FILTER FIDDLING FUELS FIREBALL! The Story of the 1994 German Grand Prix

[@OsellaSquadraCorse]

The Larrousse connection came about because they were a customer of Benetton; they bought Benetton gearboxes and rear suspension, which is the origin of them talking technical about details such as the fuel filter and Larrousse writing to the FIA. The team which first removed it though was Ligier; having had a friendly chat with Intertechnique. It transpired (in 1995 per interview with Max Mosley speaking pre-season) that the filter was not designed to filter the fuel; but to catch any rig debris (large pieces). Ligier reasoned that they had been using the rigs in testing and anything which could have shown up, would have by then... Ligier of course, were owned by Flavio Briatore and probably reasonably to assume that's how Ligier and Benetton technical people were talking. Benetton (Brawn and Villadelprat) then asked Charlie Whiting if they could remove the filter and were told yes, if Intertechnique said it was okay, then it was okay. So it was not a filter *designed* to slow down the fuel flow. It was a debris filter, to remove particulates from within the rig and prevent them from entering the car or the fuel hose. It's specifically referenced as a debris filter in the FIA hearing documents (which were published in full in Motor Sport Magazine, and still available in their archive, and the FIA's, though most journalists never seem to actually go to the source for these things....) There was apparently no rule about removing the filters as they were in the hose (where altering the rig was against the rules), which the teams themselves were entitled to dismantle, service and reassemble. So by the letter, Benetton did not 'cheat' by removing it, though they were benefitting from a potentially increased fuel flow rate. Worth noting that when it was 'discovered' there was no filter, was 3 days after Hockenheim; so if Benetton knew the filter was an/the issue, they could very simply have reinstalled it. And didn't. Benetton blamed the rig mechanism itself for being badly-made and of a poor overall design (and had aircraft crash investigators AFTA conduct an independent review of the rig to try and find the cause (why do so if they knew it was as simple as the filter? An elaborate cover-up?) and asked Intertechnique and the FIA for design drawings to compare their rig nozzle to; which was refused...) In quite the unrelated coincidence; Intertechnique then, on Friday in Hungary, replaced every team's fuel nozzle with a new updated design. Benetton then immediately had a failure of that new part in dry testing, took it back to Intertechnique and realised it was manufactured out of tolerance and immediately needed replacing.. McLaren (Ron Dennis, specifically) claim that season in pre-season testing; they spilled ~12 litres(!) of fuel from the nozzle in static testing, on a cold, stationary car. A spring had been fitted backwards by Intertechnique, holding the valve open instead of closing it. Facing more questions on safety and potential lawsuits, media attention and team protests about the safety of refuelling; the FIA for some reason, publicly determined fault for the Hockenheim fire was down to Benetton's filter removal. In the face of multiple other nozzle failures, aircraft crash investigators stating the physical impossibility of a piece of 'dirt' small enough to jam open the nozzle being caught by the mesh filter (later corroborated as above, by Max Mosley), Intertechnique redesigning and replacing every nozzle in the pit lane between Hockenheim and Hungary, nope; it was just Benetton's filter removal. The large pressure bottles in the pitlane were (per Simon Morley interview in 2018) pressurized Nitrogen, for the wheel guns. Benetton also fully pressurized their fuel rig with Nitrogen, as opposed to air or Oxygen, to ensure max fuel delivery rate every time, and adjusted during the weekends and in-race. There were no rules about fuel rig pressurization, so Benetton optimised it for fastest delivery. With filter reinstallation mandated they still had shorter pit stops than everyone else for the rest of the season, and 1995.

[@_stitch]

Excellent comment; I was just in the process of typing the same out but you've covered it already and in excellent detail.

[@griffinsimpson-tuckey9832]

Awesome information, you're very articulate. Would love to pick your brain apart for more motorsport knowledge hahaha.

[@ibex485]

Very interesting, thank you.

[@BobGeogeo]

Benneton's rear jack was handled by Steve Matchett. He'd cover the 1994 season in his first book, Life in the Fast Lane. He'd later be one of the 3 main commentators in US F1 TV from 2000-2012.

[@AndyFromBeaverton]

It was like his claim to fame.

[@bmstylee]

I miss Varsha, Hobbs, and Matchett calling F1.

[@AidanMillward]

I saw Steve running around but didn’t realise he was on the car.

