1994: Schumacher wins his first world championship

Michael Schumacher became Formula 1 world champion for the first time on this day in 1994. But he did so in controversial circumstances that make the recent Verstappen/Ocon row in Brazil look like a storm in a teacup.

Schumacher came into the final race of the year at Adelaide, Australia with just one point in hand over Williams' Damon Hill. He started the race on the front row alongside Hill's team mate Nigel Mansell, with Hill on the second row next to McLaren's Mika Hakkinen.

A poor start for Mansell allowed Schumacher to take the lead at the start, with Hill up to second place. The situation remained stable for the first 36 laps. Needing to finish ahead of his rival, Hill was all over the back of the Benetton trying to find a way past - and it was Schumacher who cracked first.

The German driver went off the track at the East Terrace corner and hit the wall with his right side tyres. He immediately feared that this meant his race was seriously compromised - and that Hill would have a clear path to victory, and to the title.

Schumacher was determined to carry on fighting, and when Hill tried to pass him at the next corner the two cars made contact. The Benetton was out on the spot, but for a few minutes it looked as though Hill had survived. However when he pitted the team quickly found the truth - there was irreparable damage to the car's front left suspension wishbone.

Hill's day was also over, and with it his title chances - he lost the championship by a single point. There was some compensation for the Williams team as a whole with Mansell inheriting the lead and going on to win the race ahead of Ferrari's Gerhard Berger and McLaren's Martin Brundle, meaning they clinched the constructors title by 15 points over Benetton.

Schumacher would win the following year's title by a much bigger margin over Hill, and then picked up five more titles between 2000 and 2004 after moving to Ferrari. Hill also got to have his moment in the spotlight by claiming the crown in 1996, but whether it ever made up for losing out in Adelaide is another question entirely.

"I have an empty feeling," he said immediately afterwards. "But I think I gave him a good run for his money. He certainly was feeling the pressure as he ended up going off the road. I saw opportunity and thought I had to go here. That is motor racing.

"I am afraid that going into the last race with one point deficit to Michael is unfortunately always going to be putting you into the position where you have got everything to lose. I couldn't win in that sort of situation."

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