What Happened On This Day December 6 In F1 History?

What happened on this day, December 6 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.

1948

Keke Rosberg, the 1982 Formula 1 World Champion, was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Though he secured only one Grand Prix victory in his title-winning season, it was enough amid a record-breaking year where 11 different drivers shared wins across 16 races. Rosberg’s career, marked by audacious skill, was as memorable as his championship itself. One defining image of the “Flying Finn” is from Silverstone in 1985, where he stubbed out his trademark cigarette before climbing into his Honda turbo-powered Williams. Pushing his car to the limit, he claimed pole position with an astonishing lap, setting a record speed of over 160 mph—a true all-or-nothing feat. His peers held him in high regard, not just for his courage but for the relentless spirit he displayed on the track. Keke’s legacy in F1 continued with his son, Nico Rosberg, who made his F1 debut with Williams in 2006, the same team that powered Keke to his world title. Nico went on to win in 2016, making them the second father-son duo to win the World Drivers’ Championships, following Graham Hill and Damon Hill.

1982

Susie Wolff is a former professional racing driver from Scotland born on this day, 6 December 1982. Wolff, also the wife of Mercedes‘ team principal, Toto Wolff, made huge strides for women in Formula One. She joined the Williams team in 2012 as a development driver and later took part in practice sessions, becoming the first woman in over two decades to take part in an official F1 race weekend at the 2014 British Grand Prix. Known for her efforts to break gender barriers in motorsport, Wolff retired from racing in 2015 and later became the Team Principal of the Venturi Formula E team. She has since become the managing director of the F1 Academy, a female-only, junior-level single-seater racing championship founded by Formula One.

2005

Toro Rosso announced that Scott Speed would join their team for the upcoming 2006 season, marking the return of an American driver to F1 since Michael Andretti in 1993. Unfortunately, Speed’s career did not quite live up to his name, and he was released midway through the 2007 season. A week before his departure, Speed reported an altercation with team principal Franz Tost, claiming, “As I walked toward the garage, he hit me in the middle of my back with a closed fist, then grabbed me below the neck and pushed me into the wall.”

2007

Renault avoided punishment in a high-profile espionage scandal, despite being found guilty of fraudulent behaviour. The decision came as a shock, as McLaren had been fined £50 million earlier that year for a similar offence. “In the absence of a compelling explanation, the FIA will be accused of double standards on a gigantic scale,” wrote the Daily Mail. Renault’s team principal, Flavio Briatore, expressed complete confidence in the decision, stating he was “absolutely at ease.” When asked if the ruling was fair, Bernie Ecclestone commented, “We are always fair.”

2020

The 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix was held on this day, 6 December 2020, and was a unique one-off Championship race on the ‘Outer Circuit’ of the Bahrain International Circuit. It was the penultimate round of the 2020 season and followed the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, which had been held on a different track configuration the previous week. It remains the first and only F1 race on this particular layout and the only running of the Sakhir Grand Prix to date.

Sergio Perez claimed his first Formula One win, Racing Point’s only win as a constructor. His win also made him the first Mexican driver to win a Grand Prix since Pedro Rodriguez’s 1970 victory in Belgium. Esteban Ocon finished second, earning his first podium for Renault, while Perez’s teammate Lance Stroll took third, giving Racing Point their first and only double podium finish.

Notably, this was the first Championship race without Lewis Hamilton since the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix, as he tested positive for COVID-19 the week before. It was also his replacement George Russell‘s misery. Filling in for Hamilton at Mercedes, Russel looked set for a breakthrough victory, leading much of the race. However, a pit stop error led to Mercedes fitting him with the wrong tyres, forcing an additional stop to correct the mistake. Not long after, a slow puncture forced Russell to pit again, dropping him down the order and costing him a near-certain win. He ultimately finished ninth, scoring his first F1 points but missing out on what could have been a spectacular debut victory.

2020 Sakhir Grand Prix Race Results

F1 Driver Birthdays 6 December

F1 Driver Deaths 6 December