[@jonnyspa27]

@@AidanMillwardMatchett is still sour about Belgium 🇧🇪’94. Can’t say I blame him either. Those are long hours and wins aren’t the norm.

[@cylonred8902]

@@bmstylee So do I - Who knew a lawyer could know racing as well as Varsha does?

[@williamcaldas9500]

I would love to see a 1994 only playlist to keep track of everything going on this season. Great vid!

[@johnharris6655]

1964, Two cars at the Indianapolis 500 exploded in a crash because cars back then ran on Gasoline. So Indy car mandated cars switch to an methanol blend which does not explode, but you cannot see it when it burns. 1981 you had the Rick Mears pit fire where no one knew Mears was on fire until his dad grabbed a fire extinguisher and put him out. Indy car mandated a lot of new safety rules including fuel will not flow until the hose is attached correctly, a dead man switch so if the hose is dropped it shuts off and the fuel tanks bolted to the ground. Indy also mandated a simple change every pit has a 5 gallon bucket of water to throw on anyone who is on fire. Every pit crew member had to wear a helmet and fire suit, not just the guys over the wall. Seems like Indy has been about 10 years ahead of F1 when it comes to safety.

[@ivaneurope]

Another fire related incident happened at the 2009 Brazillian Grand Prix - after the McLaren of Heikki Kovalainen left the box with the refueling hose still attached to it, fuel was leaking from the hose. Behind him was the Ferrari of Kimi Räikkönen and the exhaust from the Ferrari allowed the puddle of fuel to ignite into a fireball. Thankfully, no one was injured, both Räikkönen and Kovalainen (after Brawn GP mechanics managed to extract the hose out of the McLaren) continued the race. Kovalainen then received a 25-second penalty for unsafe release, but he would've been out of the points anyway (he'd have been 9th, but back then only the Top 8 scored points), wheras Kimi clawed back to 6th. The fuel hose incident at Interlagos was also a little over a year after a similar inciden witht Felipe Massa and the now infamous 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

[@spudgunn8695]

Ah, the Ignited Colours of Benetton, who could forget it! (Shame I had to quote a headline from the back page of the Sun, but it was a classic! Lol)

[@jamessteel9016]

Good job it wasn’t a few years earlier, the pit crews back in the day wore shorts and t shirts when refuelling.

[@TheBeigeBox]

Good thing*

[@Mishima505]

No, in 1982-83 when refuelling was last permitted the mechanics wore full fireproof gear. I have photos in Autocourse 1982-83 of both Brabham and Ferrari pit crews fitted out in such clothing.

[@camtheman4703]

​@Mishima505 that's also because the feul they used was highly carcinogenic

[@nolancain8792]

@@camtheman4703Tolulene to be specific.

[@gustavomarques4097]

They wore t-shirts and shorts precisely because refueling wasn't allowed. Crew members aren't dumb enough to manipulate inflammable liquids without fireproof suits

[@crazydrummer181]

Thanks for all the great content. Your videos are always a treat to watch.

[@mrkipling2201]

The 1994 F1 season was like a throwback to the late 1960's and 1970's era F1.

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

Ignoring the consistent replays of the fire, I would still be remembering it in extreme clarity. It scared the crap out of me, and I still shudder just thinking about it. That was a crazy year, as well as a near tragic one. It's not something you ever forget.

[@TerribleFire]

bit that drives me nuts with Schumacher is that he didnt need to cheat. He was by far the best driver in (usually) the best car.

[@sipope70]

Ahh who can forget the Ignited Colours of Benetton. 94' was the first year i watched every race and haven't stopped since

[@JD_Racer97]

With your deep dive style, and your timeline ability.. Would be cool to see you do a set series for a standout season. Just a thought. banger video btw.

[@Holanduzo]

1:52 and that is the perfect example of the pure beauty of a f1 car.

[@ibex485]

Berger always went well at Hockenheim & Monza. The high-speed low-downforce tracks suited his smooth driving style, and his preference for a car with mild understeer helped with traction out of the slow chicanes. He also had a great understanding of how to drive those tracks - I remember in an interview in the late-'90s him talking about the importance of getting the line on corner exit just right, so the steeriring could be kept straight all the way down the long straights. At such high speed the drag induced by turning the front wheels at all cost significant speed.

