The
1994 Formula One season was the 45th season of
FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1994 FIA Formula One World Championship which commenced on 27 March 1994, and ended on 13 November after sixteen races. The season is remembered as one of the most tragic and controversial seasons in the sport's history. 1994 was one of the closest championships in history as
Michael Schumacher won the Drivers' title by a single point from
Damon Hill after the two controversially collided at the final round in
Adelaide. Schumacher had built up a huge championship lead, winning six of the first seven races, before two disqualifications and a race ban allowed Hill to close the gap. British constructor
Williams-Renault won the Constructors' Championship. However, the 1994 season will also be remembered for the deaths of three-time World Champion
Ayrton Senna and Austrian rookie
Roland Ratzenberger at the
San Marino Grand Prix. Forty-six drivers competed in the 1994 World Championship, including fourteen who made their F1 debut and numerous
pay drivers.
Mercedes-Benz also returned to the sport for the first time since
1955 as an engine supplier to Swiss team,
Sauber. The season also saw the first win for
Ferrari since four years back – whilst
McLaren failed to win a single race following the departure of Senna, before embarking on a long-term partnership with Mercedes.