Podium and illegality

Michael Schumacher won the first Pacific Grand Prix held at the TI Circuit Aida in Japan on April 17, 1994, while Rubens Barrichello climbed onto the podium for the first time in his F1 career (it was also the first podium for the Jordan team), under the amused gaze of Gerhard Berger (2nd) (photo above by Paul-Henri Cahier).

The race was therefore won by Michael Schumacher at the wheel of his Benetton B194-Ford, while Ayrton Senna, who started from pole position in his Williams FW16-Renault, was eliminated at the first corner following a collision with Nicola Larini’s Ferrari.

Senna, instead of returning to his pit, decided to sit on the wall along this corner and observe his competitors for a few laps, particularly Schumacher’s Benetton, which he suspected of using an illegal “traction control” system.

Ayrton returned to the paddock after 10 laps, now certain of the illegality of Schumacher’s Benetton. Later, it was learned that the B194 was indeed equipped with illegal software, but the team led by Flavio Briatore (how convenient!) claimed that this software had only been used in private testing…