[@palm92]

This race was...very weird. However I do like it because it was Eric Bernard's only podium - a guy who is a largely forgotten driver now but he was very promising early on. He never really recovered from a nasty accident in 1991, a fate that his compatriot Panis also suffered from.

[@benjaminchilvers9444]

Excellent title, Mr Millward. Lovely stuff. Cheers for another quality blast of F1 chat.

[@SCALE_SLOTCARS_AND_RC]

Just discovered your channel today and immediately subscribed after this one post .Top quality content .i will be watching you back catalogue of posts ..top stuff .Greetings from Northern Europe 🤗...Harry

[@nicholashill8724]

There was an Irvine pit fire at Belgium in 1995 too, from what I recall.

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

Yup there was

[@OsellaSquadraCorse]

And a smaller one in 2003 in Austria; but Schumacher put it out by driving off and it burnt out, as he didn't want to jump out with the car on fire in the pit lane - having seen those previous incidents.

[@kevinprior3549]

Who can forget Diniz in 1996?

[@Ricky_Baldy]

Hi Aiden, I hate being that guy, but I love your channel and would love to see A1 Grand Prix get the Millward treatment. Feel free to ignore this - I roll my eyes when I see comments on videos making requests for future videos. But it could be worth it if you think this could be a good idea and make it.

[@AxeGaijin]

I had watched some races here and there, but 1994 was the first year I really started to watch and follow F1. What a year to pick to be your first....

[@esslemonty4588]

Great videos Aiden. Loving your stuff and style. Keep up the good work 👏

[@azapro911]

Mechanics have always despised refuelling and this is exactly why. Steve Matchett's book graphically details the Verstappen fire, time really does seem to slow down when you're in something like that. The colour drained from Schumacher's face when he saw the sister car in the garage.

[@khayasontsele8984]

I am really enjoying your content

[@Jesus_H._Tap-DancingChrist]

1:17 I recognise the blurb to Slash's autobiography

[@AidanMillward]

It is a very good point.

[@_NoDrinkTheBleach]

1994 was my first year watching F1. It really was a horror show, over and over again.

[@wibblewabblewoo6249]

I was 10 in 1994 and this was the season I became a huge F1 & Damon fan

[@Mtlmshr]

Another great video!

[@iannorton4463]

Yet again aiden,,,,fantastic story telling....✌️👍🇬🇧

[@kuvasik]

Also everyone forgets about Irvine's pit-stop fire Belgium 1995..

[@harmkuijpers6642]

In hindsight, Schumacher should've taken the three race ban, since he didn't score in Germany and Spa (another DQ) anyway. Of course, Hill winning in Hungary would've lost him a further 14 points (-10 for him +4 for Hill), but a win and a second at either Monza and Estoril (not inconceivable) would've meant he'd been leading Hill by 7 points in Adelaide (provided the other races would've gone the same). Well, as Murray Walker always used to say: F1 is IF spelt backwards. Anyway, a two, or three race ban for what was essentially overtaking on the warm up lap (which is now no longer illegal, as long as you line up on the grid correctly) always seemed a bit harsh and compensation for something else. Hell, even a DQ was harsh, a 5 or 10 second time penalty would've bene more appropriate. I'll never understand what Schumacher was thinking when he overtook Hill on those warm up laps. And I guess we'll never know. Schumacher lost at least 16 points due to questionable DQ's and a further 12 to 16 due to race bans. Would've been champion by the European GP otherwise.

[@Lydiawalmsley82fan]

Have you thought about doing a story time episode about the contract fight between Williams and mclaren over who coulthard drives for in 1995?

[@Pablo668]

Damn, that fire is horrific. Enjoying your content Aidan. Edit: I just thought of another fire I saw footage of. It was in Indycar racing I think. I can't remember what the fuel they were using was, but you can't see the flames. So what you had was a pit crew dancing and wriggling around with a heat haze around them. Not so much horrific as very odd, and if you're an awful person like me, amusing.

[@AidanMillward]

Methanol I think.

[@danielhenderson8316]

Yep. Now they're using ethanol so that can see it burn and still be diluted with water so a scene like this couldn't happen.

[@landiahillfarm6590]

I remember it vividly. 1994 is one of those years that many would simply like to forget ever happened. As for Schumi, I will never understand. The man had alien like talent, he could have won championships in an era, and yet his whole career was mired with one controversy after another. Why? He didn't need all that crap to win, and yet... couldn't help himself? It's a damn shame.

