What happened on this day, November 16 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1892
Tazio Nuvolari, hailed as one of the greatest drivers of all time—particularly of the pre-war era—was born in Castel d’Ario, Italy. Though he didn’t start racing seriously until his 30s, by 1932, he was the European champion. As the war loomed, only Nuvolari’s sheer talent allowed him to compete with the dominant German Silver Arrows. His crowning achievement came at the 1935 German Grand Prix, where, despite a severely underpowered car and a mishandled pit stop, he bested the favoured German teams. The 300,000-strong crowd celebrated his victory, but the Nazi officials were incensed. After the war, he returned to racing, though he was now in his mid-fifties and plagued by health issues. He continued to achieve remarkable results until 1950, when deteriorating health, largely due to toxic exhaust fumes, forced him to retire. Nuvolari passed away in 1953 after a second stroke. Ferdinand Porsche honoured him as “the greatest driver of the past, present, and future.”
1900
Elizabeth Junek, one of the first female racing icons, was born in Olomouc, Moravia. Originally a mechanic for her husband, she took the wheel herself when he was injured, debuting solo in 1924. She quickly gained attention, and after winning at Zbraslav-Jiloviste in 1925, they celebrated by purchasing a second Bugatti. By 1926, Junek was competing on equal terms with male drivers and drawing widespread attention. She claimed the two-liter sports-car class at the Nürburgring, becoming the only woman in history to win a Grand Prix. After a race hug from overall winner Otto Merz left her with two broken ribs, Junek continued racing until tragedy struck at the 1928 German Grand Prix, where her husband crashed and died. She retired immediately, selling her cars and travelling. Isolated in post-war Yugoslavia, she was largely forgotten, but at age 91 in 1989, she defied medical advice to attend a Bugatti reunion in the USA as the guest of honour.
1929
Scuderia Ferrari was founded on 16th November 1929 and quickly brought fame to Alfa Romeo, but by 1938, the automaker decided to re-enter the racing world under its own name. Alfa Corse absorbed what had been Scuderia Ferrari, a change Enzo Ferrari clearly did not agree with — he was dismissed by Alfa Romeo in 1939 and forbidden from racing under his own name for four years. From Enzo’s dream to its realisation, Scuderia Ferrari has been driving innovation and inspiring motorsport fans around the world since.
1948
Graham Beveridge was born on this day, 16 November 1948. He was a volunteer trackside marshal who tragically lost his life at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix on 4 March 2001. He was struck by a wheel that broke loose from Jacques Villeneuve‘s BAR after a collision, flying through the safety fence and hitting Beveridge who suffered massive chest injuries; he died almost immediately. Before stepping onto the podium, the top three drivers were informed of Beveridge’s passing, leading to a subdued podium ceremony. As a mark of respect for Beveridge and his family, the customary champagne celebration was omitted, and the drivers stood in solemn silence.
This incident marked the first race-related fatality at Melbourne’s Albert Park Grand Prix circuit, which had opened in 1996. Following the accident, a coronial inquest recommended enhancements to the safety fencing around the track to better protect marshals and spectators. Just seven months earlier, another tragic incident had claimed the life of fire marshal Paolo Gislimberti, who died from head and chest injuries caused by a flying tyre during a six-car collision on the opening lap of the 2000 Italian Grand Prix at Monza on 10 September.
Beveridge, 52, from Queensland, was survived by his wife, Karen, and their three adult children, Matthew, Peter, and Kelley. A year after his passing, a park bench in Melbourne was dedicated in his memory as a tribute to his life and contribution to motorsport.
1973
Christian Horner was born on this day, 16 November 1973, and is famously known as the team principal of the Red Bull Racing team, which he has led since 2005—leading them to an impressive 13 world titles, including 6 Constructors’ Championships and 7 Drivers’ Championships (at the time of writing; the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix). Horner began his career as a racing driver but moved to a managerial role in 1999 when he took the helm of the International Formula 3000 team, Arden International Motorsport.
1991
FIAT chairman Gianni Agnelli appointed Luca di Montezemolo as president of Ferrari, aiming to restore the team to championship-winning form. Teaming up with executive director Jean Todt and legendary driver Michael Schumacher, they achieved this goal, capturing the drivers’ championship in 2000 for the first time since 1979. Over the next four years, Ferrari dominated the sport.
1997
The storied Ligier name vanished from Formula One when Alain Prost purchased the team from Flavio Briatore, rebranding it under his own name. After four turbulent seasons, Prost’s financial struggles forced the team out of business in 2002, leaving $30 million in debt.
2001
Anthony Davidson suffered a major accident during qualifying for the 2001 Macau Grand Prix, spending the night in the hospital with neck pain. After a spin, his car hit the barriers and was struck by Portugal’s Tiago Monteiro, though the second impact was at low speed.
2006
Michael Schumacher took the new Ferrari F2006 for its first official shakedown at Fiorano, completing four laps to check its systems.
2009
On this day in 2009, Mercedes-Benz announced the acquisition of the Brawn GP Formula One team, securing its return as a full works team for the 2010 F1 season. The decision marked Mercedes‘ commitment to reestablish itself as a a works team, the first time since 1955. Brawn GP, formed after Honda withdrew from F1 in 2008, had a fairytale debut season in 2009, winning both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships with Jenson Button. By purchasing the team, Mercedes aimed to build on Brawn GP’s momentum, leveraging its existing partnership with the team having used Mercedes engines. The newly rebranded Mercedes GP team also attracted talent of old, including seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who returned to racing to join the team alongside fellow German Nico Rosberg. Mercedes’ move reshaped the landscape of F1, with the team completely dominating from 2014 to 2021, winning 8 consecutive Constructors’ titles and 7 consecutive Drivers’ titles from 2014 to 2020.
F1 Driver Birthdays 16 November
Find a complete list here of the birthdays of current and past F1 Drivers’ birthdays, death’s and when a Drivers’ or Constructors’ Championship was won.
| Birthday | F1 Mentions |
|---|---|
| 16 November 1948 | Graham Beveridge (d. 4 March 2001) Trackside marshal, who died at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix after he was struck by the flying wheel of Jacques Villeneuve‘s BAR |
| 16 November 1973 | Christian Horner Team Principal of the Red Bull Racing team. |
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 16 November 1936 | Skip Barber |
| 16 November 1958 | Roberto Guerrero |
F1 Driver Deaths 16 November
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 16 November 1997 | Jose Behra |
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