HistoryData
general1994

1994 Portuguese Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1994

September 25, 1994

Damon Hill's victory cut Michael Schumacher's championship lead to one point, reshaping the 1994 Formula One title race with three races remaining.

Quick Facts

Year
1994
Category
general

Key Facts

Race distance
71 laps
Winner
Damon Hill (Williams-Renault)
Hill's wins in 1994 season
5
Championship gap after race
1 point behind Schumacher
Race in championship
13th of 1994 season
Coulthard result
First career podium finish (2nd)

By the Numbers

71
Race distance
5
Hill's wins in 1994 season
1
Championship gap after race
13
Race in championship

Location

Map of Estoril, PortugalMap of Estoril, PortugalEstoril, Portugal

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Heading into the Portuguese Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher led the 1994 Drivers' Championship and Benetton led the Constructors' Championship. Damon Hill needed a strong result to keep his title hopes alive after Schumacher had built a points advantage over the season.

Event

The 71-lap race at Estoril on 25 September 1994 saw Damon Hill win for Williams-Renault, with teammate David Coulthard second and Mika Häkkinen third in a McLaren-Peugeot. It was Hill's fifth win of the season and third consecutive victory.

Consequence

Hill's victory reduced Schumacher's Drivers' Championship lead to just one point, keeping the title fight alive. The Williams 1–2 finish also moved the team ahead of Benetton in the Constructors' Championship, significantly altering both title standings with three races remaining.

Result

Damon Hill (Williams-Renault)
1st and 2nd
David Coulthard (Williams-Renault)

at Autodromo do Estoril, Estoril, Portugal

Timeline Context

Timeline around 199419941991199219931995199619971994–95 UEFA Cup — 24th season of Europe's tertiary club football tournament organised by UEFANorth Korean famine — famine in North Korea from collapse of Soviet aid environmental & infrastructure conditions and corruption1994 European Men's Handball Championship — 1994 edition of the European Men's Handball Championship1994 Genocide against Tutsi — 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in which 800,000 were killed1994 FIFA World Cup — 15th FIFA World Cup, held in United States1994 African Cup of Nations — football tournament1994 Asian Games — 12th edition of the Asian GamesEurovision Song Contest 1994 — 39th edition of Eurovision Song Contest1994-portuguese-grand-prix-formula-one-motor-race-held-in-1994