8 July 1998, 20:00 GMT | Issue 9 |
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Power Story
The technical development of Formula One from 1950 to the present day.
Part 5
Headline:
Schumacher was faster than his team allowed
Introduction:
1990: Germany celebrates its national unification, Nelson Mandela is released after 27 years in prison, Iraq marches into Kuwait, composer Leonard Bernstein dies at 72 and Ayrton Senna continues the impressive dominance of McLaren Honda in Formula One. In an exciting five-part series of background articles we outline the technical milestones of the King's Class of motorsport from 1950 to the present day. This series was created with the help of the multinational company Shell, who is the competent technical ally of Ferrari today as it was then. In the fifth and final part of the series, we will take you through the Nineties to the present day.
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The 1990 Formula One season saw the continuation of the duel between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. However, the two superstars were no longer driving as team-mates, as the French 'professor' had switched to Ferrari. The contest was decided in Suzuka where Senna had been disqualified a year earlier. A few hundred metres after the start, Senna secured the title as he collided with Prost's Ferrari. Both cars slid out of the race, and with that Senna was placed out of reach at the head of the points table before the final in Adelaide had even taken place. The twist to the tale: the Brazilian had announced the crash 24 hours beforehand while reminiscing about the bitter defeat of the previous year.
Two years after the banning of turbo engines, it became clear that the change in the rules had not had the desired effect of keeping a check on costs. Manufacturers were now expending between 15 and 30 per cent more money to build the regulation 3.5 litre induction units than they had previously spent on the six-cylinder turbos.
The investments bore fruit though: with more than 700 hp, the induction engines broke the specific power barrier of 200 hp per 1000 cc of capacity for the first time. On the aerodynamics front, the Tyrrell team set new standards. Constructors Dr Harvey Postlethwaite and Jean-Claude Migeot created the 'high nose', a component which quickly became an indispensable feature of modern Formula One.
Ayrton Senna also remained in front in 1991. But in the 42nd Formula One season, a driver took the wheel who had what it takes to compete with the giants Senna, Prost and Mansel: Michael Schumacher. The young man from Germany got his first opportunity when Jordan driver Bertrand Gachot was forced to take time out for legal reasons. After the very first training session for the Belgian Grand Prix, number one Ayrton Senna acknowledged the great talent of the newcomer, tipping him for future wins and even World Championship titles.
True to the forecast, Michael Schumacher drove like an upcoming champion in preparation test runs. Despite warning words and a request to approach the limits with great caution, he had soon rounded the club circuit at Silverstone faster than Jordan regular Andrea de Cesaris had ever managed. The team management gave him a rocket for 'disobedience', but he assured them successfully that he had only trundled round as ordered. Schumacher was already out of the green Jordan cockpit by the next World Championship race in Monza. Flavio Briatore, then head of the Benetton stable, had secured the services of the super-talent with the aid of some crafty lawyers.
1992 saw the superior construction of the Williams-Renault FW14B achieve absolute dominance. The British team equipped the cars with active chassis, an idea originating in the eighties and since perfected. Controlled by computer, the chassis adapted itself to the immediate driving conditions. Traction control, which automatically prevented unwanted wheel-spin when accelerating, helped the car to victory. Nigel Mansel drove from victory to victory, and had already achieved an unbeatable lead in the intermediate rankings after the Hungarian Grand Prix in August.
It was on that weekend that new regulations came into force which affected the fuel of the Formula One cars. Aside from nitrogen and oxygen, both in limited quantities, the fuel was now only allowed to contain hydro-carbons. Alcohol, nitrogen compounds and other 'hp-friendly' additives were disallowed. Only a year later, the fuel regulations were brought into force which are still valid today. They dictated that the fuel had to comply with all the health and safety rules of the EU. With that the officials had finally opened the way for gas station petrol in Formula One racing. At the beginning of the 1990s, oil companies were experimenting with more than 300 different mixtures each season, whereas now they are limited to only a few. Accordingly, the Shell fuel used by Ferrari is basically the same as the petrol on sale at Shell petrol stations. The racing fuel, which in conjunction with the necessary engine tuning is responsible for a certain increase in power, is different not by virtue of its chemical components but only on account of their proportions. Since 1995, the fuel used must be identical in composition to a sample (chemical fingerprint) which is submitted in advance to the racing authorities for approval.
Heinz-Harald Frentzen, engaged by Swiss Peter Sauber, became the second German racing driver to ascend the ranks of Formula One in 1994. And once again it was Ayrton Senna who was to recognise the class of the newcomer. Senna advised his employer Frank Williams to secure the services of the new driver. The Brazilian, who last won the title in 1991, looked set for great success again that season. Williams-Renault had been providing the champions since 1992, and the year before Alain Prost had left active racing with a fourth title win.
Things transpired differently: at the outset of the racing year, Senna made a driving error at his home Grand Prix, spinning and leaving the race. In Aida, Japan, he was the innocent victim of a collision. The Grand Prix entourage then made a guest appearance in Imola, but the weekend was to turn out a tragedy. On Friday, Rubens Barrichello crashed in spectacular fashion but escaped with minor injuries. The shock came on Saturday: Austrian Roland Ratzenberger suffered a fatal accident during a qualifying session. It was the first time in twelve years that a death had marred a Grand Prix weekend. Ayrton Senna died the next day. Probably as a result of a broken steering column-although the cause of the accident was never entirely clarified-he left the track in the Tamburello corner and smashed into a wall. The monocoque protected the driver's body, but parts of the front right hand suspension bounced back and inflicted fatal head injuries. Formula One had lost its best driver.
Benetton ace Michael Schumacher was able to secure the title. Next year, with the engines now limited to a capacity of three litres, he went all out again. This reduction was a result of the fatalities at Imola. Neither Ratzenberger nor Senna had been victims of excessive engine power, but the officials wanted to make a gesture nevertheless.
With a second title win in view, Schumacher went searching for a new challenge. In August 1995 he had decided to switch to Ferrari at the end of the season. Since Jody Scheckter in 1979, Ferrari had not been able to produce any champions. Schumacher was set to change that. With three victories in 1996 he started an upwards trend for the world-famous Scuderia. However, this was not enough to threaten the renewed Williams dominance. Damon Hill took the title just ahead of his team-mate Jacques Villeneuve.
Despite the fact that Ferrari's internal plan did not foresee World Championship victory until 1998, Michael Schumacher was already reaching for the stars in 1997: placed at the top of the intermediate rankings, the Ferrari driver travelled to the final in Jerez, Spain. But at the deciding moment his nerves got the better of him. Williams driver Jacques Villeneuve triumphed and-Senna's tip was right-Heinz-Harald Frentzen became runner-up in the World Championship.
The World Champion drivers of the 1990s
The Constructors' World Champions of the 1990s
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