What happened on this day, January 14 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1934
Alberto Rodriguez Larreta, born on this day in Buenos Aires, took ninth place at the 1960 Argentine Grand Prix driving a Lotus. Following a commendable performance, he declined an offer from Colin Chapman to continue driving in Formula One. Larreta competed in various motorsports post F1 until retiring in 1970. He passed away at age 43 on 11 March 1977 from a heart attack.
1973
On this day, Giancarlo Fisichella was born in Rome. From his 1996 debut to his final race in 2009, Fisichella participated in 231 Grands Prix, securing three victories—his first with Jordan and two with Renault—and achieving 19 podium finishes. His 2005 victory at the Australian Grand Prix with Renault was highly celebrated, despite that years success, he often found himself overshadowed by teammate Fernando Alonso. Despite contributing to Renault’s Constructors’ Championship win, his subsequent seasons saw diminishing returns. His 2009 season included a notable podium for Force India in Belgium, and a brief stint with Ferrari, ending the year without significant success and transitioning to a reserve driver role by 2010.
1977
Narain Karthikeyan, India’s pioneering F1 driver, was born in Chennai. During his 2005 stint with Jordan, Karthikeyan secured a memorable fourth place at the controversial 2005 US Grand Prix, where most competitors withdrew over safety concerns with their tyres. Post-Formula One, he ventured into endurance racing, A1 GP, and NASCAR. In 2011, he returned to F1 with HRT, supported by sponsorship from Indian car manufacturer Tata.
1994
At 40, former world champion Nigel Mansell demonstrated his versatility in Indycar by breaking the track record at Phoenix International Raceway. A year after a severe crash at the same circuit, he made a triumphant return testing a Newman-Haas Lola-Ford, setting a record lap time under 20 seconds and averaging about 180mph. Mansell praised the improved conditions and the performance of his car, highlighting a stark contrast to his previous experience.
2003
The Arrows team dissolved after struggling financially since its inception in 1978, when it was established by former members of the Shadow team.
Over 24 years, Arrows competed in 382 Grand Prix races. Although the team never secured a win, it achieved several commendable performances, including five second-place finishes and a handful of podium appearances. One of the team’s most notable moments came in 1997 when Damon Hill nearly won the Hungarian Grand Prix, leading the race until a mechanical failure in the closing laps forced him to settle for second place.
Arrows were also known for their role in developing young talent. They gave future stars their first taste of Formula 1, including drivers such as Riccardo Patrese, who debuted with Arrows in 1977. The team was a stepping stone for many drivers who would achieve success later in their careers.
2003
BAR launched their fifth season in Formula One by unveiling their 2003 contender, the BAR Honda 005, in Barcelona, at the Circuit de Catalunya. This new car represented a significant leap forward, after a year-long effort by the team under the leadership of new technical director Geoffrey Willis. 2003 also began a new chapter in BAR’s relationship with Honda, which saw the team benefit from an exclusive engine supply deal.
2018
Remembering Dan Gurney on this day who passed away after a long battle with pneumonia at the age of 86. His wife, Evi, announced his death in a statement from All American Racers, Inc. “With one last smile on his handsome face, Dan drove off into the unknown just before noon today,” the statement, signed by Evi Gurney, the Gurney family, and AAR teammates, read.
Gurney was born in Port Jefferson, Long Island, to Metropolitan Opera star John Gurney and Roma Sexton. After high school, his family relocated to Riverside, California, where Dan honed his driving skills, weaving through Southern California orange groves.
Gurney’s racing career began in 1955 with a Triumph TR2 and spanned 15 years. During this time, he became a top road racing star in America and one of the most popular F1 Grand Prix drivers ever. He made a name for himself with thrilling battles against drivers like Jim Clark, John Surtees, Jack Brabham, Graham Hill, and Phil Hill on classic road tracks such as the Nurburgring, the Targa Florio, and Monte Carlo. He remains the only American driver to win a Grand Prix in a car of his own construction. From 86 race starts he took 4 wins, 19 poidums, 133 points, 3 poles and 6 fastest laps.
F1 Driver Birthdays 14 January
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 14 January 1934 | Alberto Rodriguez Larreta |
| 14 January 1973 | Giancarlo Fisichella |
| 14 January 1977 | Narain Karthikeyan |
F1 Driver Deaths 14 January
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 14 January 1994 | Myron Fohr |
| 14 January 2001 | Vic Wilson |
| 14 January 2018 | Dan Gurney |
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