Saturday 16 August 2014

On This Day In Formula One - 16 August

1970
It had been six years since F1 cars had visited the Zeltweg circuit and home favourite Jochen Rindt plopped his Lotus 72 on pole at the stunning venue. But it was to be Belgian Jacky Ickx, who started on the second row, who took the win from Ferrari team-mate Clay Regazzoni as Rindt retired early with an engine failure.

1981
Jacques Laffite won the Austrian Grand Prix ahead of Rene Arnoux and Nelson Piquet. Laffite benefitted from the retirement of Alain Prost to move up to second late in the race and executed a good passing move to pass Arnoux on lap 39. All in all, a good race to watch for French F1 fans.

1987
Five years earlier and Mansell was at it again, this time winning the Austrian Grand Prix. Mansell had been handicapped slightly after having a wisdom tooth removed before practice, allowing team-mate Nelson Piquet to take pole. After two crashes and two red flags, Piquet led Mansell until lap 21 when the Englishman battled past and remained in front for victory. McLaren driver Stefan Johansson was lucky to escape with a cracked rib after crashing heavily after hitting a deer in practice.

                                                                                             1992
Ayrton Senna celebrates the with Nigel Mansell as he becomes the World Champions.
Source: Sutton Images.
Nigel Mansell finally achieved his dream of becoming Formula One World Champion when he finished second in the Hungarian Grand Prix to Ayrton Senna. Mansell had twice come within touching distance of the title in 1986 and 1987 and was again runner-up in 91. He dominated the 1992 season, clinching the title in only the 11th race of the season, setting a new record for winning the title in the least number of grands prix since the 16-race season was adopted. The Hungarian Grand Prix also marked the final race for the famous Brabham name, the team struggling for money and rife with political infighting.

               1998
Michael Schumacher wins  the 1998 Hungarian GP.
Source: Sutton Images.
Michael Schumacher won the Hungarian Grand Prix to close the gap in the championship between himself and Mika Hakkinen to just seven points. Hakkinen and McLaren team-mate Coulthard had occupied the front row but Schumacher set an alarming pace, making the most of a three-stop strategy to get the jump on the two-stopping McLarens.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

Friday 15 August 2014

On This Day In Formula One - 15 August

                                                                1905
Manfred von Brauchitsch racing the Mercedes-Benz W125 at the 1937 Donington Grand Prix.
Manfred von Brauchitsch, who was born on this day in Hamburg, was one of the great drivers of the legendary pre-war Mercedes team. Nicknamed Pechvogel - the unlucky fellow - he would have achieved more with a more circumspect approach, but that was never his style. After a inauspicious start with Mercedes, he won the 1937 Monaco Grand Prix and the 1938 French Grand Prix at Rheims, a victory followed by a near-death incident when his car was engulfed in a fireball at a pit-stop. In the war he worked for the armaments ministry, and that allied to the family connections with the army made things hard for him after 1945. He tried and failed in business, and in 1953 he was arrested on suspicion of treason against the federal republic. On his release he defected to East Germany, partly to avoid massive debts, where he became head of the country's motor sports association. After unification he made occasional appearances at Mercedes events where his haughty demeanour was still in evidence. At the time of his death in 2003 he was the oldest man alive to have driven in a grand prix and the last to have won one before the war. He had little time for modern racing, dismissing the modern Formula One drivers as "overpaid pimps".

1971
Swiss driver Jo Siffert won the Austrian Grand Prix at the Osterreichring to secure his second F1 victory. It would prove to be his last as he was tragically killed in a non-championship race at Brands Hatch later that year.

1976
Another English driver, John Watson, also secured his maiden grand prix on this day by winning the Austrian Grand Prix. Victory marked the first and only win for the Penske team and legend has it that Watson was forced to shave off his beard after the victory, having promised Roger Penske he would if the team won a race.

1993
The build-up to the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend was awash with rumours that Ayrton Senna was in advanced talks with the Williams team for a drive in 1994. On track, it was business as usual with Alain Prost on pole from team-mate Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher's Benetton. Prost stalled on the parade lap and had to start from the back, handing Hill an initiative he was not to squander, taking his maiden grand prix victory by over a minute. With Schumacher and Senna forced to retire, Riccardo Patrese finished second ahead of Gerhard Berger's Ferrari. Derek Warwick was fourth in his Footwork.

1999
Mika Hakkinen needed a win in Hungary to close the gap to Eddie Irvine in the drivers' standings and qualified on pole ahead of the Ulsterman. Hakkinen established a clear lead and the race developed into a fight for second as David Coulthard began to reel Irvine in. In the closing laps, Irvine cracked under pressure and slid wide, allowing Coulthard through to the delight of his McLaren team-mate.

