What happened on this day, August 1 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1959
Jean Behra died in a sports car race that preceded the 1959 German Grand Prix at AVUS under treacherous wet weather conditions. Behra lost control on the slippery surface, launching his Porsche RSK over the top of the banking where there was no guard rail. He was thrown from his car and died instantly upon hitting a flag pole, fracturing his skull. The French driver competed in 52 Grands Prix, achieving nine podium finishes. Although he never won a race, Behra was widely regarded as one of the best and most aggressive drivers of his era, racing for Gordini, Maserati, BRM, and Ferrari.
Currently, AVUS is a vital part of the German public highway system as Autobahn A 115.
1965
Jim Clark secured his second World Championship in 1965 by driving his Lotus to victory at the 1965 German Grand Prix. This win marked Clark’s sixth victory of the Formula One season in just the seventh race, highlighting his dominance that year.
1976
Niki Lauda nearly lost his life in a dramatic accident at the Nurburgring during the 1976 German Grand Prix. Lauda’s Ferrari veered off track and burst into flames before sliding back onto the track and being struck by two other drivers. The crash was so severe that a priest administered last rites to Lauda after he was rescued from the wreckage by fellow drivers who had stopped to help. Remarkably, Lauda recovered and returned to racing just six weeks later. However, Formula One never raced on the Nordschleife course at the Nurburgring again.
Notably, before the race had started, defending world champion Lauda, who was also leading the current season’s points standings, was deeply concerned about the safety conditions and the organisers’ failure to provide adequate safety support staff, including doctors, helicopters and fire marshals, for the massive German circuit. The forecast of rain heightened his worries. Lauda attempted to organise a boycott of the race, but the other drivers narrowly voted against it by a single vote, and the race proceeded as planned.
Lauda sustained severe burns to his head, resulting in extensive scarring. He lost most of his right ear, the hair on the right side of his head, his eyebrows, and his eyelids. Remarkably, Lauda missed only two races and appeared at a press conference in Monza just six weeks after the accident with his fresh burns still bandaged.
1980
Patrick Depailler tragically lost his life during testing ten days ahead of the 1980 German Grand Prix. Depailler’s car experienced suspension failure, causing him to crash into the Hockenheim circuit’s barrier at Ostkurve, and suffer fatal head injuries. The car skidded along the top of the guard rail for several hundred feet prior to flipping onto its top. Throughout his career, Depailler started 95 races, winning two and achieving 19 podium finishes.
1995
Just days after winning the German Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher married Corinna Betsch during the mid-season break. That year, he would win his second consecutive drivers’ title.
1999
Mika Hakkinen achieved McLaren‘s 100th Formula One pole position at the 1999 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. However, Eddie Irvine‘s Ferrari claimed victory, marking his third win of the season and giving him an eight-point lead in the championship over Hakkinen. Hakkinen ultimately won the world championship title. Additionally, Mika Salo secured his first podium finish at the 1999 German Grand Prix, finishing second behind his Ferrari teammate Irvine.
F1 Driver Birthday’s 1 August
| Birth Date | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 1 August 1961 | Allen Berg |
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