What happened on this day, January 3 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1969
Michael Schumacher, the most successful driver in Formula One history, was born in Hürth-Hermülheim, Germany. Dominating the sport between 1994 and 2004, Schumacher claimed seven world titles—two with Benetton and five consecutively with Ferrari. His remarkable career included 91 wins, 76 fastest laps, and 68 pole positions. In 2002, he became the only driver to finish every race in a season on the podium. However, his and Ferrari’s dominance from 2000 to 2004 led to a decline in audience interest. Schumacher retired in 2006 but made a comeback with Mercedes in 2010. Notably, he and his brother Ralf Schumacher are the only siblings to achieve a 1-2 finish in Formula One. They achieved this on five separate occasions. The first time was in Canada in 2001, when Ralf, driving a Williams, led Michael (Ferrari) home in Montreal. But that was the only time that Ralf bested his brother.
1988
Joie Chitwood, a legendary stunt performer and racer, died at the age of 75 in Tampa, Florida. Known for competing in the 1950 Indianapolis Grand Prix, when the race was part of the F1 Championship, Chitwood gained fame through his daredevil stunt shows. Despite his adventurous career, he was the first driver to wear a seatbelt in the Indianapolis 500.
1995
Nigel Mansell’s hopes of returning to Formula One were dashed when Williams announced they had signed David Coulthard for the upcoming 1996 season. Mansell, the 1992 Drivers’ Champion, had moved to the CART series before briefly returning to F1 with Williams in late 1994. However, his career ended after a short stint with McLaren in 1995.
2003
Paul Stoddart, the owner of Minardi, revealed that his Formula One team was for sale, citing challenges private teams face in securing sponsorship. “The world isn’t as conducive to sponsorship as it once was, but we’re fighting as hard as we can,” he remarked. Despite receiving 41 expressions of interest, Stoddart did not sell Minardi until September 2005, when Red Bull acquired the team.
2008
Jimmy Stewart, brother of world champion Jackie Stewart, passed away in Glasgow. A racing driver whose sole Formula One Grand Prix took place in 1953, Jimmy struggled with alcoholism after retiring. With Jackie’s support, he overcame his addiction and dedicated himself to anti-drinking campaigns.
F1 Driver Birthdays 3 January
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 3 January 1915 | Joe Sostilio |
| 3 January 1918 | Allen Heath |
| 3 January 1969 | Michael Schumacher |
F1 Driver Deaths 3 January
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 3 January 1988 | Joie Chitwood |
| 3 January 2008 | Jimmy Stewart |
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