During the 1994 Formula 1 season, the Benetton team was caught up in a “cheating” controversy. They had put in some interesting add-ons to Michael Schumacher and his teammates’ vehicles that had them at an advantage over the other teams. In the case of “Option 13”, it had to do with the launch control mechanism of the vehicle. But it was only after the tragic accident of Ayrton Senna that it was eventually discovered.
It was already in the air that the Benetton team was using some form of traction control, due to the quick pit stop Michael Schumacher made in the Brazil Grand Prix that helped him to win the race. It was Senna himself who suspected something was amiss. After he crashed out of the Pacific race and was standing by the track, he became suspicious of the sounds the B194 was making.
His death at Imola prompted the FIA to ask Ferrari, Benetton, and McLaren to provide their engine management system source code. The latter two teams failed to meet the submission deadline, which caused them to get hit with a $100,000 fine. Since Cosworth built Benetton’s engine, the team didn’t have permission to share the code. But the FIA eventually did get it from the power unit supplier.
In their analysis of the code, the FIA discovered ‘Option 13’. It was a launch control system that could be triggered by a laptop connected to the car. From there, the driver would have to make steering wheel inputs to activate it on the vehicle itself.
The Benetton team admitted that they knew of the code’s existence. But the FIA could find no evidence that they had used ‘Option 13’ during any race. Due to this, the team faced no repercussions.
“The best evidence is that Benetton Formula Ltd was not using ‘launch control’ at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix,” the FIA said. [via RacingNews365]
Michael Schumacher and the controversial end to the 1994 season
It all came down to the final race of the 1994 season. The title would either go to Michael Schumacher or Damon Hill, with only one point separating the two drivers. Heading into the Australian Grand Prix, the German had 92 points, and Hill had 91. The two started the race in P2 and P3, with Nigel Mansell securing pole for the event.
Schumacher and the Williams driver got past Mansell quickly, with the battle for the win on. But on lap 36, everything unravelled. As the Benetton driver turned into Turn 5, he slid and hit the wall, and trying to recover, he turned back onto the track by pulling off into the run-off of Turn 6. But, at the same time, Hill tried to overtake on the inside of Schumacher on Turn 6.
This caused the German to react instantly, and he turned in across the Williams, causing his car to go up on two wheels. He went straight and crashed into the barriers, ending his race. While Hill was able to continue for some time, the contact had broken the wishbone of his vehicle, eventually bringing his retirement as well.
Michael Schumacher was then crowned the Drivers’ Champion of the 1994 Formula 1 season. It would be his first of seven overall, and his first of two with the Benetton team.
