Formula One - On This Day

Born on this day, Jo Siffert, winner of the 1968 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch in Rob Walker Racing Team's Lotus 49B, beating Chris Amon's Ferrari into second place after a race-long battle. This is regarded as the last Grand Prix victory by a genuine privateer.

Jo Siffert

Born on this day, Alessandro Nannini, Italian driver. He participated in 76 Grands Prix, with one win (1978 Japanese Grand Prix) and 9 podium finishes.

The first fatal accident at a Grand Prix occurred during the French Grand Prix at Dippe, when Ciassac and his riding mechanic Schaube were killed after their Panhard crashed after a front tyre blew. “Pits” entered motoring terminology at this Grand Prix when a divided trench with a counter just above ground level was provided for team crews, although inappropriate in that structures above ground-level were subsequently used, the term has stuck. The race was won by Christian Lautenschlager in a Mercedes.

Corner at the 1908 French Grand Prix at Dieppe.

Juan Manuel Fangio won the French Grand Prix in a Maserati 250F. The shared drive of Mike MacDowel (30 laps) and Jack Brabham (38 laps) in a Cooper-Climax came in seventh.

Jo Schlesser (40) died during the French Grand Prix after only two laps, after his car slid wide at the Six Frères corner and crashed sideways into a bank. The magnesium-bodied Honda and 58 laps worth of fuel ignited instantly, leaving Schlesser with no chance of survival. As a result, Honda withdrew from Formula One at the end of the 1968 season after Surtees again refused to drive the car at the Italian Grand Prix.

Jo Schlesser

Nikki Lauda's pole at the French Grand Prix was the fastest lap in the Formula One's history. He completed the 2.044 mile Dujon circuit in just 58. Continue Reading →

Ronnie Peterson takes his first ever win at the 1973 French Grand Prix

Nelson Piquet won the French Grand Prix driving a Brabham BT54-BMW. It turned out to be the Brabham team's last victory in Formula One. It was also the first Grand Prix victory since their return to Formula One for Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli. Continue Reading →

The first French Grand Prix to be held at the new Magny Cours venue, was won by Nigel Mansell in a Williams-Renault FW14.

Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari F2002 won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Lewis Hamilton set Silverstone alight by qualifying on pole at the British Grand Prix, but was unable to follow up with victory the following day as he came home third.