What Happened On This Day January 11 In F1 History?

What happened on this day, January 11 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.

1923

Carroll Shelby, born in Leesburg, Texas, had a brief and unremarkable Formula One career, racing in nine races between 1958 and 1959 without achieving a podium finish. However, he became a legendary car designer, creating iconic vehicles like the Shelby Cobra. Shelby’s childhood was marked by heart issues that confined him to bed for years, but he overcame them to embark on a racing career. Health problems ultimately ended his time on the track shortly after his victory at the 1959 Le Mans 24 Hours with Roy Salvadori in an Aston Martin. Under a license from British carmaker AC Motors, Shelby integrated an American engine into what became the Shelby Cobra. He continued to develop performance vehicles with brands like Ford, Dodge, and Oldsmobile. Despite undergoing a heart transplant in 1990, Shelby remained active, designing the Shelby Series 1—a modern homage to his 1965 Cobra. He passed away in June 2012 at 89.

1983

Adrian Sutil was born in Starnberg, Germany. He entered Formula One in 2006 and, technically, drove nearly every race for the same team, though it underwent multiple ownership changes. Sutil joined Midland as a test driver, remained as the team transitioned into Spyker, where he secured a full-time seat, and stayed on when it became Force India. In 2014, he broke this streak by signing with Sauber. Despite claiming to have a contract for 2015, Sauber chose to replace him. Subsequently, Sutil joined Williams as a reserve driver but left after one season, announcing his departure from the team in 2016. He ended his career in F1 with 128 starts, 124 points, and a single fastest lap.

1985

Kazuki Nakajima was born in Aichi, Japan, and was the son of former F1 driver Satoru Nakajima. He raced for Williams from 2007 to 2009, with a best finish of sixth place at the 2008 Australian Grand Prix. His debut was memorable for an unfortunate incident where he ran over two of his mechanics. After being dropped in 2009, he was linked to the ill-fated Stefan GP team, which failed to secure a spot on the grid, leaving him without a drive. Kazuki’s younger brother, Daisuke, also raced and, according to their father, was the faster of the two siblings.

2003

The Sunday Mirror revealed the identity of BBC Top Gear‘s original Stig as former F1 driver Perry McCarthy. “Stig’s true identity is one of TV’s best-kept secrets,” a show insider told the newspaper. “Many celebrity guests think they’re excellent drivers, but Perry always left them in the dust. It’s hilarious watching them try to beat him.” The revelation was not exactly groundbreaking, as McCarthy had already disclosed the information in his autobiography months earlier. McCarthy’s successor, the White Stig, lasted until 2009 before also revealing his identity.

F1 Driver Birthdays 11 January

F1 Driver Deaths 11 January