Chequered Past

June 25th delivered one of the most controversial moments of the hybrid era as Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton clashed—literally and figuratively—on the streets of Baku. In an Azerbaijan Grand Prix packed with debris, red flags, and raw emotion, it was Daniel Ricciardo who capitalised on the chaos, but it was Vettel’s furious swerve into Hamilton under Safety Car conditions that stole the head...

From the birth of a legend to two unforgettable Grand Prix drives, June 24 has delivered some of Formula 1’s most compelling stories. We begin in 1911 with the arrival of Juan Manuel Fangio—‘El Maestro’—whose legacy still shapes the sport more than a century later. Then it’s on to the 1990 Mexican Grand Prix, where Alain Prost surged from 13th to victory and Nigel Mansell executed one of F1’s most...

On this day in 1968, Jackie Stewart delivered one of the most commanding wet-weather performances in Formula One history. At a rain-soaked Zandvoort, Stewart returned from injury and reminded the world of his brilliance, taming the treacherous Dutch circuit to secure Matra’s first Grand Prix victory. In The Calm That Conquered the Chaos , we revisit his masterclass in control, composure, and coura...

On this day in Formula One history, an unlikely hero stole the spotlight at Zandvoort. We revisit the thrilling 1975 Dutch Grand Prix, where James Hunt claimed his first F1 victory for the independent Hesketh team, holding off a ferocious challenge from Niki Lauda’s dominant Ferrari in a wet-to-dry classic. Then we fast-forward to 2005, as BMW makes a bold move to buy out Sauber and launch its own...

In this episode of Chequered Past , we rewind to three unforgettable Grand Prix moments from June 21st in Formula 1 history. We begin with Gilles Villeneuve’s legendary drive at the 1981 Spanish Grand Prix —a race where sheer grit and defensive genius saw him fend off a train of faster cars for over an hour on the tight, twisty Jarama circuit. It was Villeneuve’s final F1 win, and arguably his gre...

June 20 has delivered some of the most memorable moments in motorsport history, and this episode dives into three of them. We begin at Zandvoort in 1971, where Jacky Ickx mastered the rain in a commanding drive that reminded the paddock of his brilliance. From there, we turn back the clock to 1904 and the formation of the AIACR — the foundation of today’s FIA — tracing the roots of racing’s global...

June 19th, 1960. Spa-Francorchamps witnessed one of the darkest days in Formula One history. Promising young drivers Chris Bristow and Alan Stacey lost their lives in horrifying crashes—moments apart—on the treacherous Belgian circuit. In Episode 19 of Chequered Past , we honour their memory, reflect on the danger of the era, and contrast it with another infamous June 19th event: the 2005 United S...

In this episode of Chequered Past, we celebrate the remarkable story of Dan Gurney’s historic win at Spa-Francorchamps in 1967, where the American driver and constructor delivered the only Formula One victory for an American-built car—the Eagle-Weslake. Against the unforgiving backdrop of the old Spa circuit, Gurney’s flawless drive and elegant machine soared into the record books. We also honour...

In this episode of Chequered Past , we revisit one of Formula One’s most audacious engineering moments: the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix. Brabham’s radical BT46B “fan car” stunned the paddock and dominated the race in its only appearance before being withdrawn amidst controversy. We explore how innovation clashed with regulation and why this one-off wonder still sparks debate decades later. We then fas...

In this episode of Chequered Past , we revisit June 16th in Formula 1 history — a date that delivered Ferrari glory, rising rivalries, and one race that never even happened. We begin in 1985 with a deep dive into the Canadian Grand Prix , where Ferrari delivered a dominant 1–2 finish through Michele Alboreto and Stefan Johansson. It was a triumph built not just on speed, but fuel efficiency and st...

On June 15th, Chequered Past takes you to the fearsome Spa-Francorchamps for the 1958 Belgian Grand Prix, where Tony Brooks delivered a flawless victory on one of the sport’s most demanding circuits. We then honour the memory of James Hunt, the 1976 World Champion whose sudden death in 1993 shocked the racing world. Finally, we relive the drama of the 1997 Canadian Grand Prix, where chaos reigned...

Fuel tanks ran dry. Leaders dropped like flies. And through the chaos of Spa-Francorchamps in 1964, one man kept his cool. 🎙️ In Episode 14, we relive the Belgian Grand Prix of June 14, 1964 , where Jim Clark claimed victory in the most unpredictable of circumstances — while others faltered in the forests of the Ardennes. Plus: we revisit the 1992 Canadian Grand Prix, and celebrate the quiet brill...

In this episode of Chequered Past , we revisit one of Formula 1’s most eccentric triumphs – the day a six-wheeled car won a Grand Prix. The 1976 Swedish Grand Prix saw the radical Tyrrell P34 silence its doubters in spectacular fashion, delivering an unforgettable one-two finish. We explore how innovation briefly conquered convention, and why Jody Scheckter, despite victory, called it “a piece of...

