What happened on this day, July 13 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1918
Double world champion Alberto Ascari was born in Milan. Despite missing the first race of 1952, he won the 1952 Belgian, French, British, German, Dutch, and Italian Grand Prix, securing the title. His dominance continued in 1953, with victories in the first three races and two more later, earning him a second consecutive world title. In 1954, Ascari moved to Lancia for better pay, but delays in car readiness sidelined him. In 1955, he crashed into the harbour during the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix but swam to safety with minor injuries. Tragically, four days later, he died while testing at Monza. Over a million people attended his funeral in Milan. Juan Manuel Fangio mourned: “I have lost my greatest opponent.”
1957
Thierry Boutsen, born in Brussels, had a lengthy F1 career primarily on the periphery. He achieved three wins from 163 starts over 11 seasons, all during his time at Williams in 1989 and 1990.
1974
Jarno Trulli, born on this day in Pescara, is one of the few drivers to have competed in over 200 Grands Prix, though he has only one win to his name at the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix.
1980
Alan Jones won the 1980 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch by ten seconds over Nelson Piquet, extending his lead at the top of the world championship to six points. Didier Pironi started on pole, led for 19 laps before suffering a puncture, and then clawed his way back to fifth before another puncture ended his race.
1986
Nigel Mansell secured a popular home victory at the 1986 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, but the day was overshadowed by a severe pile-up. The accident began when Thierry Boutsen lost control of his Arrows, causing Jacques Laffite to crash head-on into a barrier. Laffite, 42, who was equalling Graham Hill‘s record of 176 Grand Prix starts, had to be extracted from the wreckage, marking the end of his F1 career. After a 90-minute delay, the race restarted. Mansell took an early lead, with his only concern in the final laps as he eased off to conserve fuel.
1997
Jacques Villeneuve won the 1997 British Grand Prix somewhat fortuitously after Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen, both leading at different times, were forced to retire. Schumacher was 40 seconds ahead when a wheel bearing failed, and Hakkinen’s engine blew shortly after. Heinz-Harald Frentzen had a particularly tough day, stalling on the front row of the grid and crashing on the first lap after starting from the back.
F1 Driver Birthday’s 13 July
| Birth Date | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 13 July 1914 | Samuel Dwight “Sam” Hanks |
| 13 July 1918 | Alberto “Antonio” Ascari |
| 13 July 1957 | Thierry Marc Boutsen |
| 13 July 1974 | Jarno Trulli |
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