[Part Three] The Singapore Grand Prix - Did you know (facts)

[Part Two] The Singapore Grand Prix - Did you know (facts)

[Part One] The Singapore Grand Prix - Did you know (facts)

On This Day in Formula One - 4 September

1960

Ferrari also dominated the 1960 Italian Grand Prix, Phil Hill leading home team-mates Ginther and Willy Mairesse for a 1-2-3. Wolfgang von Trips rounded off a great day for the Scuderia by finishing fifth in his F2 Ferrari behind Giulio Cabianca's Cooper-Castellotti.

1966

Ludovico Scarfiotti delighted home fans by taking his first grand prix victory at Monza. Scarfiotti and team-mate Mike Parkes qualified on the front row but Lorenzo Bandini made a great start from fifth to lead at the end of the first lap as Scarfiotti dropped back to seventh behind Denny Hulme. Then came the Italian's charge through the field and, aided by the retirements of first Jack Brabham then John Surtees, he led home Parkes. The biggest incident came on lap 17 when Richie Ginther suffered a tyre failure in the Curva Grande and his Honda crashed into the trees beside the track. The American emerged miraculously unhurt but his car was destroyed.

                                                                 2005

Juan Pablo Montoya leads the start of the 2005 Italian Grand Prix.

The Italian Grand Prix marked only the second time in history that every car that started the race was still running at the finish. It was won by Juan Pablo Montoya in his McLaren from the Renault's of Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella, who dedicated his podium finish to Michele Alboreto, the last Italian on the podium at Monza before him.

2009

The day Crashgate took off, with the announcement from the FIA it was going to charge renault following claims by Nelson Piquet Junior that he had deliberately crashed his Renault at the previous year's Singapore Grand Prix under team orders. The hearing was set for September 21 but by then Renault boss Flavio Briatore and engineer Pat Symonds had quit.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

On This Day in Formula One - 3 September

1906

The birth in Maffersdorf (the in Austria-Hungary but now in the Czech Republic) of the legendary and brilliant Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the eponymous manufacturer. He also designed the iconic VW Beetle as well as Germany's Tiger tanks, earning him accolades from the Nazi party and internment by the French as a war criminal. He subsequently rebuilt the company after the war despite considerable obstacles, dying after suffering stroke in 1951.

1939

On the day Britain and France declared war against Germany, the last major European race for almost seven years took place with the staging of the one and only Belgrade Grand Prix. It was to be the last hurrah of the great Auto Union-Mercedes era as well and the final major win for the legendary Tazio Nuvolari.

1939

As Britain and France declared war against Germany, the last major European race for almost seven years took place with the staging of the one and only Belgrade Grand Prix. It was to be the last hurrah of the great Auto Union-Mercedes era as well and the final major win for the legendary Tazio Nuvolari.

                                                                  1950

Farina became Formula One's first world champion at Monza.

Giuseppe Farina won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza to finish three points ahead of main rival Juan Manuel Fangio. The race saw the first serious challenge to Alfa Romeo in a world championship event with Ascari battling with Fangio and Farina. After 21 laps Ascari retired with an overheating engine and Fangio went out soon afterwards with a gearbox problem.

2003

Ralf Schumacher discharged himself from hospital against doctors' advice after he was involved in a heavy accident in Monza, where his car lost both rear and front wings at the second Lesmo corner. He was taken to hospital for precautionary checks and remained overnight for observation.

2004

It was Michael Schumacher's turn to suffer a huge accident during testing at Monza when the left-rear tyre of his Ferrari blew out at the end of the start/finish straight. Schumacher hit the barriers with the front and rear of the car, but left the accident unscathed.

2008

Formula One Management agreed a new deal with ESPN Star Sports for F1 television broadcasts in Asia. ESPN Star Sports was given exclusive Grand Prix broadcast rights in 24 Asian markets for the next five years in a deal that included internet, radio and mobile phone broadcasts as well as television coverage.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

The Flying Finn - By Jake Davis

This fantastic weekly F1 Toon was designed and created by Jake Davis Creative. Prints are available in sizes A4, A3 and A2. Commissions are also available. If you would like to order a PRINT of this fantastic F1 Toon feel free to contact him via:
                                                                                                                     E-mail - davisjake@hotmail.co.uk
                                                                                                                     Twitter - @JakeDDCreative

On This Day in Formula One - 1 September

1985

A driver destined for greatness, Stefan Bellof was killed when he overstepped the mark in a sports car race at Spa, failing in a crazy attempt to overtake at the daunting Eau Rouge corner in his Porsche 956. Bellof was an electrifying driver, often on the ragged edge of control. He made it to Formula One in 1984 with Tyrrell and was challenging for victory at Monaco before heavy rain stopped play when he was third, thwarting both him and Ayrton Senna as they closed on Alain Prost. However, the Tyrrell team was found to have committed a technical irregularity and all his points were removed for the 1984 season. He won six times for Porsche en route to claiming the world title and was going for a sixth in 1985 when tragedy struck.

