Complete calendar with 16 races
The 1993 Formula 1 season marked Alain Prost's triumphant return from his sabbatical year, as the Professor claimed his fourth and final World Championship with Williams-Renault in what would prove to be his retirement season. Driving the dominant FW15C - arguably the most technologically advanced car in F1 history - Prost delivered a masterclass in precision and consistency, winning seven races and clinching the title with two rounds remaining.
After a year away from the cockpit following his disastrous 1991 season with Ferrari, Prost returned to a Williams team that offered him the perfect machinery to add to his championship tally. The FW15C featured active suspension, traction control, anti-lock brakes, fly-by-wire throttle, and active ride height control - a technological tour de force that built upon the previous year's dominant FW14B. Prost's smooth driving style and tactical intelligence proved the perfect match for the car's sophisticated systems.
The championship battle was defined by Prost's rivalry with teammate Damon Hill and the sensational emergence of Ayrton Senna in an inferior McLaren. Hill, in his first full season as a Williams driver following Nigel Mansell's departure to IndyCar, won three races and pushed Prost hard throughout the year. The Englishman's victories in Hungary, Belgium, and Italy demonstrated his potential as a future champion, though his occasional mistakes and less consistent pace meant he ultimately finished second with 69 points to Prost's 99.
Senna, driving the underpowered McLaren-Ford MP4/8, produced arguably his greatest season in terms of pure driving skill. Despite having a car that was clearly inferior to the Williams, Senna won five races through sheer brilliance - including masterful wet-weather performances at Donington Park and Adelaide, and a legendary victory at Monaco. His European Grand Prix triumph at Donington in torrential rain, where he lapped the entire field except the Williams drivers, is considered one of the greatest drives in Formula 1 history. Senna finished third in the championship with 73 points.
The season witnessed several significant milestones and changes. Michael Schumacher claimed his first victory for Benetton at the Portuguese Grand Prix, signaling the German's emergence as a championship contender. The relationship between Prost and Senna, who had been fierce rivals since their explosive partnership at McLaren in 1988-89, reached a form of mutual respect as Prost announced his retirement mid-season. Knowing this would be their final year competing against each other, the two champions shared emotional moments, particularly after Senna's victories.
Williams dominated the Constructors' Championship with 168 points, more than triple Ferrari's 28 points in second place. The Grove team's technical superiority was so overwhelming that the FIA announced a ban on many electronic driver aids for 1994, including active suspension, traction control, and ABS brakes. This decision would dramatically reshape the competitive landscape and remove much of Williams' advantage for the following season.
Prost retired from Formula 1 immediately after clinching his fourth title at the Portuguese Grand Prix, choosing not to compete in the final two races. At 38 years old, he departed the sport as one of its all-time greats, with 51 victories and four championships to his name - matching the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio's record. His cerebral approach to racing and political acumen had defined an era, even if his relationship with some rivals and team principals had been fraught with controversy.
The 1993 season represented the end of Formula 1's high-tech era and the final chapter in several legendary careers and rivalries. Prost's championship was a fitting conclusion to his remarkable career, achieved with the professionalism and consistency that had always been his trademark. Meanwhile, Senna's performances in an inferior car elevated his reputation even further, setting the stage for what many expected would be his move to Williams for 1994 - a partnership that would tragically never reach its full potential.