F1: Most controversial crashes of all-time

#2 Michael Schumacher & Damon Hill (Australia 1994)

Schumacher and Hill's rivalry was arguably F1's most bitter.

Wind the clock back 3 years from his Jerez crash, and Schumacher was driving for Benetton and went into the last race of 1994 ahead of his sole remaining rival for the championship, Damon Hill. Hill had closed Schumacher’s early season advantage after the tragic passing of Williams teammate Ayrton Senna at Imola.

Michael had claimed pole position for the race and he led in the early stages, with Hill not far behind but unable to challenge. Like 1997 the gap was just a single point, so all the Williams man had to do was finish in front of Schumacher and on Lap 36, the Englishman saw an opportunity.

Schumacher made an uncharacteristic mistake and ran wide, hitting the wall on the tight street circuit. This possibly damaged his car but we'll never know because what happened next is still infamous in F1 to this day.

Hill didn't see Schumacher’s excursion, he only saw the Benetton coming back onto the track and he attempted to get past the German. Schumacher wasn't having any of it though and collided with Damon, taking himself out of the race.

Hill tried to continue but his suspension was too damaged and he was also forced to retire.

Unlike what would later occur in 1997, this incident wasn’t black and white, some say it was a racing incident, others say that Michael deliberately drove into Hill. But the history books will always say that on that day Schumacher won the first of his seven titles. Sport is a cruel mistress at times.