What Happened On This Day April 5 In F1 History?

What happened on this day, April 5 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.

1922

After serving as a U.S. Marine, Andy Linden competed in seven Grands Prix when the Indianapolis 500 was part of the Formula One championship. An experienced sprint and midget racer, he achieved top-six finishes in three of his Indy 500 appearances. However, his career was tragically cut short in 1957 when a shard of metal pierced his helmet during a race, leaving him with brain damage. Though initially confined to a wheelchair, he eventually regained the ability to walk before his passing.

1936

California-born Ronnie Bucknum raced for Honda between 1964 and 1966, making history at the 1964 German Grand Prix as the first driver to compete in a Honda-powered Formula One car. In his 11 starts, he managed to finish only three races, with his best result being a fifth-place finish at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. After his time in F1, he moved to the USAC Championship Car series. Bucknum passed away at the age of 56 due to complications from diabetes.

1992

The stark contrast between Formula 1’s elite and its struggling teams was apparent at the 1992 Brazilian Grand Prix. McLaren arrived with six cars, while the beleaguered Andrea Moda team fought tirelessly to get just two operating. Their efforts were further marred when Perry McCarthy was barred from competing due to lacking the required FIA Super Licence. Williams dominated the race, securing a one-two finish with Nigel Mansell leading Riccardo Patrese. The race also saw most recent appearance of a female driver, as Giovanna Amati attempted to qualify but failed to make the grid. Michael Schumacher took third for Benetton.

1992 Brazilian Grand Prix Race Results

2009

Jenson Button secured the second of his remarkable six consecutive wins at the start of the season for Brawn GP at the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix, though it was far from the most enjoyable victory. A torrential downpour transformed the Sepang circuit into a lake, leaving Button and the other drivers stranded on the grid as they waited for conditions to improve. The final 50 minutes were spent watching the rain fall and the clock run down. The Times observed, “The only unexpected aspect was that when the rain came, it did so in dribs and drabs to start with, rather than via a sudden cloudburst, and this played a big role in the final outcome as teams struggled to respond with their tyre strategy.”

As the race failed to reach the required 75% distance (42 laps) for full points to be awarded, half-points were given instead, for only the fifth time in Formula One history and the first since the 1991 Australian Grand Prix. Nick Heidfeld was classified second for BMW Sauber with Timo Glock third for Toyota.

2009 Malaysian Grand Prix Race Results

2020

The first-ever Vietnamese Grand Prix was initially set for 5 April 2020 as part of a multi-year contract. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was first postponed and ultimately cancelled following the arrest of Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung on corruption charges unrelated to the event. His arrest ultimately led to a ten-year prison sentence in 2022.

F1 Driver Birthdays 5 April

F1 Driver Deaths 5 April