[@hoedenbesteller]

Just try to imagine what has NOT been discovered... We don't know but there has to be more... He ONLY wanted to win, did not matter how...

[@n8pls543]

Maybe it just speaks to the state of F1 at the time, and the fire you come under when you're doing what everyone else is doing, but aren't racing for one of The Boys' teams. You had the whole March/Brabham social club of people who were all coworkers, customers, and drinking buddies, and while many of them were just as liable to stab each other in the back as be helpful, I'm sure they typically preferred the enemy they knew, so to speak.

[@arthurguitar]

1994 is like a Hollywood movie... apart from the fact that the bad guys win at the end (cheating Schumacher AND Benetton).

[@ianwynne764]

Hello Aidan: In the photo at 14:56 you can see the brake disk glowing red hot. You don't often see that in daylight photos. Thank you.

[@WRC-FAN]

That Benetton is one BEAUTIFUL car.

[@brockspencer5949]

Great video👍

[@ainmeile]

Brundle going over in Melbourne - and then running back to the pits to get in the T car!

[@JohnSmithShields]

Jos's bright spot of his career.

[@josvercaemer264]

auwch

[@ZeroCrystal]

Take my thumbs up and get out... 😅

[@mrkipling2201]

Which bright spark decided to remove the filter??

[@jonathanpatterson2798]

Brilliant as always

[@scrubsrc4084]

This and sennas death are the most burned in to my memory (no pun intended) watching f1 as a kid. For a long time i thought they were sucking fuiel in to the car as well as pumping it in

[@Gordanovich02]

I actually had completely forgotten that the Ligiers completed the podium of that race, shows how much the fire overrides every other memory.

[@perelandrauk]

I was thinkign toward the end about moments I remember most, and the usual ones apply, Senna's crash, this one, Hill/Schumacher at Adelaide, and Grosjean at Sakrain/Bahrir... I distinctly remember feeling at the time exactly as I did when I watched Senna's crash live. I was absolutely convinced he wasn't getting out of that car.

[@MrSaywutnow]

Another iconic accident from this era (which got replayed ad nauseam) was Fittipaldi's flip at Monza in '93.

[@christiansimmons630]

What film are you referencing at the begining? 🤔😂 very intrigued!

[@Ramtamtama]

I was 6 years old and terrified of fire. It was the 3rd time I cried watching a Grand Prix that season. No prizes for guessing one of the others, but a hearty congratulations if you can guess the 2nd.

[@sparkidee]

That Pitbull track 'Fireball' seems to be fitting for the JV accident at Hockenheim

[@AidanMillward]

¡Dale!

[@lmfsilva3000]

The way to reframe "only 6L" is asking if someone ever had to deal with a grease fire on the kitchen with a fraction of that, of something that isn't meant to be vaporised and go boom, and in a situation you can't just stop one second and think "oh yeah the lid" and then think how terrifying it is something that isn't supposed to catch fire suddenly going woomf.

[@AidanMillward]

Had that happen with a set of curtains a couple of years ago. That’s how I ended up with a barbecued arm.

[@erikchrobok7538]

could you please make a playlist for 1994. thanks in advance

[@thomasgrau6198]

Love the references to Two Gun Tommy!

[@rafaelcaus3762]

A interesting fact about Diniz 1996 fire in Argentina. That turn is called "confectionery turn". Diniz was indeed at the confectionery oven. Thankfully, unhurt, even having to leave the car without been able to remove the steering wheel. He even said that he had no idea how he did it and was sure that would not be able to do it again, even if he tried 100 times. About this whole filter thing of 1994, even if Larrousse was told during the season that removing the filter was ok, if Benetton started the year without it, it was without the manufacturer consent. Not that it would change anything, but just to point that out.

[@Ramtamtama]

and there was a backpage headline that read "Diniz Burning"

[@AidanMillward]

“Diniz in the Oven”

[@deadmarch101]

Aidan what’s the name of the 1994 season film you talked about at the start of the video? Don’t think I’ve seen it

[@AidanMillward]

It wasn’t a season film. It was a film released in 1993 that starred Liam Neeson and Ralph Feinnes.

[@Fenrasulfr]

For me the earliest motorsport memory is the flying mercs at Le Mans.

[@OsellaSquadraCorse]

1999 or 1955...?

[@Fenrasulfr]

@@OsellaSquadraCorse 99

[@nickjacobs1770]

Another one of the mechanics injured was Steve Matchett. He talks about the incident in his book about his time in F1

[@jonathanohagan1349]

I click play and then intsa like, cause i know this is going to be good.

[@Tacko14]

I always wonder how good Jos could’ve been if he’d had some proper support, training and such. In later years, he did win his class in Le Mans first go, in that Porsche RS Spyder lmp2 you could only lease. Pretty car, that. He was so much faster than anyone, even with the same car, it was a bit embarrassing.

[@Tvl010]

I remember him outqualifying even some Lmp1’s if i’m correct. In Arrows and Footwork he also had some solid drives. His career was a bunch of bad choices, a bit like Jan Magnussen.

[@AxeGaijin]

We'll never know, but yeah he was thrown into the deep end due to JJ Letho's injury. Had he been just the test driver that year, learning the ropes in the background it might have been different. Then again he still might not have been in and replaced by Johnny Herbert.

[@Tvl010]

@@AxeGaijin Ah well at least he took the lessons and got his sons career spot on.

[@yudhabagaskara98]

He's replaced by Herbert and that's it

[@Somethingfunny5161]

Is the film you refer to schindlers list?

[@AidanMillward]

Maaaaaaybe

[@dwcxx]

Hey AM, which movie are you referencing in the opening? It sounds familiar

[@AidanMillward]

Schindler’s List. They had to tone down Ralph Feinnes’ portrayal of Amon Göth

[@dwcxx]

@@AidanMillward Took me 8 months to see, but thanks. I knew it rung several bells

[@philllawrence1580]

Genuine question do you have capacity to do a race by race on 94? It's a pearler of a season (tragedy aside) the cars were closer than people recall!

[@Yvolve]

Aside from Senna's death and this fireball, my most vivid F1 memory from when I was a kid is Spa 1998. Not just the crash after the hairpin but also Schumacher crashing into the back of Coulthard. It was so weird and unnecessary, there was plenty of space on the straight they were on. I thought I had seen the craziest race with the early mass crash and then Schumacher takes himself out.

[@Zamppa86]

1994 would not suit for a Hollywood movie because in those movies the good guy always wins...Or atleast the bad guy does not win. And we all know the cheating bad guy won in the end in '94.

[@mrkipling2201]

The pit crews should have been paid danger money during the 1994 F1 season. The Alboreto incident at Imola, then this, are 2 that spring to mind.

[@alecerdmann8505]

On the topic of pit fires, take a look into the 1981 Indy 500 Rick Mears pit fire. IndyCars used methanol at the time, which burns clear, so it is a bizarre scene with many people running around like they are on fire (because they are) with no visible flames. Probably something many of your viewers, particularly non-American viewers, don’t know about.

[@eamonahern7495]

Didn't Eddie Irvine's Jordan catch fire in a pit stop at Spa in 1995?

[@AidanMillward]

He did.

[@GarfaGarfGarf]

For those curious I think Aiden was referring to Schindlers List

[@Kyle-yp5wb]

How were you set on fire? Will there be a video on it?

[@martinflyer1197]

Anyone else curious/knows about the film where the person was changed that was mentioned during the intro....having a mind blank moment

[@gtsf1acaccleague496]

I was 18 watching this in 1994. What a shocking season. It seemed every potentially bad accident always had the worst possible outcome. After never having seen a fatal accident, the worst I’d seen was Berger 89, F1 seemed to be safer than you could have imagined. How naive we were.

[@scottpeters371]

Did anybody at the FIA actually talk to Intertechnique and verify they told Larrousse to take the filter off?

[@martinlampert4721]

Interesting about Hill; I read he pitted because he assumed was going to be stopped.

[@wabba67]

It is still baffling how this race was not red-flagged. I understand that after Imola, the FIA would not like to use safety car, but having a third of the field wiped out on the opening lap surely was something that should have stopped the race. (Then again, none of the cars were really parked on the racing line, so...)

[@johnpatricklim4509]

Oh....that fire that burned Max's dad's eyebrows....

[@isthatrubble]

jesus. I forgot the monica seles thing was this year too. important context!

[@CasperEgas]

It was one of my first clear F1 memories too. Together with Senna fatally crashing. I was 9 at the time.

