What happened on this day, February 6 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1916
Born on this day in Indiana, Cliff Griffith competed in three FIA World Championship races, all during the Indianapolis 500, which counted towards the Formula One championship at the time. Griffith found greater success in dirt oval racing, securing two championships in the Midwest Dirt Track Racing Association.
1981
The showdown between the sport’s governing body, FISA, and the Formula One Constructors’ Association (FOCA) peaked when FOCA orchestrated an unsanctioned race in Kyalami, threatening to initiate a rival series. The conflict revolved around regulatory disagreements, income distribution, and FISA’s apparent favouritism towards Ferrari, Renault, and Alfa Romeo. The concept was conceived by FOCA members, including Max Mosley, during a lunch in the French Alps, leading to an urgent call to Bernie Ecclestone, the head of Brabham and a pivotal figure in FOCA. Despite financial constraints, FOCA managed to hold the race with surplus Avon tyres from Ecclestone’s storage. Most leading teams, excluding the three manufacturers, participated. While FOCA lacked the resources for an ongoing series, the gambit forced a compromise, culminating in the first Concorde Agreement later that year under FISA president Jean Marie Balestre.
2001
Niki Lauda was appointed CEO of Ford’s premier performance division, a role that positioned him as the liaison between the Jaguar F1 team and Ford’s executive board in Detroit. The objective was to enhance decision-making efficiency, although the restructuring yielded limited success, and Lauda exited his position with Ford in 2003 as the team struggled to improve its performance.
2003
After being replaced at Sauber by Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Felipe Massa became Ferrari’s test driver. Known for his erratic performances, including five retirements in 2002 due to collisions and errors, Massa developed under the mentorship of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. His improvement was evident when he rejoined Sauber in 2004, and by 2006, he secured a race seat at Ferrari. Massa nearly clinched the championship in 2008, missing out by just one point to Lewis Hamilton.
2008
Tony Rolt, the final surviving competitor from the inaugural F1 race in 1950, passed away in Warwickshire at the age of 89. His Formula 1 attempts included entries in the British Grand Prix of 1953 and 1955, though he did not finish any races. Rolt’s racing career began in 1936, and by 1937 he had twice won the Coronation Trophy at Donington Park. He secured a victory in the 1939 British Empire Trophy at Donington in his ERA “Remus,” a car that went on to be raced in vintage competitions. Rolt is also celebrated for his victory in the 1953 Le Mans 24-hour race, a feat he achieved in a Jaguar C-Type alongside Duncan Hamilton. His wartime experiences included several years as a prisoner of war, famously participating in a daring escape attempt from Colditz Castle using a glider constructed by prisoners.
2011
Robert Kubica endured severe injuries in a rally crash during the Rally Ronde di Andora in Italy. Driving a Skoda Fabia in the Super2000 class, Kubica’s car veered off the road at high speed and collided with a guardrail that penetrated the car’s frame. He sustained multiple fractures to his right arm, leg, and hand, sidelining him for the 2011 season and F1 for many years as he began his recovery. In 2018, Kubica took on the role of reserve driver for Williams, and in 2019, he returned to the F1 grid with a full-time seat for the team. However, after the 2019 season, it was clear Kubica had found it hard to return to the sport after his injury and was sadly dropped by the team.
F1 Driver Birthdays 6 February
Birthday | F1 Driver |
---|---|
6 February 1916 | Cliff Griffith (d. 1996) |
6 February 1995 | Nyck de Vries |
6 February 2005 | Zak O’Sullivan |
F1 Driver Deaths 6 February
Death | F1 Driver |
---|---|
6 February 1986 | Willard Cantrell (b. 1914) |
6 February 1997 | Roger Laurent (b. 1916) |
6 February 2008 | Tony Rolt (b. 1918) |
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