What happened on this day, April 16 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1918
Dick Gibson, born on this day, was a garage owner from Barnstaple who made two Formula One World Championship appearances, both at the German Grand Prix in 1957 and 1958, driving a Cooper-Climax. Unfortunately, mechanical failures prevented him from finishing either race.
A regular competitor in non-championship Formula One events, he initially raced in an A-type Connaught but frequently struggled with reliability issues throughout his career.
1942
Sir Frank Williams, born on this day in 1942, was a pioneering British businessman, former racing car driver, and the legendary founder of the Williams F1 team. Known simply as “Frank” within the motorsport world, he dedicated over four decades to building and leading one of the most successful teams in Formula One history. From its foundation in 1977 until his retirement in 2020, he served as the team principal, overseeing Williams Racing through its many victories, challenges, and transformations. The team was formed after Frank Williams’ previous teams, Frank Williams Racing Cars and later Wolf–Williams Racing.
Under his leadership, the Williams team achieved remarkable success, capturing nine Constructors’ Championships and seven Drivers’ Championships, placing it among the most successful teams in the sport. Known for his tenacity, Sir Frank overcame significant adversity, including a life-altering car accident in 1986 that left him quadriplegic. Undeterred, he continued to lead the team from a wheelchair.
Williams’ team was known for its commitment to engineering excellence and innovation. It also secured the talents of notable drivers such as Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, and Damon Hill, as well as engineers and designers who went on to shape the future of Formula One. The team’s ethos under Sir Frank was one of grit, independence, and competitiveness, often challenging larger, manufacturer-backed teams on the grid.
In recognition of his contributions to motorsport, Sir Frank was awarded a CBE and was later knighted in 1999. His passing in 2021 marked the end of an era, but his influence remains embedded in the DNA of the team he helped to shape.
1979
Christijan Albers, born on this day in Eindhoven, took a long and winding path from Formula Three to Formula One. After securing second and third place finishes in the DTM championship, he earned a role as a test driver for Minardi in 2004. His performances impressed the team enough to secure a full-time race seat in 2005, where he demonstrated consistency, finishing 14 of his 19 starts. His only points came in the infamous U.S. Grand Prix, where just six cars took the start, earning him a fifth-place finish.
In 2006, Albers moved to Midland, the rebranded Jordan team, but struggled to make an impact. When the team was sold to Spyker, he retained his seat for 2007 but was consistently outperformed by rookie teammate Adrian Sutil. His most notorious moment came at Magny-Cours, where he ignored the lollipop during a pit stop and drove off with part of the fuel rig still attached. The blunder earned him a €5,000 fine for dangerous driving, with Niki Lauda calling it “the most stupid thing I have ever seen in F1.”
Lacking sponsorship, Albers was released from Spyker in July 2007. He later returned to DTM before continuing his racing career in the United States.
2000
Toyota signed 30-year-old Scottish driver Allan McNish as a test driver ahead of its highly anticipated Formula One debut in 2002. “This is a great day for me,” McNish said at the time. “It’s a wonderful opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to playing a major part in the F1 programme.”
When Toyota joined the grid in 2002, McNish secured a race seat alongside Mika Salo. However, despite his efforts throughout the season’s 17 races, he failed to score any points. Both he and Salo were replaced at the end of the year as Toyota reshuffled its lineup for the following season.
2009
Ron Dennis stepped down as McLaren’s chief executive and chairman after 28 years at the helm, marking the end of an era for the team. Reflecting on his departure, he acknowledged his combative nature in the sport: “I admit I’m not always easy to get on with. I admit I’ve always fought hard for McLaren in Formula One. I doubt if Max Mosley or Bernie Ecclestone will be displeased by my decision. But no one asked me to do it. It was my decision.”
His exit was widely viewed as a result of both his own unyielding approach and the FIA president Max Mosley’s desire to remove one of his most vocal critics. Jonathan McEvoy of the Daily Mail summed it up: “He was a victim of his own hubris and Mosley’s determination to rid the sport of his most turbulent critic. But ultimately, he is out of office because his friends as much as his enemies turned on him.”
Among those distancing themselves from Dennis was world champion Lewis Hamilton, along with his father and manager, Anthony Hamilton. With Dennis gone, Hamilton was reportedly more content to remain with McLaren.
However, Dennis was not finished with Formula One. After four years away from the top job, he returned to lead McLaren once again in 2014.
2017
Defending race and Championship winner Nico Rosberg was absent from the 2017 Bahrain Grand Prix grid, having retired at the end of the 2016 season. Heading into the race, Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel led the championship standings, tied on points with the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton but holding the top spot on count-back.
Vettel claimed the win, securing his second win of the season, while Hamilton finished second after teammate Valtteri Bottas, who finished third, moved aside with 10 laps to go.
2017 Bahrain Grand Prix Race Results
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Laps | Time/retired | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 57 | 1:33:53.374 | 25 |
| 2 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 57 | +6.660s | 18 |
| 3 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | 57 | +20.397s | 15 |
| 4 | 7 | Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari | 57 | +22.475s | 12 |
| 5 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer | 57 | +39.346s | 10 |
| 6 | 19 | Felipe Massa | Williams Mercedes | 57 | +54.326s | 8 |
| 7 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Force India Mercedes | 57 | +62.606s | 6 |
| 8 | 8 | Romain Grosjean | Haas Ferrari | 57 | +74.865s | 4 |
| 9 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Renault | 57 | +80.188s | 2 |
| 10 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Force India Mercedes | 57 | +95.711s | 1 |
| 11 | 94 | Pascal Wehrlein | Sauber Ferrari | 56 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 12 | 26 | Daniil Kvyat | Toro Rosso | 56 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 13 | 30 | Jolyon Palmer | Renault | 56 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 14 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | McLaren Honda | 54 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 9 | Marcus Ericsson | Sauber Ferrari | 50 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Toro Rosso | 12 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 18 | Lance Stroll | Williams Mercedes | 12 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 33 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer | 11 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari | 8 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 2 | Stoffel Vandoorne | McLaren Honda | 0 | DNS | 0 |
F1 Driver Birthdays 16 April
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 16 April 1918 | Dick Gibson (d. 2010) |
| 16 April 1925 | Piero Valenzano (d. 1955) |
| 16 April 1927 | Bob Cortner (d. 1959) |
| 16 April 1979 | Christijan Albers |
| 16 April 1986 | Paul Di Resta |
| Death | F1 Mentions |
|---|---|
| 16 April 1942 | Frank Williams (d. 2021) The founder of the Williams Formula One team. |
F1 Driver Deaths 16 April
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 16 April 1988 | Jose Dolhem (b. 1944) |
Seen in:
