What Happened On This Day December 16 In F1 History?

What happened on this day, December 16 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.

1920

Les Leston, born Alfred Lazarus Fingleston in Nottinghamshire, took on a new name to simplify his public image. He competed in three Grand Prix races—the 1956 Italian and the 1957 Monaco and British races—though he failed to finish any of them. After retiring, Leston found success with a motorsport accessories business before relocating to Hong Kong in the 1970s, where he embarked on a career in broadcasting.

1932

British driver Henry Taylor was born in Bedfordshire. Between 1959 and 1961, he raced in eight Grand Prix events, with a best fourth place at the 1960 French Grand Prix in a Cooper Climax. After retiring from racing, Taylor moved into a pivotal role as competitions manager at Ford, where he continued to influence motorsport off the track.

1982

Lotus and Team Lotus founder Colin Chapman passed away at the age of 54 due to a heart attack in Norfolk. As the driving force behind the iconic Lotus team, Chapman’s influence on motorsport is rivalled only by the likes of Enzo Ferrari. An entrepreneur, designer, and innovative engineer, Chapman often pushed the boundaries of racing despite limited resources. He revolutionised the sport with advancements in aerodynamics, the introduction of the monocoque chassis, and groundbreaking designs such as the wing and ground-effect car. Under his leadership, Lotus secured seven world championships between 1963 and 1978. His death marked the beginning of Lotus’s gradual decline as the team struggled to maintain its drive without his vision and determination.

1989

Oscar Galvez passed away in Buenos Aires at the age of 76. A celebrated figure in Argentine motorsport, he achieved a fifth-place finish in the 1953 Argentine Grand Prix driving a Maserati. His dedication to the sport was commemorated by naming the national racing circuit after him, ensuring his contributions would not be forgotten.

1997

After a ten-month trial in Monza, an Italian judge dismissed manslaughter charges against Frank Williams and five other defendants regarding the 1994 death of Ayrton Senna. Viviane Senna, Ayrton’s sister, responded to the verdict with measured silence, consistent with the family’s stance since the tragic accident. The FIA had warned that guilty verdicts could deter teams from racing in Italy. However, Rosario Alessi, president of Italy’s motor racing federation, firmly stated that the verdict was not lenient. “If there had been responsibilities, they would have surfaced,” he affirmed, emphasising the thoroughness of the investigation.

2002

Justin Wilson was announced as Minardi’s new driver, but only after securing £2 million in sponsorship. Standing 6’3″, Wilson’s height had been a significant barrier in his quest for a Formula 1 seat. Despite an impressive test drive with Jordan in 2002, the team rejected him, citing difficulties fitting him into the car. Minardi offered him a chance, contingent on securing sponsorship, which Wilson successfully achieved. Minardi boss Paul Stoddart praised Wilson’s perseverance, calling him “the star of 2003 and a future race winner.” He added, “We are the only team willing to take a chance on him, and it would be a loss to the sport if his size kept him from competing.”

F1 Driver Birthdays 16 December

F1 Driver Deaths 16 December