The new Netflix docu-film on Michael Schumacher’s career has been a big hit this week since its release on September 15th. It's already trending on the streaming service, and it has reminded people of some of the truly great moments through the German’s career. This has been helped by the fact the film has had the full blessing of the Schumacher family, allowing it to be as open and honest as possible, from documenting his first-ever F1 race to his first world title win with Ferrari. One thing that is great about the film is how it doesn’t shy away from some of the more controversial moments in the German’s career, and there were one or two of them.

Jerez 1997 was perhaps the most controversial moment of them all, and qualifying in Monaco 2006 was another flashpoint. But one of the moments that is, perhaps, a bit less clear-cut, is what took place in Adelaide in 1994, the final race of that year's dramatic and tragic Formula 1 season. It was the first time that Schumacher had become a title contender, driving for Benetton. And he had a motivated and determined Damon Hill at Williams to deal with. What transpired would be one of the most dramatic title fights in Formula 1 history.

Background To The 1994 Title Decider

Ayrton Senna Driving The Williams FW16
via Snap Lap

The background to that year's title-deciding race in 1994 was really one of tragedy. Earlier that year in the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, Ayrton Senna had lost his life, a day after Roland Ratzenberger lost his life in qualifying for the race. As the film shows, the loss of Senna, whom he had thought would be his main rival that year, really affected Schumacher, as it did the whole world of F1. It seemed inconceivable that such a tragedy could befall Senna, Schumacher even believing the Brazilian would win out that year over himself.

Suzuka 1994 - Schumacher And Hill
via Essar

Following the tragic events of Imola, Hill took on the role of team leader at Williams with great humility and determination. Hill hit from around mid-season after Williams sorted out some issues with their car, and some misdemeanors from Schumacher and Benetton allowed Hill to enter the final race of the year just one point behind Schumacher. It really would be a whoever won that race would win the title. The pressure was certainly on both drivers, as they gunned hard for their first world title. Nobody though would have predicted the race would unfold as it did so.

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The 1994 Australian Grand Prix

Start Of The 1994 Australian Grand Prix
via Motorsport Images

Schumacher and Hill qualified for the 1994 season finale in second and third respectively, with Nigel Mansell putting his Williams on pole position. At the start, Schumacher and Hill got the better of Mansell to take first and second, and their battle was on. For around 20 laps, the pair had been nose to tail, but Schumacher then was able to find a bit more pace and slowly edge away from Hill in the Williams. However, on lap 35, Schumacher went off at the East Terrace corner on the circuit and slammed into the wall, bringing Hill right up behind him.

Schumacher And Hill Collide - 1994 Australian Grand Prix
via Libero

Hill then dived to the inside of Schumacher at the next corner, and the pair met as Schumacher tried to turn into the corner. Hill hit the sidepod of the Benetton, which lifted onto two wheels, and then it speared off into the wall. Schumacher was out of the race. But so was Hill. Despite making it back to the pits, the front right suspension of the Williams was too damaged for the British driver to continue, and thus Schumacher won the title by a solitary point over his rival. Nigel Mansell eventually won the Grand Prix, which allowed Williams to at least win the constructors title ahead of Benetton.

A Controversial Moment At The End Of A Tragic Season

Michael Schumacher Celebrates His 1994 F1 World Title
via Sports Casting

The 1994 season had been marred by the losses of Ratzenberger and Senna, so it was a shame that what became a fascinating title battle was decided by such a controversial moment. Schumacher has always claimed that he never turned into Hill on purpose, and in the film he references that he was wiggling the car to check if it was okay and to clean the tires after he hit the wall. To many though, it was a deliberate act, but not quite as clear-cut as what happened in Jerez 1997. The title would be the first of seven that Schumacher would go on to win.

RELATED: 15 Stunning Pics Of Michael Schumacher's Car Collection

The Start Of Something Special

the-1995-pacific-gp-michael-schumachers-18th-career-win
via Axle Addict

Despite the controversial nature of his title victory, Schumacher’s 1994 world title did mark the start of something truly special. Schumacher would go on to dominate the 1995 season, winning the title with two rounds to spare, before moving onto Ferrari in 1996. The 1994 world title shot Schumacher to stardom, as Germany’s first-ever Formula 1 world champion, and only Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg have won the title for Germany since. The Schumacher film does a brilliant job at capturing the emotion of that 1994 title win, with interviews with Schumacher and Hill helping to paint a picture of just how controversial the title decider was.

Sources: New York Times, Snap Lap, Essar, Sports Casting, Libero, Axle Addict