2004
Michael Schumacher celebrates his 2004 Hungarian Grand Prix victory.
Michael Schumacher won the Hungarian Grand Prix at a canter from Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello to take his 82nd career victory. In doing so, Schumacher broke his own record for wins in a season at 12. It also gave Ferrari its sixth successive constructors' title.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

Thursday 14 August 2014

On This Day In Formula One - 14 August

1960
Jack Brabham won the Portuguese Grand Prix from Bruce McLaren to extend his lead in the championship over the New Zealander. A promising young Scot by the name of Jim Clark finished third to secure his first of many podiums and the race was also notable for John Surtees taking his first pole position.

                                                                  1977
Alan Jones wins the 1977 Austrian Grand Prix in a Shadow.
The Shadow team gave many talented drivers their F1 break including Peter Revson, Jean-Pierre Jarier and Tom Pryce. The team debuted in 1973 and secured its only grand prix victory in at the 1977 Austrian Grand Prix with Alan Jones securing his first win in Formula One. Jones had qualified well down in 14th but sliced through the field in the early laps on a wet circuit as lesser drivers struggled with the conditions. Having overtaken Hans Stuck and Jody Scheckter to move up to second, Jones could make little impression on race leader James Hunt but lap 44 Hunt's engine suddenly blew and Jones drove on to an unlikely victory.

1983
Alain Prost won the Austrian Grand Prix to extend his lead in the drivers' championship over Nelson Piquet, who finished third in his Brabham behind the Ferrari of Rene Arnoux. The race also marked Ferrari's 100th pole position, Patrick Tambay starting at the front of the grid.

1988
Enzo Ferrari, founder of the most emotive and successful team in the history of Formula One, died aged 90. The 'Old Man', remained in charge of the team which he founded in 1947 until his death.

                                                                                  1994
Michael Schumacher on the podium celebrating his victory.
Source: Sutton Images. 
Michael Schumacher won the Hungarian Grand Prix from Damon Hill and team-mate Jos Verstappen, who claimed his first F1 podium. Mika Hakkinen served a one-race ban for his part in the first-corner pile-up in Germany but Schumacher led from start to finish to extend his lead over his title rival to a massive 31 points. Verstappen's podium finish marked a welcome return only two weeks after he walked away with minor burns from the frightening pit fire in Hockenheim.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

Wednesday 13 August 2014

On This Day In Formula One - 13 August

1887
David Bruce-Brown was born in New York City on this day. His career started when as an 18-year-old he bluffed his way into a drive and his natural talent was soon evident. He won the American Grand Prize in 1910 and 1911 and also competed in the 1911 (finishing third) and 1912 Indianapolis 500s. He was killed during practice for the 1912 American Grand Prize.

1972
Emerson Fittipaldi won the Austrian Grand Prix at the Osterreichring from Denny Hulme and Peter Revson after passing Jackie Stewart for the lead on lap 24. The victory gave Fittipaldi a lead in the championship of 25 points with only three races remaining meaning that Hulme would need to win all three without Emerson scoring a point to beat the young Brazilian to the title.

                                1978
Ronnie Peterson won the Austrian Grand Prix after a chaotic start caused by a sudden downpour just as the race was about to get underway.
Source: Sutton Images
Widely regarded as one of the best drivers never to win the world championship, Sweden's Ronnie Peterson won the last of his ten grand prix victories at the Austrian Grand Prix, winning from Patrick Depailler and Gilles Villeneuve. Peterson took ten victories in an eight year F1 career but tragically died a month later after complications arising from a straightforward operation on broken legs sustained during a crash at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

1989
Nigel Mansell makes the move stick to pass Ayrton Senna for the win.
The 1989 Hungarian Grand Prix will forever be remembered for a brilliantly opportunistic manoeuvre by Nigel Mansell's Ferrari on Ayrton Senna's McLaren that secured him victory. On lap 58 the pair came up to pass backmarker Stefan Johansson, experiencing gearbox problems in his Onyx. As the leaders arrived behind the Swede his problem struck again and as the Onyx slowed unexpectedly, Mansell swerved to the right of Senna and nailed his man.

