What happened on this day, December 14 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1909
When the Indianapolis Motor Speedway first opened, the poor quality of its track surface led to a disastrous first race with multiple accidents and the loss of five lives. In response, the owners decided to pave the track with bricks. On this day, the work was completed, giving birth to the iconic Indy Brickyard. The grand opening followed three days later, with Indiana Governor Thomas R. Marshall ceremoniously laying the final “golden” brick. Today, only three feet of the original brick surface remains, preserved at the start-finish line.
1919
American driver Bob Drake was born in San Francisco. Originally a restaurateur in Los Angeles, Drake gained fame for his work preparing stunts and vehicles for Hollywood. He competed in the 1960 United States Grand Prix at Riverside, finishing 13th in a Maserati 250F. This race marked the final FIA World Championship appearance for the legendary 250F.
1993
Former F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi was born on this day. He entered F1 during the 2017 season, making his first competitive debut with Sauber at the 2017 Australian Grand Prix. He was called up to replace Pascal Wehrlein, who was injured at the time. He continued at the following 2017 Chinese Grand Prix, where he stepped in for Wehrlein again.
In 2019, Giovinazzi secured a full-time race seat with Alfa Romeo, partnering with 2007 Champion Kimi Raikkonen. He competed for the team in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 seasons, filling the seat previously held by Marcus Ericsson, who became the team’s reserve driver. By the end of the 2021 season, Antonio Giovinazzi parted ways with Alfa Romeo and assumed the role of reserve driver for Ferrari, sharing responsibilities with Mick Schumacher.
2003
In preparation for the debut of the 2004 Chinese Grand Prix, the Minardi team organised an event near Beijing’s airport, giving 14 competition winners a high-speed ride around the circuit. Unfortunately, the excitement was cut short by an unexpected snowstorm.
2007
Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen was announced as Lewis Hamilton‘s new teammate at McLaren, replacing Fernando Alonso after a turbulent season that saw Alonso’s relationship with the team break down. “I am so excited to join a team like McLaren Mercedes,” Kovalainen said. “The dedication and commitment to winning here is incredible.” During his two seasons with McLaren, Kovalainen struggled to match Hamilton’s pace. His only victory came in 2008, and by 2009, he failed to reach the podium.
F1 Driver Birthdays 14 December
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 14 December 1919 | Bob Drake |
| 14 December 1978 | Enrico Toccacelo |
| 14 December 1993 | Antonio Giovinazzi |
F1 Driver Deaths 14 December
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 14 December | None |
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