                                                                   2002

Michael Schumacher celebrates his victory at the 2002 Belgian Grand Prix.

Michael Schumacher won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, described by some reporters as 'another massacre at Malmedy', such was his dominance at the circuit. Schumacher chalked up a record tenth win of the season and his seventh at Spa to win from team-mate Rubens Barrichello and the Williams of Juan Pablo Montoya in a race that was virtually devoid of overtaking.

2003

Cornelius Horan, the former priest who ran on to the track during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, was released from custody after six weeks on remand. The former priest believed that God protected him and the drivers when he was on the track. He also said that he would not have conducted his protest but a gate leading to the track had been left open - and that this represented a signal from God that he should invade the track.

2004

Michael Schumacher held a press conference to announce that he had no intention of leaving the sport he loves in the near future. "Apparently I'm supposed to announce my retirement here, but that is not the case," said Schumacher.

2007

Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya vowed to do his best to bring India into Formula One after teaming up with Spyker's director of Formula One Michiel Mol to make an 80 million euro bid for the cash-strapped team. "Team India is on the F1 grid," declared Mallya in a press conference. Mallya's dream became reality when his Force India team took the grid for the 2008 Australian Grand Prix.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

Safety in Formula 1: Medical (Part Eight)

Safety has not always been a paramount concern in Formula One, although there had been many tragedies, both for drivers and spectators. This article will focus on the ‘Medical’ facilities at Formula One Grand Prix. In the last few decades, however, accidents happen and there are medical facilities at every circuit in order to try and control any situation which may occur as a result of an accident. 

The Medical Car lines up before the start of the Grand Prix.

According to F1.com, “As late as the early 1980s, medical facilities at many Grand Prix events were shockingly poor by modern standards. It has now become one of the top priorities at every race. The serious nature of some motor racing injuries means that speed of medical response is absolutely vital to saving lives.”  

Around the circuit, there are several mobile response teams strategically placed which include four salvage cars (S-cars) and two rescue cars (R-cars) as well as two extrication teams. The four S-cars are equipped with a rescue cutter and fire extinguishing equipment whereas the R-cars are manned by a doctor, four paramedics and a driver which can reach any point on the circuit within 30 seconds.

Did You Know...that the safety of the spectators at Formula One races is controlled by approximately 150 security officials, in addition to approximately 130 medics and doctors?

The FIA's chief medical delegate, currently Doctor Ian Roberts, will be on stand-by in the medical car at the end of the pit lane. He can be quickly driven to the scene of any major injury. When Dr Roberts arrives at the accident scene he can gauge the severity of the accident immediately by looking at the warning light system located on the top of cockpit. 

The Medical Car will follow the drivers around the circuit on the first lap, as it is considered as the most dangerous and crash-prone corners of the entire race and it will pull into the pitlane at the end of the first lap.

If a driver requires immediate assistance, he or she will be taken the circuit’s medical centre. It is staffed 24 hours a day during a race weekend and is equally equipped with the latest medical devices, including full resuscitation equipment and its own operating theatre, with orthopadedic surgeons, an anaesthetist and six paramedics. Drivers will often be sent to the medical centre for checks as a precaution regardless of whether they’ve emerged unscathed. It is up to the FIA to clear a driver to race and to ensure if he is physically fit to do so. Several drivers have had to sit out the rest of a Grand Prix weekend if they crash early on, and are even forced to sit out of the next race if they are deemed unfit due to a bad accident. 

Did You Know...that two ambulances and a helicopter manned by a doctor, two paramedics and a pilot stand by throughout the race. A second helicopter is kept ready outside the circuit and four additional ambulances are posted along the race track.

Felipe Massa being airlifted to hospital following an accident at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix.

Local hospitals will also be on stand-by during the course of a race weekend so that very serious injuries can be transferred. A MedEvac helicopter manned by a doctor, two paramedics and a pilot is ready to fly at all times, a second helicopter is kept ready outside the circuit and four additional ambulances are posted around the race track. If conditions are such that a helicopter could not take off from the circuit or land at the hospital, due to fog for example, then the race cannot go ahead. Normally, this is a weather issue, fog or rain, and we saw this happen during Free Practice 1 at Circuit of the Americas in 2013. Cars were sent out at the start of the session but were told to return with ‘Red Flags’ due to the late arrival of the MedEvac helicopter.

Therefore, once can establish that Formula One racing is vastly safer than it used to be, and medical provision is a great deal better. That’s it for this article; I hope that you’ve enjoyed it!

[PART 5] The Italian Grand Prix - Did You Know (FACTS)

[PART 4] The Italian Grand Prix - Did You Know (FACTS)