In this episode of Chequered Past , we dive into the chaos and glory of the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix — the longest race in F1 history, where Jenson Button carved out a legendary win from the back of the pack. We also celebrate the birthday of Innes Ireland , a fearless and flamboyant racer who gave Lotus its first Formula One victory, and revisit the 1966 Belgian Grand Prix , a harrowing day at Sp...

June 11 gave us stories full of heart, history, and hard-fought victories: 🏆 Jean Alesi’s long-awaited first (and only) Grand Prix win in Canada—on his 31st birthday , no less. A triumph years in the making, fuelled by loyalty to Ferrari and celebrated on Gilles Villeneuve’s home turf. 🎂 The 86th birthday of Sir Jackie Stewart —three-time world champion, safety pioneer, and one of F1’s most infl...

On June 10th, 2007, a young rookie named Lewis Hamilton stunned the Formula 1 world with a cool, commanding drive to claim his maiden Grand Prix victory in Montreal. It was the moment a star was born 🌟 In this episode, we rewind to that incredible day — and also reflect on the legacy of Canadian racing pioneer Eppie Wietzes , and the rare Schumacher 1–2 that lit up the 2001 Canadian Grand Prix 🇨🇦...

Controversy. Protest. Legacy. In this episode, we revisit the 2019 Canadian Grand Prix — a race where the battle on track was fierce, but the final result came down to the stewards’ verdict. Sebastian Vettel crossed the line first, but Lewis Hamilton was awarded the win. What followed was one of the most memorable podium protests in modern F1. We also celebrate the birthday of Luigi Fagioli — the...

On June 8th in F1 History — chaos at the pit exit, redemption for Robert Kubica, and the only victory for BMW Sauber. We also revisit Ricciardo’s breakthrough in 2014 and pay tribute to Ludovico Scarfiotti. Send us Fan Mail Music by # Mubert Music Rendering

Montreal. 1998. A race red-flagged, a restart full of chaos, and a reigning champion under fire. Michael Schumacher took victory — but not without a penalty, a push, and plenty of debate. Also in this episode: 🇨🇭 The Swiss dreamer who tried to build an F1 empire – Peter Monteverdi. 🇧🇪 Pedro Rodríguez’s fearless Spa win in 1970 — his last and greatest triumph. From controversy in Canada to courage...

On June 5, 1983, Michele Alboreto conquered the crumbling streets of Detroit to give Tyrrell and the legendary Cosworth DFV engine their final Formula 1 victory. We revisit that remarkable race, celebrate the birthday of engineering mastermind Patrick Head, and remember Gunnar Nilsson’s poignant win at Zolder in 1977. A tribute to final glories and lasting legacies. Send us Fan Mail Music by # Mub...

On this day in F1 history — June 6 — we go street racing in the chaos of 1982 Detroit, where John Watson climbed from 17th to 1st in a legendary drive. 🇺🇸 Plus: 🟢 Jim Clark’s quiet but momentous debut in 1960 🔴 The wild late drama of the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Send us Fan Mail Music by # Mubert Music Rendering

On this episode of Chequered Past , we explore the key moments in motorsport history that took place on June 4 . 🏁 At Zandvoort in 1967, Jim Clark and the Lotus 49 made history with the debut of the Ford-Cosworth DFV engine – a game-changer that reshaped Formula 1 🏁We remember Parnelli Jones, the legendary American racer who died on this day in 2024, reflecting on his fearless career across Indy...

 On June 3rd, legends were made and remembered. In this episode, we relive Ayrton Senna’s electrifying arrival in a rain-soaked 1984 Monaco Grand Prix, pay tribute to British great Roy Salvadori on the anniversary of his passing, and revisit the heartbreak and legacy of Graham Hill’s Monaco misfortune in 1962 – the race that set him on the path to becoming “Mr Monaco.”  Send us Fan Mail Music by #...

On June 2nd, 1991, Nigel Mansell was just corners away from redemption. Dominant all afternoon in Montreal, the British lion looked set to take his first win of the season — until his Williams stopped dead on the final lap, in one of Formula One’s most infamous meltdowns. In this episode of Chequered Past , we relive the stunning twist that handed Nelson Piquet his final F1 victory and explore how...

On June 1st, 1980, Formula One descended into chaos as politics took centre stage at the Spanish Grand Prix. In this episode, we dive into the infamous non-championship race at Jarama, where a major team boycott split the sport and left the grid depleted. Plus, we celebrate Martin Brundle’s birthday and revisit Juan Pablo Montoya’s mastery at Monaco.  Send us Fan Mail Music by # Mubert Music Rende...