1993 European Grand Prix

Lore & Background

Senna's drive to victory is regarded as one of his finest, and his first lap exploits are particularly lauded, in which he passed four drivers – Michael Schumacher, Karl Wendlinger, Damon Hill and Alain Prost – to take the lead in a single lap in damp conditions. The race was the first held under the European Grand Prix title since 1985, and to date is the only Formula One Grand Prix to have been held at the Donington Park circuit.

Reader's Guide

The Williams cars were 1–2 in qualifying with Prost on pole ahead of Hill, Schumacher, Senna, Wendlinger and Michael Andretti. At the start, it was damp and Schumacher blocked Senna and both lost time and Wendlinger took third. Having dropped to fifth, Senna quickly passed Schumacher at the third corner. He then went after Wendlinger, passing him through the Craner Curves with Schumacher and Andretti trying to follow through.

Schumacher went through but Andretti hit Wendlinger and both were out. Senna went after Hill now and took second at McLean's Corner. Now Prost was the target and the lead was taken at the penultimate corner – the Melbourne Hairpin. Going into the second lap, Senna led Prost, Hill, Rubens Barrichello, Jean Alesi, Schumacher and JJ Lehto.

The track began to dry and everyone pitted for dry tyres. The rain returned and the leaders pitted for wets. Schumacher stayed out and was leading but spun out on lap 23. The track began to dry and everyone pitted once again with Senna having a problem and losing 20 seconds.

Prost now led Senna, Hill, Barrichello, Derek Warwick and Johnny Herbert. It began to rain and the two Williams stopped for wets while Senna stayed out. It was the correct decision because it began to dry again. The Williams stopped yet again for dries.

Prost stalled in the pits and when he rejoined, he was a lap behind and down in fourth. Barrichello was now second but it rained and then stopped again. He went to the pits twice and by now Hill was in second, albeit a lap down. Barrichello retired with fuel pressure trouble, giving the place to Prost.

Senna set the fastest lap on lap 57, on a lap when he drove into the pit lane but aborted the pit stop. Senna won from Hill and Prost, having made four pit stops compared to Prost's seven. Herbert finished fourth for Lotus, stopping only once. Riccardo Patrese and Fabrizio Barbazza completed the top six. By the end, Senna had lapped the entire field except for Hill, who finished over a minute behind.

Did You Know?

• The race was the first European Grand Prix since 1985, and the only F1 race held at Donington Park to date.
• At the end of the race, Senna was given a trophy depicting Sega's mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog, before receiving the official award.