The 71-lap race was won by German driver Michael Schumacher, driving a Benetton-Ford, after starting from second position.

Local hero Ayrton Senna took pole position in his Williams-Renault and led before being overtaken by Schumacher at the first round of pit stops, after which he spun off.

Senna's British teammate Damon Hill finished second, with Frenchman Jean Alesi third in a Ferrari.

There were also two new teams: Simtek, who had previously been involved in F1 as the designers of the Andrea Moda S921 in 1992, and Pacific Racing, who had enjoyed much success in lower formulae.

After Senna's retirement Schumacher won comfortably, a lap ahead of Hill in second place and Alesi finishing third.