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.
1995
Nyck de Vries a Dutch racing driver who had great success in the lower Forumulas including winning the F2 Championship in 2019 finally making his debut in F1 during the 2022 Italian Grand Prix was born on this day in 1995.
In September 2022, de Vries finally made his debut in Formula One at the 2022 Italian Grand Prix. He served as a substitute driver for Williams, replacing the ill Alexander Albon for one race. He finished 9th scoring 2 points. That race opened the door to a full-time seat with the AlphaTauri team for the 2023 season. However, his stint with AlphaTauri was short-lived, as he was released after the 2023 British Grand Prix, which was the 10th race of the 22-race season, replaced by former Red Bull and Toro Rosso (a former name of AlphaTauri) driver Daniel Ricciardo.
After leaving F1, on 20 November 2023, de Vries was announced as one of the primary drivers for the #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Hypercar team in the FIA World Endurance Championship. After qualifying in second place for the season-opening race in Qatar, de Vries secured his first overall WEC victory at Imola. Later in the season, de Vries achieved his first podium finish at Le Mans, finishing in second place overall.
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
On this day in 2011, Robert Kubica suffered severe injuries in a 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 2019, he made a remarkable return to the F1 grid with Williams for one season. His connection to Formula One remained as a reserve and test driver for Alfa Romeo. He took part in various practice sessions and even replaced Kimi Räikkönen in the 2021 Dutch and Italian Grand Prix.
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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