On This Day In Formula One - 3 August

1939

Nobody knew it at the time, but this was last day of racing at the iconic Brooklands circuit, ending a brief but glorious 32 years as Britain's home of motorsports. As the outbreak of war the land was taken over by the Vickers aircraft company who used it to build airplanes such as Spitfires. Sections of the banking were demolished, meaning that after the war the venue could not be returned to its pre-war state.

1958

Peter Collins was killed at the Nurburgring during the German Grand Prix after he ran wide and caught a wheel in a ditch. His Ferrari somersaulted across the track and Collins was thrown into a tree and he died later that day from his head injuries. Collins was a favourite of Enzo Ferrari after giving up his car for team-mate Juan Manuel Fangio at the Italian Grand Prix in 1956, when Collins himself still had a chance of becoming champion.

                                                                2003

Montoya on the top step of the podium.

Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya claimed a hat-trick of pole position, fastest lap and victory at the German Grand Prix in 2003. The best that Michael Schumacher could achieve at his home race that year was seventh, but he did leave the weekend still leading the championship by six points.

                                                                2008
Felipe Massa was cruelly denied the win at the Hungarian Grand Prix when after his engine blew three laps from the end and he coasted to a halt on the pit straight. Starting from third on the grid, Massa stormed down to the first corner and took the lead which he maintained throughout the race before having the victory taken from him through no fault of his own. This left Heikki Kovalinen to claim his maiden race win for McLaren. Lewis Hamilton had claimed pole the day before, which was his 10th career pole.

                                                                                                           2009

Nelson Piquet crashes into the barriers at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
Source: Sutton Images.

The first action in a chain of events which led to the Crashgate scandal came when Renault sacked Nelson Piquet Junior after a season-and-a-half in which his best finish had been seventh. "A manager is supposed to encourage you, support you, and provide you with opportunities," Piquet raged. "In my case it was the opposite. Flavio Briatore was my executioner." Piquet and his father were to have their revenge.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

On This Day In Formula One - 2 August

1959

The 1959 German Grand Prix is the only year where the race was not held at the Nurburgring or Hockenheim circuits. Instead the race was held at the AVUS circuit in Berlin. Not so much a circuit, more two stretches of motorway with a hairpin at either end. The race was split into two heats, as there was fear the tyres would not last. British driver Tony Brooks went on to win the race, with Dan Gurney and Phil Hill completing the all Ferrari podium.

1964

Dutch driver and nobleman Carel Godin de Beaufort died at the Nurburgring during the 1964 German Grand Prix. Competing in Formula One from 1957 until his death, Beaufort started 31 races but only managed to clock up four points and no podium finishes during his short racing career.

1970

The 1970 German Grand Prix was switched last minute to Hockenheim from the Nurburgring after drivers refused to race there until safety was improved. The race was won by Jochen Rindt to take him 20 points clear in the championship. Rindt went on to become the only posthumous Formula One world champion as he was killed during the at Monza later that year during the Italian Grand Prix.

                                                                                                                                                  1981

Alain Prost powers around the circuit to take his maiden pole position.

Alain Prost claimed the first pole position of his career at the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim. Nelson Piquet went on to win the race with Prost finishing second. Prost went on to claim another 32 pole positions during his Formula One career and as of 2011, sits joint third in the top pole scorers in F1 alongside Jim Clark.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

On This Day In Formula One - 1 August

1959

Jean Behra died during the German Grand Prix at Avus in treacherous wet weather conditions. Behra lost control on the slippery surface and launched his Porsche over the top of the banking where there was no guard rail. He was thrown from his car and died instantly when he hit a flag pole, fracturing his skull. The French driver competed in 52 grands prix and collected nine podium finishes. Although he never won a race he was widely considered to be one of the best and most aggressive drivers of the era.

1965

Jim Clark claimed his second World Championship after driving his Lotus to victory at the German Grand Prix. It was only the seventh race of the year, but it was Clark's sixth win of that Formula One season, emphasising just how dominant he was.

