Chequered Past

The Firsts That Launched Legends tracks an August 14 packed with career-making and era-defining firsts.  At the 1977 Austrian GP , Alan Jones takes his maiden victory — and Shadow’s only win. We pause to remember Enzo Ferrari , whose team’s firsts shaped grand prix history. At Boavista 1960 , John Surtees claims his first pole and fastest lap, Jim Clark earns his first podium, and Jack Brabham cli...

Nigel Mansell turns the “no-overtaking” myth on its head at the 1989 Hungarian Grand Prix—carving from 12th on the grid to victory with a lightning pass on Ayrton Senna that brought the Hungaroring to its feet. We unpack how Ferrari’s race-trimmed 640 and Il Leone’s instincts combined to dethrone McLaren on a circuit built for patience, not heroics. Elsewhere on this date: the storm-split 1978 Aus...

On August 12, 1979, the high-speed sweeps of the Österreichring witnessed a performance that signalled a changing of the guard in Formula 1. Alan Jones and Williams dominated the Austrian Grand Prix, delivering a flawless drive that marked the team as a new force in the sport.  We also celebrate the birthday of Charlie Whiting, whose behind-the-scenes leadership transformed safety standards, and r...

Williams’ mid-90s dominance takes centre stage as we revisit the 1996 Hungarian Grand Prix—the day a calm, clinical 1–2 for Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill wrapped up the Constructors’ Championship with four races to spare. We unpack how strategy, traffic, and late pressure shaped the result, and why this was the moment the FW18’s superiority translated into silverware. We also pause to remember...

In this episode of Chequered Past , we relive one of Formula One’s greatest “what might have been” moments – the 1997 Hungarian Grand Prix. Damon Hill, in the unfancied Arrows, produced a drive for the ages, leading Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve with ease… until a cruel late hydraulic failure snatched victory away on the final lap. We also celebrate the birthday of Argentina’s Carlos A...

In a perfectly timed coincidence, Episode 70 of Chequered Past celebrates the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix — a landmark 2020 race where Max Verstappen and Red Bull tore up the script to end Mercedes’ dominance with a bold hard-tyre strategy. We also mark the birthday of Patrick Depailler, the charismatic Frenchman backed by Elf whose fearless spirit brought joy, style, and tragedy to Formula 1. And...

On his birthday, we celebrate Nigel Mansell — the fearless “Red Five” whose grit, determination, and sheer will carried him from a caravan in Worcestershire to the Formula One World Championship. From his close bond with Colin Chapman, through heartbreaks and heroics, to his record-breaking 1992 season, Mansell’s story is one of passion and perseverance. We also revisit the 1982 German Grand Prix,...

Today’s episode of Chequered Past centres on one of the fiercest rivalries in Formula One history — Senna vs Prost — as it reached a boiling point at the 1988 Hungarian Grand Prix . With McLaren dominating the season, the two teammates turned teammates-in-name-only, fighting for supremacy in one of the tightest finishes of the year. But Hungary wasn’t the only battleground. We revisit the 1983 Ger...

 On this day in 2006, Jenson Button finally delivered on his long-promised potential with a stunning maiden win in the chaos of a rain-soaked Hungarian Grand Prix. We relive the twists, crashes, and triumphs that turned Budapest into the scene of a career-defining moment. We also celebrate the birthday of Vitantonio Liuzzi—a karting prodigy whose Formula 1 story didn’t quite follow the script—and...

On this day in motorsport history, we revisit the 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix — a weekend that saw McLaren implode in spectacular fashion. As Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton’s rivalry erupted into sabotage, it sparked the events that would spiral into the infamous SpyGate scandal. But amid the chaos, Hamilton delivered a flawless drive that showed he was more than just a rookie sensation. We also...

The Drive That Defined Greatness takes us to the heart of the Eifel mountains for two of the most iconic performances in Formula One history. On this day in 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio delivered a comeback for the ages at the Nürburgring, overcoming a 50-second deficit with seven consecutive lap records to claim what would be his final Grand Prix victory — and a fifth World Championship title. We als...

This episode takes us deep into the forests of the Nürburgring for a Grand Prix that marked the end of an era. We relive Jacky Ickx’s fearless charge to victory in the final Formula 1 race on the full-length Nordschleife — a triumph overshadowed by the tragic death of Gerhard Mitter during practice. We also pay tribute to Peter Collins, the gifted British star who lost his life at the same track a...

