1993 Australian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Prost is champion. Behind him, Senna leads Hill in the battle for second place in the Drivers’ standings, with Schumacher a close fourth. The Constructors’ Championship has long since gone to Williams.

Previous race

At Suzuka, Senna won convincingly in wet conditions, passing Prost at the Spoon Curve when the rain intensified. Häkkinen took third for his first Formula One podium finish. Hill retired after being hit by Schumacher in a braking incident. Debutant Eddie Irvine finished sixth and scored his first point — though the post-race period was marked by an altercation with Senna, who punched Irvine following a heated exchange. Rumours of a two-race ban for Senna followed, but no penalty was ultimately issued.

Milestones

This is Alain Prost’s final Formula One race. He retires at the end of the season, having announced the decision at Portugal. Riccardo Patrese also retires from Formula One after this race, his 256th Grand Prix career start — a then-record total. Senna races here in his last event with McLaren before joining Williams in 1994.

Adelaide hosts the final race of an era: 1993 is the last season in which active suspension and other electronic driver aids are permitted. The FIA bans their use for 1994. This is also the last race without mid-race refuelling, a practice that returns the following season.

The Larrousse LH93 makes its final appearance as the last Formula One car to be powered by a Lamborghini V12 engine.