1994 Portuguese Grand Prix

The 1994 Portuguese Grand Prix (formally the XXIII Grande Premio de Portugal) was a Formula One motor race held at Estoril on 25 September 1994. It was the thirteenth race of the 1994 Formula One World Championship.

The 71-lap race was won by Briton Damon Hill, driving a Williams-Renault. Teammate David Coulthard finished second, achieving his first podium finish, with Finn Mika Häkkinen third in a McLaren-Peugeot. The win, Hill's fifth of the season and third in succession, enabled him to move within one point of Drivers' Championship leader, German Michael Schumacher, while the 1-2 finish allowed Williams to take over the lead of the Constructors' Championship from Benetton.

Background
With Michael Schumacher still banned, the Benetton team continued to run JJ Lehto alongside Jos Verstappen, while the financially-troubled Lotus team brought back Philippe Adams to partner Johnny Herbert.

Qualifying report
During the Friday qualifying session, Eddie Irvine spun his Jordan and in the process collided with Damon Hill's Williams. Hill's car flipped upside down, but he escaped unhurt.

Gerhard Berger took pole position, his second of the season and the third for Ferrari, by 0.158 seconds from Hill. On the second row of the grid were David Coulthard in the other Williams and Mika Häkkinen in the McLaren, and on the third row were Jean Alesi in the other Ferrari and Ukyo Katayama in the Tyrrell. The top ten was completed by Martin Brundle in the other McLaren, Rubens Barrichello in the other Jordan, Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the Sauber, and Verstappen. Once again, the Pacifics of Bertrand Gachot and Paul Belmondo were the two non-qualifiers.

Race report
Gerhard Berger led in the early stages for Ferrari, ahead of Coulthard who had got ahead of Hill on the start. Berger retired on lap 8 with his gearbox failed, and Katayama's gearbox also failed by lap 27, which promoted Rubens Barrichello into the points for Jordan. Coulthard ran wide whilst trying to lap a backmarker on lap 33 which allowed Hill to edge ahead of the Scotsman. By lap 39 the other Ferrari of Jean Alesi had retired after colliding with the Simtek of David Brabham while trying to lap him. Soon afterwards, Jos Verstappen was able to pass Martin Brundle's McLaren for 5th. Damon Hill went on to take his third consecutive race win, ahead of Coulthard. The 1-2 finish gave Williams the lead in the Constructors Championship. Mika Hakkinen finished third for McLaren, Barrichello 4th for Jordan, Verstappen 5th for Benetton and Martin Brundle 6th in the second McLaren. Olivier Panis originally finished 9th but was disqualified for having illegal skidblock wear.

Championship standings after the race

 * Drivers' Championship standings


 * Constructors' Championship standings