What Happened On This Day June 6 In F1 History?

What happened on this day, June 6 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.

1960

Jack Brabham clinched victory at the 1960 Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, but the win was marred by an incident involving American racer Dan Gurney. Gurney’s BRM suffered brake failure, causing a fatal crash at the hairpin, claiming the life of a young spectator who had wandered into a prohibited area. The race also saw Innes Ireland and Graham Hill secure their first podium finishes, taking second and third place, respectively.

1982

John Watson orchestrated a remarkable comeback from 17th on the grid in his McLaren to claim victory at the inaugural 1982 Detroit Grand Prix. Watson navigated his way through the pack, benefiting from the better-performing Michelin tyre compounds. Passing 12 cars, Watson found himself in second place behind Keke Rosberg. As Rosberg grappled with mechanical issues and worn tyres, Watson capitalised on the opportunity, eventually overtaking him to secure the win. The race also commemorated Jochen Mass‘s 100th start and marked Didier Peroni’s 10th podium finish.

2007

In a significant decision, the Swiss parliament voted 97 to 77 to overturn the ban on motor racing in Switzerland, a measure imposed after the tragic Le Mans 24 Hours disaster of 1955, which resulted in the deaths of 86 spectators. The race had attracted huge crowds eager to witness the Mercedes team, led by Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, and Karl Kling. Tragedy struck when Pierre Levegh, a 50-year-old factory driver for Mercedes-Benz, collided with Lance Macklin’s Austin-Healey 100 during the race. The impact sent Levegh’s Mercedes soaring into the air, crashing into an earth mound meant to protect spectators, claiming the lives of 86 individuals. This remains the deadliest disaster in motorsport history.

2021

The 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a dramatic race in which both championship contenders, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, encountered major setbacks. Verstappen suffered a high-speed tyre blowout while leading the race, forcing him to retire, while Hamilton made a costly error at the restart, running off the track and dropping out of contention.

Their misfortunes paved the way for Sergio Perez to claim victory for Red Bull, securing his second career Grand Prix win, following his maiden victory at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel finished second, earning his only podium with Aston Martin and the final podium finish of his Formula One career. Pierre Gasly took third place for AlphaTauri, marking the last podium finish for the team before it was rebranded as Visa Cash App RB.

Following the race, Pirelli launched an investigation into the tyre failures that caused the high-speed crashes of both Verstappen and Lance Stroll, raising concerns over tyre safety.

2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix