Home | Grand Prix race report | 1994 German Grand Prix
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The Ferraris qualified first and second, with Gerhard Berger in pole position and Jean Alesi lining up alongside. The race was notable for its high rate of attrition, with 11 retirements on the opening lap. Within ten seconds of the start Alex Zanardi and Andrea de Cesaris tangled towards the back of the pack, taking out both Michele Alboreto and Pierluigi Martini before even reaching the first corner. Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard then tangled going into the first corner, the Finn sliding in front of a group of cars into the wall on the outside of the circuit while the Scot continued to the pits to replace his front wing. Mark Blundell braked hard to avoid the McLaren only to be hit from behind by Eddie Irvine, while Rubens Barrichello had nowhere to go but the gravel. In the melee behind this incident, Johnny Herbert and Martin Brundle tangled, the Lotus spinning to a halt while the second McLaren continued. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was also pushed into the gravel and managed to continue, but stopped towards the end of the lap with broken suspension and a punctured tyre. Jean Alesi had got away unscathed, having qualified second, only for his Ferrari to stop with electrical problems on the run to the first chicane. Also, Benetton driver, Jos Verstappen, came into the pits; while refuelling, some fuel was accidentally sprayed onto the hot bodywork of the car, a few seconds later the fuel ignited and Verstappen's car was engulfed in a ball of flames. Verstappen escaped the incident with burns around his eyes, as he had his visor up during the pit stop. As well as Ferrari, the race was especially good for Ligier, with Olivier Panis finishing second and Éric Bernard third. |