1995
Damon Hill romped to a straightforward victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, leading home team-mate David Coulthard for a Williams 1-2. Michael Schumacher looked destined to finish second in his Benetton and was hunting down Hill when he was forced to retire with a fuel pump problem. Despite his retirement, Schumacher still led the championship by eleven points from Hill. The race also saw a bizarre incident involving Japanese driver Taki Inoue. His Footwork had broken down by the side of the track and when he climbed from his car, he ran straight into the path of a marshal's car which promptly knocked him over and injured his leg.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

Tuesday 12 August 2014

'Passion & Performance' - 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 - 12 August

                                                                               1979
Frank Williams celebrates his third successive victory.
Source: Sutton Images.
Alan Jones won the Austrian Grand Prix at the Osterreichring to secure three consecutive wins for the Williams team. Even though Williams also won the next race, ultimately, his team's winning streak proved in vain and was not enough to stop Jody Scheckter and Ferrari notching up a drivers' and constructors' championship double that year. Rene Arnoux secured his first pole position as Renault started with a power advantage from its turbo but he was quickly passed at the start and fuel pick-up problems meant he finished sixth.

1985

Former F1 driver Manfred Winkelhock was killed when he crashed heavily at turn 2 at Mosport Park near Toronto during the Budweiser 1000 km World Endurance Championship event. The brother of Joachim Winkelhock, Manfred became famous when he flipped his F2 March at the very steep rise-and-fall Flugplatz corner on the Nürburgring in 1980. He started 47 grands prix between 1980 and 1985.

1990
Belgian driver Thierry Boutsen secured his third and final victory for Williams at the 1990 Hungarian Grand Prix after withstanding intense pressure from Ayrton Senna's McLaren-Honda. The race also marked Alex Caffi's 50th grand prix start.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

Monday 11 August 2014

On This Day In Formula One - 11 August

1939
Designer and engineer Jean Bugatti was killed when out testing a car and was forced to swerve to avoid a drunken cyclist and hit a tree. Although only 30, he had already stamped his mark on the motor industry as part of the family company, designing landmark vehicles while in his early 20s and going on to build a series of leading racing cars. As an engineer he worked on revolutionary suspension systems.

                                                                                                                                                   1953

 Tazio Nuvolari, also known as “The Flying Mantuan".
Tazio Nuvolari was the ultimate pre-war driver who won every major race going, and was described by Ferdinand Porsche as "the greatest driver of the past, present and future". Credited for his determination as well as his speed, he once had his Maserati specially adapted so he could drive a race with one leg still in plaster after he had broken it in a crash a month earlier. Nuvolari died on this day from a stroke aged 60. Alberto Ascari, Luigi Villoresi and Juan Fangio pushed his coffin on a car chassis on the mile-long funeral procession as all of Italy mourned.

                                                                        1984
Lucas Di Grassi was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Brazilian secured his first F1 drive with Virgin Racing in 2010 after finishing second in GP2 in 2007 and third in 2008 and 2009.

1991
Ayrton Senna won the Hungarian Grand Prix from pole position, leading home the Williams duo of Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese. The Jordan Team also secured its first ever fastest lap in the same race, Bertrand Gachot the driver behind the wheel.

                          1996
Jacques Villeneuve celebrates his victory with team-mate Damon Hill.
Jacques Villeneuve took his third win in his debut Formula One season at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Leading home team-mate Damon Hill for a Williams's 1-2, the points haul secured the team its eighth constructors' title to equal Ferrari's record. It also meant that Hill and Villeneuve were the only men left in contention for the drivers' title. The battle would go right down to the final race in Japan when Hill triumphed after Villeneuve lost a wheel and retired.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

Sunday 10 August 2014

SLIPSTREAM SA COMPETITION

Slipstream SA Formula 1 competition - WIN a Evolution of Scuderia Ferrari poster and a Scuderia Ferrari Formula One car (scale 1:43).

There will be 15 questions in total. 1 per day starting on the 8th August 2014. Once all 15 have been announced, please compile your answers and e-mail them to slipstreamsacompetition@gmail.com The deadline for entries is 3rd September 2014 at midnight. The winner will be selected at random from all correct entries using a random number generator.

NOTE - Each question will be released on Twitter - @JunaidSamodien_ and will be posted on this blog as well!

RULES - 1] DO NOT answer the questions when they are posted. You are required to compile all your answers and send them to me once you've figured out the answer to the final question.
2] When sending your answers PLEASE attach your Full Name and Twitter Handle if you have one.
3] This competition is OPEN to anyone (Worldwide)


Most of all! Enjoy the Quiz and Goodluck!


QUESTION 1 - When was Scuderia Ferrari founded? (Year)

QUESTION 2 - How many championship points did Scuderia Ferrari score in the 2013 season? 

QUESTION 3 - What do these years represent? 1994-1995-2000-2001-2002-2003-2004?

