What happened on this day, May 24 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1903
The tragic events of the prestigious Paris-Madrid Trial in 1903 led to a significant shift in motor racing from open roads to specialised enclosed tracks. Out of 316 vehicles that started the 1014km race, more than 100,000 spectators watched the beginning. However, the roads were heavily crowded with onlookers, resulting in numerous accidents within hours. Notably, Marcel Renault, co-founder of the Renault motor company, crashed at 80mph, hitting a tree and killing himself and his mechanic. Additionally, a small boy and a man attempting to save him were also killed. In total, eight people died on the first day, prompting the French and Spanish governments to ban the race, leading to its abandonment overnight. The public backlash was so intense that the racers were not permitted to drive their cars back to Paris.
1964
Jim Clark secured a comfortable victory at the 1964 Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, finishing ahead of John Surtees. Clark took an early lead at the first corner, ahead of Graham Hill and Dan Gurney, and maintained it for 80 laps. John Surtees, despite a poor start, provided the excitement in the race by moving up the field to secure second place, finishing as the only other driver on the same lap as Clark.
1998
Mika Hakkinen claimed his sole Monaco Grand Prix victory in 1998 with a dominant performance, securing pole position and the fastest lap. A fierce second-place battle between Alex Wurz and Michael Schumacher ended dramatically. Schumacher, eager to overtake Wurz to chase Hakkinen, tried various tactics before ultimately colliding with Wurz in a clumsy manoeuvre at the Loews hairpin, damaging his rear suspension and forcing him to pit, losing three laps. Although Wurz initially seemed unscathed, his suspension failed when he pitted for fresh tyres, causing a high-speed crash in the tunnel. Fortunately, he was unhurt, but his teammate Giancarlo Fisichella took second place, with Eddie Irvine finishing third.
2000
In 2000, Giancarlo Fisichella narrowly escaped injury in a dramatic testing crash, highlighting the dangers of open-wheel racing. Fisichella’s Benetton collided with Jarno Trulli‘s Jordan during preparations for the 2000 Monaco Grand Prix in Valencia. Unable to avoid a collision in a tight section of the track, Fisichella’s car was launched into the air, flipping over Trulli’s car and landing on top of it. Despite the Benetton being completely destroyed, both drivers emerged unharmed and were able to resume testing later that day.
2001
In 2001, Jordan and Arrows caused a sensation in the Monaco paddock by arriving for Thursday practice with peculiar wings mounted high above the nose cones of their cars. These wings were intended to provide extra front downforce, but the FIA banned them immediately on safety grounds. There were also suggestions that they were banned because of their unsightly appearance.
2009
Jenson Button won the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix, a highlight in his championship-winning year, even though he missed out on winning his home race at Silverstone. Button and his Brawn teammate Rubens Barrichello dominated, finishing first and second. After the race, Button mistakenly returned to the pits instead of parking on the start-finish straight, as per Monaco tradition. Nonetheless, he enjoyed a solo run from the pits to the podium, cheered by his team and fans. Reflecting on his victory, Button said, “Winning the Monaco Grand Prix is something you dream about as a child and as a racing driver, and the reality of taking that victory just feels awesome.”
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