having climbed up to 2nd after a spin dropped him to 9th when trying to pass Hakkinen... Senna of course made a slight error again and crashed out on the opening lap.

Senna didn't make a mistake in Aida, unless you're counting his slight wheelspin off the line which allowed Schumacher to get ahead of him. Going into turn one he was hit up the rear by Hakkinen, spun and collected by Larini in the Ferrari. It was one of many first corner first lap incidents that Hakkinen suffered through 1994 that would eventually see him banned for the Hungarian GP. Additionally, Hill's 'spin' a few laps into the Pacific GP was also caused by Hakkinen.

[Everso Biggyballies]

The wheelspin allowed Schu to get ahead of Ayrton who lifted off early, catching Mika unawares with his resultant running into Ayrton. Certainly more Mika's fault than Ayrton's I agree. Also agree that Mika caused Hills spin at Aida. I must confess I always felt Mika was a bit over rated. Great on his day, just not enough days.

[Michael Ferner]

Senna was past his best, and he was thirty points behind Schu - no way he was going to make that up, even supposing he wasn't going to miss a race or two. He was already beginning to act desperately because the Schu had rattled his cage in no uncertain manner (like his suspicions about Benetton traction control, and the accident itself), and I doubt he would have been able to fight back like Hill did. Senna wasn't anything as emotionally stable as Hill was. If things didn't go his way, he would act like a child, throw tantrums and apportion blame. That's not the way to turn things around. Williams needed a Hill to get their act together in '94, with Senna it would not have been possible. You Senna fans act like he was a god, just because he took qualifying so excessively serious, but Senna's pole positions mean nothing, except that he lost more races than anyone else when he had the fastest car. He was far, far from perfect.

[Michael Ferner]

By the way, was it ever released on what strategy Senna was during Imola 94? Schumacher kept up quite well.

Strategy D, for desperation.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Senna was past his best, and he was thirty points behind Schu - no way he was going to make that up, even supposing he wasn't going to miss a race or two. He was already beginning to act desperately because the Schu had rattled his cage in no uncertain manner (like his suspicions about Benetton traction control, and the accident itself), and I doubt he would have been able to fight back like Hill did. Senna wasn't anything as emotionally stable as Hill was. If things didn't go his way, he would act like a child, throw tantrums and apportion blame. That's not the way to turn things around. Williams needed a Hill to get their act together in '94, with Senna it would not have been possible. You Senna fans act like he was a god, just because he took qualifying so excessively serious, but Senna's pole positions mean nothing, except that he lost more races than anyone else when he had the fastest car. He was far, far from perfect.

There is no doubt that he was great still over one qualy lap, but as they say, no points for pole.

[kals]

I think there's some grasping at straws going on here. It is fair to say that maybe Senna wasn't at his 1988 or 1990 peak, however he was still highly motivated and ferociously fast. Let's remember he only did one race in 1994 (Aida and Imola not included), so the judgement that he was past his peak is false as it's based on nothing.

At Brazil both Senna and Schumacher were in a class of their own. Both were over a second quicker than anyone else in qualifying and in the race were much the same before Senna's spin. Senna made the mistake late in the race because he was over-driving a tricky handling Williams in order to keep up with a questionably legal Benetton. He could have settled for second, but we know that's wasn't in his make-up.