F1 Fanatic – The Formula 1 Blog

The title of this video is not in the best of taste, given the death of Ayrton Senna in the third round of the season. Nor does it do much credit to Damon Hill, who finished the championship within a point of Michael Schumacher.

Sadly this pivotal year in F1 history (given the deaths of Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, and the huge consequences for the sport), is given at best an adequate treatment in video. Although the deaths of the two driver are handled sensitively. Unlike in previous years, the footage of their accidents is cut from the film – a telling insight into how standards changed in the twelve years between this and the deaths of Gilles Villeneuve and Ricardo Paletti.

1994 was more significant than entertaining. Perhaps as a result the commentary and presentation on this video are rather bland, but thankfully filler footage is kept to a minimum. It does raise a question as whether these tapes should be seen as entertainment or historical document. If the latter, then the circumstances of the deaths of two drivers is not handled in enough detail. If the former, then the balance is about right.

Best bit: The tense stand-off between Hill and Schumacher in the pouring rain at Japan, when Hill narrowly edged Schumacher on aggregate time, to everyone’s astonishment.

F1 Fanatic verdict

Reviews

• "Grand Prix Heroes" DVDs reviewed
• "Team Lotus: My view from the pit wall" by Peter Warr - review
• "The Limit: Life and death in Formula 1's most dangerous era" - review
• "He's done it again" - official 2011 F1 season DVD reviewed
• F1 2011: The F1 Fanatic review
• F1 2011: Checklist
• Red Bull Racing RB6 F1 car Haynes Manual reviewed
• The Making of Senna part 9: The response in Brazil
• The Making of Senna part 8: The Death of Ayrton Senna
• The Making of Senna part 7: Imola 1994