[@Slikx666]

It's a good job that they use petrol and not alcohol like indy, at least you can see what's on fire. Glad everyone was relatively ok. I miss watching the full races.

[@Elizabeth-vh6il]

Why were Larrousse told to remove their filter?

[@VonBlade]

Unfortunately my first memory of F1 is my hero (at the time) Gilles, being announced by the BBC as dead. I potentially have earlier memories, but that's the first one that I don't feel might be tainted by older me watching highlights and thus is legit.

[@244Jackster]

The reason Benton weren’t punished as the FIA were worried they would have to punish Larousse who threatened to sue

[@philllawrence1580]

3.7k to Moreno!!

[@ldnwholesale8552]

Fires stopped happening as they banned refueling. Beneton was VERY lucky for not getting pinged for no filter in the refueling rig. FIA let them go as team members had been burnt

[@Kam1Kaz3NL77]

I didn't know it was such a race of attrition. The only thing that has BURNED on my retinas is the Verstappen pitfire.

[@FlyingSpur99]

I don't remember if it was 94 or 95, but I recall Verstappen sliding on the sidewalls of his right side tires through two cars at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

[@shoominati23]

Now Aidan, don't try to get your favourite driver to the front row by phoning in a death threat to Verstappen! Aidan? Aidan! hello!???

[@AidanMillward]

Montoya isn’t in f1 anymore

[@CyanRooper]

10:12 And that's how Max Verstappen was made (yes, I know he was born 3 years later but you get the idea).

[@Tacko14]

3:40 funny. That Segafredo decal is on the bargeboard ánd behind it. Now, that happens when you make a livery in a game, and there’s a way to counter it. But irl, apparently not. Of course they did it on purpose, but why? It looks sloppy.

[@AidanMillward]

The early versions of the FW16 didn’t have barge boards so it might have been just left there. Plus when it’s there the logo can be seen from high up and at certain angles. But then- liveries aren’t really designed around what Tacko14 and the rest of the world on the internet find aesthetically pleasing. They just want the logos visible and nothing more.

[@Tacko14]

@@AidanMillward annoyingly so. I liked when you could see the racenumber and the helmet clearly. And cars themselves were hard to confuse. Even professional commentators make mistakes now, and I don’t blame them.

[@jacekatalakis8316]

There was a similar issue for Galles Racing in 1990 at Cleveland in CART competition as well, and Willem Toet has written about just what went on aroun that hearing, it's very much shady to say the least going by his accounts and reads like something out of a Mob playbook though

[@bullfrommull]

I may off heard you wrong. Did you say Ferrari were running a skinny rear wing. Because they had the fattest one. Still a great video.

[@Just_lift_anyone]

I don't like the Sun newspaper but I do need to point of their corker of a headline which was (relating to the Pedro Deniz incident), "Diniz in the Oven"

[@minibus9]

excelent video

[@cylonred8902]

Now imagine that with alcohol as the fuel - Indy car...

[@signorpippistrello]

Black Hawk Down and McGregor‘s character ”Grimes“?

[@AidanMillward]

Nope

[@signorpippistrello]

@@AidanMillward But would have matched (actual guy raped his baby daughter if I remember right)! Any hint?

[@yudhabagaskara98]

At least his son tried to replicate his teammate's legacy

[@kevinprior3549]

I think you yourself Aiden could do an entire book on 1994. Think of the money?

[@johnbeer4963]

i remember this

[@patrickkennedy2533]

I remember hearing years ago if Willy T. Ribbs started at Daytona , someone would take him out with a deer rifle or something like that .

[@EastsideBodega_]

1994 is a properly cursed season innit

[@thatguyuk1]

The other saving grace in this era was the mechanics having to wear overalls, as the early 80's they just used to wear t-shirts and shorts.

[@juanmariaca2400]

Irvine in belgium 95 have the same issue.

[@areasquirrel]

The moment that often makes reaction channel people's heads spin, first because kaboom, second because 'Wait, Max's dad raced in F1 too?! 🤯' Blah, blah, old Hockenheim, blah, the straights were awesome to drive, but the race was always a lottery. Either you'd blow up where no one could see you in the forest, or turn 1 carnage. Seeking the tiniest of advantage, almost to the point of putting more effort into doing that than just getting on with it, in this case with the fuel. Where there was Brawn and Schumacher, there was this kind of advantage shenanigans. It's like a compulsion.