Question 4 - Name the 3 subjects that Interested Michael Schumacher the most at school?

Question 5 - At what age did Michael Schumacher begin his karting career?

Question 6 - Which Formula 1 team gave Michael Schumacher his first taste at Formula One?

Question 7 - At which Grand Prix did Michael Schumacher announce that he would join Ferrari?

Question 8 - In 2000, who ended the twenty-one-year drought for Ferrari by winning the World Championship?

Question 9 - Name the designer who joined Ferrari on 17 February 1997?


Question 10 - Who took over as Team Principal when Jean Todt left Ferrari?

Question 11 - In the 1995 season Michael Schumacher qualified in 16th place for the Belgian Grand Prix but in which position did he finish in the Grand Prix?

Question 12 - Ferrari achieved the record of the most one-two finishes with the same drivers. Name the drivers?

Question 13 - Which team did Ferrari supply with engines in the 1991 season?

Question 14 - Who was Gilles Villeneuve's team mate in the 1980 season? (Name the driver?)



On This Day In Formula One - 10 August

                                                                                         1910
Guy Mairesse at the 1951 French Grand Prix.
French racer Guy Mairesse was born. Competing in three Formula One races between 1950 and 1951, Mairesse didn't stay in Formula One for long and mainly competed in other racing events. Mairesse was killed in practice for the Coupe de Paris at Montlhery in 1954 when, after swerving to avoid another car, he crashed into a concrete wall.

1915
Carlos Alberto Menditéguy was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Argentinean competed in Formula One between 1953 and 1960 making 10 grand prix appearances and claiming one podium finish. Menditéguy died in 1973 at the age of 57. Menditéguy was also an accomplished polp player, reaching the highest possible handicap of 10.

1986
Alain Prost made the 100th grand prix start of his distinguished career at the Hungarian Grand Prix but it was not to be a happy outing for the Frenchman, who retired on lap 23. Nelson Piquet went on to win the race from Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell in a result that meant result meant there were four men covered by just 11 points in the world championship race: Mansell, Senna, Piquet and Prost.

                                                                 1997
Damon Hill congratulates Jacques Villeneuve after just missing out on victory.
Source: F1.com
After leading most of the race, Damon Hill was left heartbroken after the Hungarian Grand Prix when a hydraulics failure cost him a most unlikely victory in his Arrows-Yamaha. Leading second place man Jacques Villeneuve by 35 seconds with three laps to go, Hill watched Villeneuve eat into his lead when his technical problem left him stuck in third gear. Despite his ailment, Villeneuve only swerved past the Arrows on the final lap. After a dismal first year with the Arrows team, a victory would have meant his second points and first podium finish of the season. Afterwards, even bitter rival Michael Schumacher paid tribute to Hill's drive. "I hoped he would win, because he deserved to, and I congratulate him," said Schumacher, before adding: "I also hoped he'd win, because it would have helped me in the championship."

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

Saturday 9 August 2014

On This Day In Formula One - 9 August

1944
Patrick Depailler was born in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Competing in Formula One from 1972 until 1980, Depaillier completed 95 race starts and claimed two race victories and 19 podiums before being tragically killed in testing at Hockenheim in 1980.

                                                                  1987
Nigel Mansell retires from the 1987 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Source: Sutton Images
Nigel Mansell once again suffered the curse of bad luck when a loose right rear wheel nut forced him to retire from the Hungarian Grand Prix in a commanding position. Having secured Williams' 25th pole position, Mansell led most of the race before being denied the victory when misfortune struck five laps from the chequered flag. Bitter rival and Williams team mate Nelson Piquet went on to take the win and, subsequently that year, the championship.

                                                                  2005
Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone expressed his confidence that the United States Grand Prix would take place in 2006 despite question marks raised over the future of Indianapolis after the 2005 race was held without seven of the 10 Formula One teams when Michelin teams withdrew on tyre safety grounds. The fiasco was followed by harsh criticism of the event among the local public, subsequently leading Michelin to announce it would refund all ticket holders.

2007
McLaren denied that Lewis Hamilton had used the 'F word' word as reported by British newspapers during a radio conversation with team boss Ron Dennis in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Hamilton had been held up by team-mate Fernando Alonso during qualifying and missed the chance to complete a final flying lap. Papers later reported that Hamilton had had a heated discussion with Dennis, telling his team boss to 'never f****** do that to me again' and 'go f****** swivel.' On the same day, Malaysian driver Fairuz Fauzy returned to Formula One action to carry out a day of testing for the Spyker team. Fauzy, who had not driven the Spyker since May, assisted the team with their aero development programme.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]