                                                                1976

Lauda returned to racing six weeks after his near fatal accident at the Nurburgring.

Niki Lauda almost lost his life in a dramatic accident at the Nurburgring during the German Grand Prix in 1976. Lauda's Ferrari went off track and burst into flames before sliding back onto the track and getting hit by two other drivers. So bad was the accident that Lauda was read the last rites by a priest after he was pulled from the wreckage by fellow drivers who stopped to help. Astonishingly, Lauda recovered and was back behind the racing wheel just six weeks later. However, Formula One never raced on the Nordschleife course at the Nurburgring again.

1980

Patrick Depailler was killed during testing for the German Grand Prix in 1980. Depailler's car suffered suspension failure and sent him crashing into the barrier of the circuit, inflicting him with fatal head injuries. From 95 race starts, Depailler claimed two victories and 19 podiums.

Eddie Irvine locks-up but wins the 1999 German Grand Prix.

                                                                         1999
Mika Hakkinen gave McLaren their 100th Formula One pole position at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. However, it was Eddie Irvine's Ferrari that took the victory, with his third win of the season that meant he was leading the championship from Hakkinen by eight points. The world championship title was eventually taken by Hakkinen. It was also at the German Grand Prix of 1999 that Mika Salo claimed his first podium, finishing second behind his Ferrari team-mate Irvine.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

On This Day In Formula - 31 July

1977

A year on from his horrific accident at the Nurburgring, Niki Lauda bounced back in style by winning the German Grand Prix from Jody Scheckter and Hans-Joachim Stuck, who secured his first podium finish. After Lauda's death-defying accident in 1976, the Nurburgring made way for a new F1 venue in Hockenheim, infamous for being the venue of Jim Clarke's death in an F2 race in 1968. Lauda took the lead from pole-sitter Scheckter on lap 13 and the Austrian never looked back to secure a popular victory.

                                                                 1994

Scary scene of a fuel fire on Jos Verstappen's Benetton.

A frightening moment for Jos Verstappen and watching Formula One fans happened during the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. The Benetton driver came into the pits for a regulation stop but fuel sprayed onto the car and ignited as the crew fumbled in attaching the refuelling rig. A split second later, the car was engulfed in flames but marshals acted quickly to extinguish the blaze. Verstappen and the pit crew only suffered minor burns. Gerhard Berger went on to win the race for Ferrari.

2005

Kimi Raikkonen won the Hungarian Grand Prix from brothers Michael and Ralf Schumacher. Although Fernando Alonso could only manage to finish a distant 11th after damaging his front wing during an attempted pass on Ralf into the first corner, the Spaniard still led Raikkonen by 26 points after the race.

2007

Three-time world champion Nelson Piquet was ordered to attend a driving awareness school after losing his licence for repeated speeding and parking offences. His wife, Viviane, was also ordered to attend.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

On This Day In Formula One - 30 July

1972

Jacky Ickx led home a Ferrari 1-2 at the German Grand Prix as Jackie Stewart and Emerson Fittipaldi fell by the wayside. Ronnie Peterson finished third and Howden Ganley and Brian Redman secured unlikely top five finishes.

1978

Mario Andretti won the German Grand Prix but the star of the show was Jody Scheckter, who battled his way back to second after dropping to the back of the field at the end of the opening lap.

                                                                                        1989

Ayrton Senna led home team-mate Alain Prost for a 1-2 at the German Grand Prix with Nigel Mansell finishing third in his Ferrari. The finishing positions mirrored those of qualifying.

1995

The first of Schumacher's German Grand Prix victories came over a decade earlier when he finished the race behind a tow track after stalling his Benetton whilst waving to the crowd in celebration. In winning, Schumacher became the first German to win his home race since the 1930s. Pole-sitter Damon Hill blew his chances of spoiling the party by spinning off on the second lap.

