Era · 1989–1997
The electronic era and its aftermath
Active suspension, traction control and semi-automatic gearboxes arrived and were then banned. The 1994 accidents redefined the sport's relationship with risk.
- Dominant
- McLaren, Williams, Benetton
- Technology
- Driver aids and their prohibition, the post-Imola safety programme, refuelling
- Confidence
- medium
The seasons 9
| Season | Rounds | Drivers' champion | Driving for | Points | Wins | Runner-up | Margin | Title race | Constructors' champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 17 | Jacques Villeneuve | Williams | 81 | 7 | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | 39 | Williams | |
| 1996 | 16 | Damon Hill | Williams | 97 | 8 | Jacques Villeneuve | 19 | Williams | |
| 1995 | 17 | Michael Schumacher | Benetton | 102 | 9 | Damon Hill | 33 | Benetton | |
| 1994 | 16 | Michael Schumacher | Benetton | 92 | 8 | Damon Hill | 1 | Williams | |
| 1993 | 16 | Alain Prost | Williams | 99 | 7 | Ayrton Senna | 26 | Williams | |
| 1992 | 16 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | 108 | 9 | Riccardo Patrese | 52 | Williams | |
| 1991 | 16 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | 96 | 7 | Nigel Mansell | 24 | McLaren | |
| 1990 | 16 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | 78 | 6 | Alain Prost | 7 | McLaren | |
| 1989 | 16 | Alain Prost | McLaren | 76 | 4 | Ayrton Senna | 16 | McLaren |
Margin is the points gap between champion and runner-up at the end of the season; before 1991 that is net of dropped scores, so it can look small beside the wins. A row marked “so far” is the season still running: its leader, not its champion. The title race is the champion’s lead over the runner-up after each round, above the line when ahead and below it when behind, each season drawn to its own scale. A row reading “not yet run” is a calendar that has been announced and not yet raced. A blank constructors’ champion before 1958 is not a gap — the championship did not exist yet.
Engine formulae 2
| Era | Formula | Typical | Power (bhp) | Revs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The 3.5-litre naturally aspirated formula 1989–1994 | 3.5 L naturally aspirated | V8 / V10 / V12 | 600-780 | 12,000-14,500 rpm | Turbos banned outright. The V10 emerged as the best compromise between the V8's weight and the V12's power. |
| The V10 era 1995–2005 | 3.0 L naturally aspirated | V10 (mandated from 2000) | 700-980 | up to 19,000 rpm | Capacity cut for safety after 1994. By 2005 the best engines revved past 19,000 rpm and lasted two race weekends. |
Regulation changes 7
| Year | Category | Change | Detail | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | safety | Higher cockpit sides mandated | Head protection raised around the cockpit rim. | — |
| 1995 | technical | 3.0 L capacity limit | Engine capacity cut from 3.5 L. | A direct response to the 1994 accidents. |
| 1994 | sporting | Refuelling reintroduced | Mid-race refuelling permitted from 1994. | Made race strategy a central competitive variable for sixteen years. |
| 1994 | technical | Electronic driver aids banned | Active suspension, traction control, ABS, four-wheel steering and launch control outlawed. | Cars became markedly harder to drive; the enforcement difficulty led to traction control being legalised again in 2001. |
| 1994 | safety | Emergency in-season rule changes | After Imola: plank under the floor, reduced airbox and diffuser, larger cockpit opening, restricted front wing endplates. | The most abrupt safety intervention in the sport's history. |
| 1990 | sporting | Dropped scores abolished | All results counted towards the championship for the first time. | Simplified the championship and ended the era of gross-versus-net point totals. |
| 1989 | technical | Turbocharging banned | 3.5 L naturally aspirated only. | Ended the highest-power era in the sport's history. |
Technical innovations 3
| Year | Innovation | Originator | What it was | What became of it | Banned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Semi-automatic gearbox | Ferrari 640 (John Barnard) | Electrohydraulic paddle-shift with no clutch pedal for upshifts. | Universal by the mid-1990s. | — |
| 1992 | Active suspension | Williams FW14B | Computer-controlled hydraulic ride height maintaining optimum aerodynamic platform. | Devastatingly effective; banned for 1994. | 1994 |
| 1997 | Brake steer | McLaren MP4/12 | A second brake pedal acting on one rear wheel to rotate the car. | Banned once revealed, as a four-wheel-steering device. | 1998 |
Safety 3
Comprehensive post-Imola overhaul1994
After: Deaths of Senna and Ratzenberger, injuries to Wendlinger, Barrichello and Lehto
Immediate aerodynamic cuts, then a multi-year programme: higher cockpit sides, larger cockpit template, wheel tethers, stronger side impact structures, and the FIA Institute's crash-research programme.
Raised cockpit sides1996
Head and neck protection around the cockpit rim.
Wheel tethers1997
After: Wheels leaving cars in accidents
Tethers to retain wheels; strengthened repeatedly since, with double tethers from 2011.