What happened on this day, February 9 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1909
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation was established to manage races at the now-famous Indianapolis Speedway. The initial races were problematic, as the hastily prepared track of crushed stone and tar disintegrated. The organisers quickly remedied this by paving the track with bricks, which led to its nickname, “The Brickyard.” The first Indy 500 took place in 1911 and has since become the largest single-day motorsport event.
1937
Tony Maggs was born in Pretoria, South Africa. Between 1961 and 1965, he competed in 25 Grands Prix races, securing three podium finishes with the Cooper team. After leaving Formula 1, he raced in Formula 2 until a tragic accident that resulted in the death of an eight-year-old spectator led him to retire from motorsport. Maggs later focused on managing his farm in Northern Transvaal and occasionally attended historic racing events until his passing in 2009.
1978
Hans Stuck, a major figure in pre-war car racing, passed away at the age of 77 in Grainau, Germany. Stuck’s racing career began with hill-climb events, where he quickly made a name for himself. He gained further notoriety for winning a race in reverse after modifying his car’s gearbox. Stuck also played a key role in establishing the Auto Union racing team under the Nazi regime, though his influence declined as the team sought younger drivers. Accused of disclosing his salary, he was dismissed in 1937. Post-World War II, Stuck circumvented the ban on German drivers by claiming Austrian nationality. In 1951, he fathered Hans-Joachim Stuck, to whom he imparted his knowledge of the challenging Nurburgring. Hans-Joachim became a notable driver but never secured a Formula One victory, finding greater success in sports car racing.
2000
Michael Schumacher tested the Ferrari F2000, the team’s first car to win a Drivers’ title in 21 years, at Fiorano. Schumacher conducted a few shakedown laps as daylight faded, noting that he wished he could have driven more aggressively but was limited by the conditions. He reported that the car performed well, and it went on to help him secure nine victories and his third world championship that season.
2006
Former Formula One driver Gerhard Berger acquired a 50% stake in the Toro Rosso racing team. In a reciprocal deal, Red Bull’s Dietrich Mateschitz bought a 50% share of Berger’s shipping company. Under Berger’s partial ownership, the team saw notable improvements and achieved a surprising victory at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix. However, Berger sold his share back to Mateschitz just a few months later.
F1 Driver Birthdays 9 February
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 9 February 1937 | Tony Maggs (d. 2009) |
F1 Driver Deaths 9 February
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 9 February 1978 | Hans Stuck (b. 1900) |
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