2000

A disgruntled Mercedes employee endangered his own life and that of the drivers at the German Grand Prix when he cut through the track fence and ran onto the track carrying a sheet with a message about the German car manufacturer. He managed to run across the track before marshals apprehended him. The man's intervention turned the race upside down. Until that point, Mika Hakkinen looked likely to lead home a McLaren 1-2 but the deployment of the safety car shuffled the grid, allowing Rubens Barrichello to take his first Formula one victory from 18th on the grid. It was the first win for a Brazilian driver since Ayrton Senna's last win in Australia 1993.

                                                                                                                                                          2006

Michael Schumacher crosses the line to win his fourth German Grand Prix.

Michael Schumacher secured his fourth German Grand Prix victory with a dominant drive in front of his home fans. Felipe Massa rounded off an easy day at the office for Ferrari as the main excitement of the race was provided by Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button in the scrap for third, Raikkonen catching and passing Button's Honda in the closing laps.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

'Tantrums' - 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:
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On This Day In Formula One - 29 July

1951

The Nurburgring hosted a world championship race for the first time for the German Grand Prix. Alberto Ascari took his first world championship win for Ferrari.

                                                                1973

David Purley tried in vain to save Roger Williamson.
Source: Sutton Images

A tragic day unfolded at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort when young British driver Roger Williamson was killed in appalling circumstances during the race. A tyre problem caused him to crash and his car came to rest upside down an on fire at the side of the track. He was unable to free himself but the marshals did nothing. Fellow driver David Purley stopped his car and ran to his friend's aid, grabbing a fire extinguisher from a marshal and trying to right the car by himself. Alas his efforts were in vain and Williamson died in the car before a fire truck could reach the scene. Purley was awarded the George medal but remained bitter that the marshals had not done more to help save his friend. Following his decision to quit motorsport, Purley moved into competition aerobatics. He died on July 2 1985 when his Pitts Special aerobatic biplane crashed into the sea off Bognor Regis.

1979

Alan Jones won the German Grand Prix from team-mate and rival Clay Reggazoni. Jones took the lead at the start from second on the grid and when Regazzoni passed Jacques Laffite for second place on lap 13, the 1-2-3 order was settled for the remainder of the race. The victory gave the Williams team its second successive win in Formula One.

                                                                                                                                                         1990

Ayrton Senna wins the 1990 German Grand Prix.

Ayrton Senna held off a spirited challenge from Benetton's Alessandro Nannini to win the German Grand Prix. Starting from his customary pole position, Senna squeezed ahead of team-mate Gerhard Berger at the start and positions remained the same until Nannini emerged ahead of Senna after the pit stops. With an unlikely victory in sight, Nannini's tyres started to suffer and Senna nailed his man with 12 laps remaining.

2001

Ralf Schumacher benefitted from the retirement of Williams team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya to win the German Grand Prix in front of his own fans at Hockenheim. In a real tortoise and hare grand prix, pole-sitter Montoya played the role of the hare and raced off into the distance from Schumacher, only for his BMW engine to fail on him, gifting the race to Ralf.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com] 

On This Day in Formula One - 28 July

                                                                                                                                                          1935

Source: Getty Images

Adolf Hitler and the Nazi hierarchy watched on at the Nurburgring confident that the German-made Mercedes and Auto Union cars would dominate with their German drivers in front of an equally expectant 300,000 fans. Hitler had made it clear that a German victory was imperative but Italian Tazio Nuvolari did not read the script and his less powerful Alfa Romeo took a dramatic victory on the final lap to ruin the Fuhrer's day. 'At first there was deathly silence,' reported Motorsport magazine, 'and then the innate sportsmanship of the Germans triumphed over their astonishment. Nuvolari was given a wonderful reception.' So sure of a German victory were they that the Nazi officials did not have the Italian national anthem on hand. But Nuvolari was able to produce his own record of the anthem, which he always carried for luck.

1991

Nigel Mansell won the German Grand Prix from Williams team-mate Riccardo Patrese and Ferrari's Jean Alesi to close the gap in the drivers' championship to Ayrton Senna. Pole-sitter Mansell made a good start and that was pretty much that for the afternoon as he sailed off into the distance, leaving his rivals to squabble over second place.