From the twisting tarmac of the Nürburgring to the flat-out fury of Hockenheim — and even the high-speed straights of Berlin’s AVUS — the German Grand Prix has long been a proving ground for Formula One’s finest. In this episode of Chequered Past, we revisit five landmark German Grands Prix that took place on August 2nd and celebrate the champions who tamed them. We begin in 1953, where Alberto As...

On this day in motorsport history, Formula 1 faced fire, loss, and redemption. In this episode, we revisit the 1976 German Grand Prix — the day Niki Lauda’s horrifying crash at the Nürburgring Nordschleife didn’t just nearly cost him his life, but helped push Formula 1 toward a safer future.  We remember Patrick Depailler, the charismatic French driver who tragically lost his life testing at Hocke...

On this day in 1994, the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim delivered high-speed drama, mechanical attrition, and a pitlane fireball that intensified the storm of suspicion surrounding Benetton. With Michael Schumacher retiring and Gerhard Berger taking a long-awaited win for Ferrari, the race was another flashpoint in a season already fraught with controversy. We revisit the blaze that engulfed Jos...

Three German Grands Prix. One unforgettable date. In this episode of Chequered Past , we revisit July 30 through three remarkable races across three decades. The headline story is Rubens Barrichello’s emotional breakthrough at Hockenheim in 2000 — a race defined by chaos, courage, and a comeback from 18th on the grid to the top step of the podium. We also turn back to 1978, where Mario Andretti lo...

In this powerful episode of Chequered Past , we revisit the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix — a race overshadowed by tragedy and defined by one man’s extraordinary bravery. As Roger Williamson’s car burst into flames, David Purley stopped mid-race and launched a desperate solo rescue attempt that would etch his name into motorsport history. We also celebrate the birthday of Fernando Alonso, the relentless t...

On July 28, Chequered Past revisits four defining moments from motorsport history. We begin in 2002, as Michael Schumacher delivers a dominant home victory at Hockenheim, sealing Ferrari’s supremacy in one of Formula One’s most one-sided seasons. Next, we remember Luigi Musso, the talented Italian driver whose life and career were cut tragically short. We then turn to 1935, where Tazio Nuvolari sh...

On this day in Formula 1 history, Gerhard Berger made a stunning return to the grid at the 1997 German Grand Prix — and stole the spotlight with a storybook win at Hockenheim.  We revisit that emotional victory, reflect on the career of journeyman French racer Philippe Alliot, and relive the chaos and controversy of the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix, where Daniel Ricciardo came charging through in a r...

On July 26th, Formula One’s history has delivered both heartbreak and hope—sometimes on the same weekend. In this episode of Chequered Past , we begin with Lewis Hamilton’s landmark victory at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix—the first win for a KERS-powered car, and a much-needed turning point in McLaren’s season. But that same weekend was overshadowed by Felipe Massa’s terrifying qualifying acciden...

When McLaren locked out the front row at the A1-Ring, it looked like Mika Häkkinen was poised to strike back in the 1999 title fight. But that plan spun off track — literally — when David Coulthard collided with his teammate at Turn 3. As Häkkinen recovered from the back, it was Ferrari’s Eddie Irvine, finally free from team orders, who capitalised with a calm, clinical victory that reignited his...

On this day in Formula One history, a 40-year-old Jack Brabham silenced his doubters with a dominant drive at Zandvoort. In a rare moment of humour, the usually stoic Aussie arrived on the grid in disguise—fake beard, cane, and all—mocking claims he was too old for F1. But once the lights went out, Brabham was all business, turning pole position into his third straight win and edging closer to a t...

Some races don’t award points — but they still make history. In this episode of Chequered Past , we head off the beaten track to spotlight three non-championship Formula One races that took place on July 23rd across three decades. From Caracciola’s rain-soaked masterclass at the 1939 German Grand Prix, to Louis Rosier’s gritty privateer triumph at Zandvoort in 1950, and Innes Ireland’s breakthroug...

On this day in Formula One history, a one-off gamble turned into a moment of magic. In this episode of Chequered Past , we revisit the 2007 European Grand Prix , where Markus Winkelhock , on debut for backmarker Spyker, surged from 22nd to 1st in the wettest of chaos-fuelled conditions – leading his only Grand Prix and etching his name into F1 folklore. We also celebrate the birthday of Dorino Ser...

On this day in 2002, Michael Schumacher delivered one of the most dominant statements in Formula 1 history — sealing his fifth world title with six races to spare at the French Grand Prix . It was a clinical, strategic masterclass that ended the championship chase and cemented his place alongside Fangio in the sport’s pantheon. We also mark the birthday of Claire Williams , whose quiet strength an...