What Happened On This Day January 19 In F1 History?

What happened on this day, January 19 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.

1914

British driver Bob Gerard, celebrated in both pre and post-war racing, was born in Leicester. Gerard’s legacy continues at Mallory Park, where the circuit’s most challenging corner is named in his honour, celebrating his enduring impact on British motorsport. He competed in eight Grand Prix as a privateer in ERA and Cooper cars.

1958

Stirling Moss clinched a victory at the 1958 Argentine Grand Prix (the sixth running of the event) driving Rob Walker’s privately entered Cooper T43, just days after a playful mishap where his first wife, Katie, accidentally poked him in the eye. Despite being the only competitor in a non-Italian car among ten entries—three Ferraris and six Maseratis—Moss overtook defending champion Juan Manuel Fangio, who had set multiple track records, on the 35th lap. This was after Moss had his bandages removed just moments before the race began. Luigi Musso and teammate Mike Hawthorn finished in second and third for Ferrari, respectively.

1958 Argentine Grand Prix Race Results

1976

Born in Curitiba, Brazil, Tarso Marques competed in Formula One with Minardi in 26 races from 1996 to 2001. Achieving his best results at the Canadian and Brazilian Grands Prix in 2001, Marques later moved to team management in the Brazilian touring car championship and contributed to organising the Renault Megan series in Brazil with his father.

1980

The future 2009 Formula One world champion, Jenson Button was born on this day in Frome, Somerset. His name, inspired by his father’s friend Erling Jensen, a rally-cross driver, has often been mistakenly linked to the Jensen motorcar. Button’s racing career accelerated when he won the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver award in 1998, earning a test in a McLaren F1 car, and eventually leading to a drive with Williams in 2000. Initially in teams and cars further down the grid, Button’s time in F1 paid off when, in 2009, he dominated the early season with Brawn GP, winning the Drivers’ title and helping the team secure the Constructors’. He then moved to McLaren for the 2010 season and saw out the remainder of his F1 career with the team. He amassed 1235 points, 50 podiums, 15 wins, and the ‘09 title over 306 race starts.

1987

Happy birthday, Karun Chandock, who was born on this day. An Indian former F1 driver and now Sky Sports broadcaster, he competed in Formula One at 11 Grands Prix from 2010 to 2011 with HRT and Team Lotus (the 2011 team). Chandhok also competed in Formula E for Mahindra Racing. Beyond the track, he has served on the Board of Directors of Motorsport UK, where he has also been a member of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the FIA Driver’s Commission. With Sky Sports, since 2021, he has shown a vast depth of knowledge as an analyst, occasional co-commentator and pit-lane reporter.

2005

Amidst swirling rumours of a Formula One breakaway, Bernie Ecclestone secured Ferrari’s commitment to the sport until 2012 with a deal reportedly worth US$150 million. Despite claims of fiscal prudence from Ferrari, skepticism remained about the deal’s focus on finances over sport. This agreement, celebrated by Ferrari, the FIA, and Ecclestone’s Formula One Management, marked a new era of the Concorde Agreement, effective from 2008 to 2012, although it sparked debate over the FIA’s power to enforce such agreements unilaterally.

F1 Driver Birthdays 19 January

F1 Driver Deaths 19 January