What Happened On This Day November 28 In F1 History?

What happened on this day, November 28 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.

1966

The 1964 world champion John Surtees signed a one-year contract to race for Honda. He had won his championship with Ferrari but departed from the team midway through 1966 due to a dispute, then joined Cooper and won the 1966 Mexican Grand Prix in the season’s final race. Surtees played a significant role in helping Honda develop its F1 team, a collaboration that spanned two years and brought them one win at the 1967 Italian Grand Prix.

1973

Rob Smedley is best known as and F1 engineer who now works with his own company Total Karting; a low-cost racing series using electric karts, aimed at making motorsport more accessible to beginners. He also worked within the Formula One Group, where he played a pivotal role in shaping technical standards and regulations for the sport. Before joining the Formula One Group, Smedley worked with top teams, including Williams, Ferrari, and Jordan, where he specialised in race engineering, car performance, and team strategy.

Smedley is perhaps best known for his time at Ferrari as Felipe Massa’s race engineer, where his calm, strategic communication and technical expertise were instrumental during some of Massa’s most successful seasons. His iconic phrase, “OK, Felipe, baby, stay cool,” became a memorable moment in F1 broadcasting.

Smedley took on a more senior role at Williams, leading the team’s car performance division at a critical for the team as they saw a brief resurgence during the mid-2010s, where the team achieved multiple podium finishes.

2006

Lewis Hamilton‘s Formula 1 journey began on the test track in Barcelona, but his McLaren broke down after only two laps. Testing alongside David Coulthard and Anthony Davidson, Hamilton received cautionary advice from Coulthard, who suggested he needed a season of testing before stepping into F1. Hamilton responded respectfully, acknowledging Coulthard’s experience: “I value David’s opinion and have always looked up to him. He might be right, but I’ve done what’s needed to reach F1. I have plenty of time for pre-season testing, and we’ll see how it goes. I’m young, fresh, and determined to succeed. I want to win.” True to his words, Hamilton came within a single race of winning the title in his rookie season of 2007.

2021

Sir Frank Williams was a pioneering British businessman, former racing car driver, and the legendary founder of the Williams F1 team. Known simply as “Frank” within the motorsport world, he dedicated over four decades to building and leading one of the most successful teams in Formula One history. From its foundation in 1977 until his retirement in 2020, he served as the team principal, overseeing Williams Racing through its many victories, challenges, and transformations. The team was formed after Frank Williams’ previous teams, Frank Williams Racing Cars and later Wolf–Williams Racing.

Under his leadership, the Williams team achieved remarkable success, capturing nine Constructors’ Championships and seven Drivers’ Championships, placing it among the most successful teams in the sport. Known for his tenacity, Sir Frank overcame significant adversity, including a life-altering car accident in 1986 that left him quadriplegic. Undeterred, he continued to lead the team from a wheelchair.

Williams’ team was known for its commitment to engineering excellence and innovation. It also secured the talents of notable drivers such as Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, and Damon Hill, as well as engineers and designers who went on to shape the future of Formula One. The team’s ethos under Sir Frank was one of grit, independence, and competitiveness, often challenging larger, manufacturer-backed teams on the grid.

In recognition of his contributions to motorsport, Sir Frank was awarded a CBE and was later knighted in 1999. His passing in 2021 marked the end of an era, but his influence remains embedded in the DNA of the team he helped to shape.

F1 Driver Birthdays 28 November

F1 Driver Deaths 28 November