1996

Damon Hill claimed his 20th grand prix victory to equal Michael Schumacher's career tally of F1 victories after winning the German Grand Prix. Although victory marked Hill's seventh victory of the year, it was not an easy one as a poor start dropped him behind the Benettons of Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger. A superior strategy enabled him to pass Alesi but Hill was looking as if he had to settle for second until Berger's engine blew up only three laps from home.

                                                              2002

Michael Schumacher celebrates the 2002 German Grand Prix victory.

Michael Schumacher equalled his own and Nigel Mansell's record of nine grand prix wins in a season after emerging victorious in the German Grand Prix. Schumacher did not have things all his own way, however, as brother Ralf began to chip into his lead on his superior Michelin tyres. Ralf narrowed the gap to six seconds after the first stop but a late pneumatic problem dropped him to third behind Williams team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

On This Day In Formula One - 27 July

                                                         1986

Alain Prost tries to push his car over the line at the 1986 German Grand Prix.

Alain Prost was swarming all over the back of Nigel Mansell's Williams at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim when his McLaren ran out of fuel on the last lap on the finishing straight. To the applause of the crowd, Prost got out of his car and tried to push it over the line. He failed to make it but still earned a point for sixth place as the next car was over a lap adrift.

                                                         1954

Former Formula One driver Philippe Alliot was born in Voves, France. Alliot raced for raced for RAM, Ligier, Larrousse and McLaren and had a reputation for accidents leading to heavy criticism from team members, other drivers and even sports commentators, such as James Hunt who caled Alliot "one of the worst Grand Prix drivers ever to drive a Grand Prix car". He left F1 for sports car racing in the early 1990s and enjoyed considerable success with the Peugeot team, run by Jean Todt.

                                                                                                        1997

Gerhard Berger scored a popular victory in the German Grand Prix. Victory marked the Austrian's last win in Formula One and the last for the Benetton team. Fittingly, Berger's first grand prix victory in 1986 was also Benetton's first.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com] 

On This Day In Formula One - 26 July

                                                                                     1925

Antonio Ascari

Italian racing driver Antonio Ascari was killed while leading the French Grand Prix in an Alfa Romeo P2 at the Autodrome de Montlhery near Paris. Ascari left behind a seven-year old son, Alberto, who went on to win the FIA World Championship in 1952 and 1953. Eerily, Alberto died in similar circumstances to his father, on the 26th day of the month, aged 36 in car No. 26. Both had won 13 grands prix and both died four days after surviving previous accidents and both left a wife and two children.

                                                                                     1987
Nelson Piquet won the German Grand Prix from Stefan Johansson and Ayrton Senna. Nigel Mansell had started on pole ahead of his title rivals Senna, Prost and Piquet and he overtook Senna for the lead on the second lap after a slow start. The race was Mansell's to lose and so it transpired when an engine problem forced his retirement, Prost then seemed to have the race won himself but a broken alternator belt left Piquet to reap the rewards.

1992

Huge crowds turned up to watch Michael Schumacher at Hockenheim but it was Nigel Mansell who ended up the winner of the 1992 German Grand Prix. Mansell was in dominant mood while behind him, the non-stopping Ayrton Senna and Schumacher finished second and third, the German benefitting from a late spin by Riccardo Patrese's Williams.

                                                                                                                                                          1998

Mika Hakkinen emotional after dominating the 1998 Australian Grand Prix.

Mika Hakkinen won the Austrian Grand Prix from team-mate David Coulthard and the Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine. Rain during qualifying led to an unusual grid with Giancarlo Fisichella's Benetton on pole from Jean Alesi's Sauber. Both Hakkinen and Schumacher passed the front row cars at the start but the drive of the day came from David Coulthard who stormed through the field from 14th on the grid to seventh on lap 16. Further passes and pit stops by cars ahead meant that Coulthard found himself second at the end ahead of Schumacher's Ferrari as Hakkinen held on for victory.

2009

Lewis Hamilton celebrated his tenth grand prix victory after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]