What happened on this day, May 3 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1949
Dutch racer Boy Hayje was born on May 3, 1949, in Amsterdam. He had a brief and unremarkable Formula 1 career, qualifying for only three of the seven Grand Prix races he entered without finishing any. His Formula 1 debut at the 1976 Dutch Grand Prix saw him qualify by a controversial margin, allegedly after his team distracted the officials and tampered with his official timing.
1981
Nelson Piquet clinched victory at the San Marino Grand Prix, narrowing Carlos Reutemann’s lead in the 1981 drivers’ championship to just three points. The race saw Gilles Villeneuve initially leading until a premature tyre change coincided with rain. Accidents in the race included John Watson crashing into René Arnoux and defending champion Alan Jones, who calmly accepted the collision with teammate Reutemann as part of racing.
1987
Nigel Mansell managed mechanical issues with his Williams-Honda to triumph at the 1987 San Marino Grand Prix, finishing thirty seconds ahead of Ayrton Senna in the Lotus. The win showcased Mansell’s skill in eeking every last bit out of the car. His teammate, Nelson Piquet, didn’t race due to a big crash in free practice. Other highlights of the race included a last-minute car switch due to a technical failure with his Lotus for rookie driver Satoru Nakajima, who managed a commendable sixth-place finish.
1992
In one of his most impressive performances, Nigel Mansell dominated the 1992 Spanish Grand Prix, leading from start to finish to secure the win despite variable weather conditions and a heavy downpour towards the race’s end. The victory marked his fourth consecutive win early in the ’92 season. Michael Schumacher finished second, 23.9 seconds behind, missing the chance to become the youngest Grand Prix winner in F1 history at the time. The day’s tension peaked during the post-race press conference when Mansell fiercely responded to questions about his car’s technical superiority, questioning the seriousness of the questions and suggesting the reporter might need psychiatric help for their ignorance.
Seen in:
