After supporting Sauber’s arrival in F1 in 1993 and financing Mario Ilien’s promising V10 engine, Mercedes officially returned to Formula 1 in 1994 with the Swiss team. The Sauber V10s were branded Mercedes. Some economic problems influenced the management at the beginning of 1993, but Mercedes covered the shortcomings with its own budget and also found new sponsors. The season was also marked by the serious accident of Wendlinger on trial in Monaco; an eighth place finish in the constructors' championship with 18 was probably below expectations. Frentzen was fourth in France and Wendlinger was fourth in Imola. The other Sauber drivers in 1994 were Andrea De Cesaris and JJ Lehto.