What happened on this day, December 23 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1956
Michele Alboreto was born in Milan, Italy. Over a career spanning 194 Grands Prix races between 1981 and 1994, he achieved five wins, most notably during his time with Ferrari. His best championship result came in 1985, finishing as runner-up. After retiring from Formula 1, Alboreto enjoyed success in sports car racing, winning the Sebring 12 Hours and the Le Mans 24 Hours. Tragically, he was killed when the Audi R8 he was testing suffered a tyre blowout, sending the car into a wall. Fellow Italian Giancarlo Fisichella honoured Alboreto’s legacy after his podium finish at the 2005 Italian Grand Prix, saying, “I know Alboreto was the last Italian on the podium at Monza before me. I was lucky enough to race with him in touring cars, and he was a great person, really special. I dedicate this result to his memory.”
1962
Bertrand Gachot was born in Luxembourg. During his Formula 1 career, he entered 84 Grands Prix races between 1989 and 1995 but qualified for only 47 events. Though he never finished higher than fifth, Gachot recorded the fastest lap at the 1991 Hungarian Grand Prix while driving for Jordan. Notably, he was the first driver to compete under the European Union colours.
1985
Prince Bira of Thailand was the first Southeast Asian to compete in Formula 1, participating in 19 World Championship Grands Prix between 1950 and 1954. Though he never won a race, he achieved a best finish of fourth at the 1950 Swiss Grand Prix and scored a total of 8 championship points. Bira also competed in non-championship events and was known for his distinctive blue-and-yellow racing colours. After retiring from racing, he lived a quieter life and tragically died of a heart attack in 1985 at London’s Baron’s Court Underground station.
2000
Moscow’s Deputy Mayor, Joseph Ordzhonikidze, was critically injured when gunmen fired over 30 bullets at his car. While Ordzhonikidze survived the attack, his chauffeur was killed. Investigators quickly turned their attention to a deal involving Tom Walkinshaw to construct a Formula 1 circuit in the area, a project believed to have enraged Moscow’s criminal underworld, who had plans to develop a casino on the proposed site.
2009
On this day in 2009, Michael Schumacher, the seven-time world champion and one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history, announced his highly anticipated return to the sport for the 2010 season. This decision came three years after his retirement at the end of 2006 when he moved into an advisory role with Ferrari. His return was met with widespread excitement and speculation as fans and experts debated whether he could recapture his former dominance in a new era of F1. Schumacher’s comeback was tied to a partnership with the newly formed Mercedes GP team, a project led by Ross Brawn, the mastermind behind many of Schumacher’s championship wins.
2022
Philippe Streiff was a French Formula 1 driver who competed in 55 Grands Prix between 1984 and 1988 with Renault, Ligier, Tyrrell, and AGS, achieving a best finish of third at the 1985 Australian Grand Prix. His F1 career was cut short by a pre-season testing crash in 1989 that left him paralysed. Despite this, Streiff remained active in motorsport, working to improve safety for drivers with disabilities. He passed away on 23 December 2022 at the age of 67.
F1 Driver Birthdays 23 December
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 23 December 1956 | Michele Alboreto |
| 23 December 1962 | Bertrand Gachot |
F1 Driver Deaths 23 December
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 23 December 1985 | Prince Bira (b. 1914) |
| 23 December 2022 | Philippe Streiff (b. 1955) |
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