Schumacher's first crown, but not his finest hour

40

On this day in 1994, Michael Schumacher clinched at the season finale Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide the first of his seven world championships, but it was anything but a clean affair for the German ace.

It was a title showdown between Benetton's Schumacher and Williams' Damon Hill with the Briton needing to win to secure the championship.

The German driver had led the first half of the race, hounded by his rival, when he made a mistake and went wide, hitting a wall and damaging his car.

Hill arrived upon the scene only to see the Benetton running wide but still in action. He pounced and attempted to overtake Schumacher, only for the latter to turn in on the Williams and inflict terminal damage to its front suspension.

Schumacher won the title by a single point but was immediately lambasted with criticism. The race also marked the very last Grand Prix win for Hill's team mate, Nigel Mansell.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.