How Senna’s early Pacific GP exit raised his Benetton suspicions

But what happened next only heightened his suspicions that rival team Benetton was using some form of illegal traction or launch control on its car.

Senna took pole position – the 64th of his career – thanks to his time in Friday qualifying. This was fortunate for two reasons: on Saturday, the track was much slower and he’d spun at Revolver corner, leaving him 24th fastest in that session.

Team-mate Damon Hill also spun at the same corner on his second run, and although he topped the session his quickest time on his first run was way off what he’d achieved on Friday. 

Senna said at the time: “When I was on my first run the car felt fine, the engine, everything worked okay, it was a reasonable lap, the grip was good, but I really don’t know what happened to be honest. It is odd it happened the same for both of us, and I really don’t understand because the car was nice. 

“I had a good direction into the corner, with one of the best positions I have had at that corner throughout the weekend, so it should have been no trouble at all. It was disappointing and frustrating, but it was better to happen today and not tomorrow!”

Ayrton Senna, Williams FW16 Renault

Photo by: Ercole Colombo

Ayrton Senna, Williams

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Fateful words, indeed. Schumacher, meanwhile, was disappointed not to be able to challenge for pole, but was buoyant about his race chances…

“I waited until near the end in the hope that the track would be faster and, when I finally went out, the track was covered in oil, so there was no point in even trying to go quicker,” he said. “A pity, because we had improved the set-up even further.

“But at least I am starting from the front row of the grid – the gap to Senna is smaller than Brazil – and I am looking forward to tomorrow because we found a good race set-up this morning.”

Ayrton Senna, Williams FW16

Photo by: Sutton Images

Michael Schumacher, Benetton B194 Ford, Ayrton Senna, Williams FW16 Renault, Mika Häkkinen, McLaren MP4-9 Peugeot, Martin Brundle, McLaren MP4-9 Peugeot, Damon Hill, Williams FW16 Renault

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Schumacher got an amazing launch from the startline in Sunday’s race – adding fuel to the suspicions over Benetton’s starts – and he was already ahead of Senna, whose car snaked under power off the starting grid, before Ayrton could move across to block him in the race to Turn 1.

There, Senna…