What happened on this day, October 10 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1923
Murray Walker, the legendary voice of Formula 1, was born on this day; he would go on to leave a rich legacy in motorsport broadcasting. Renowned for his passionate, energetic commentary, Walker’s career spanned over five decades. His unmistakable, enthusiastic style made him a beloved figure among motorsport fans, bringing F1 to life with his famous “Murrayisms.” Walker’s deep knowledge and love of the sport, combined with his exuberant delivery, made each race an immersive experience. Though often remembered for his on-air gaffes, his professionalism and boundless enthusiasm for motorsport cemented him as one of the sport’s most iconic voices.
Before his broadcasting career, Walker had a varied life. He served in the British Army during World War II, rising to the rank of captain in the Royal Scots Greys, and after the war, worked in advertising, where he helped craft memorable campaigns. Walker was also an avid motorcycle racer before he transitioned to commentating. Despite retiring from full-time commentary in 2001, his influence on motorsport remains strong, with many considering him the gold standard of sports commentary. His voice continues to be synonymous with the golden era of Formula 1, and he remains a treasured figure in the world of motorsport even after his death in 2021.
1930
Country gentleman and professional racing driver Eugenio Castellotti was born into a wealthy Italian family in Lodi near Milan. At age 20, he bought a Ferrari and successfully campaigned it around his home country in 1951 and 1952. His performance at the Mille Miglia, where he ran as high as second, attracted Lancia’s attention, and he was given a drive in the 1953 Carrera Panamericana. He finished third and was signed up for the marque’s F1 programme, making his debut in 1955 at the wheel of a Lancia D50. He finished second in Monaco and then took pole in Belgium as he briefly became the No. 1 driver after Alberto Ascari’s death. Midway through the season, Lancia sold its cars to Enzo Ferrari, but with plenty of top-level drivers already at Ferrari, Castellotti had to settle for sportscar racing. He took victories at the Sebring 12 Hours and the Mille Miglia in 1956 and then made regular appearances at Grand Prix. However, several mechanical failures and shared drives tainted his record in F1, and his season best in 1956 was second at the French Grand Prix behind team-mate Peter Collins. He continued to race occasionally in 1957 but gained a greater reputation for his affair with opera singer Delia Scala. He was reportedly annoyed when Ferrari called upon him to try and better a new lap record at Modena set by Jean Behra in a Maserati 250F. On his third lap of the test, 14 March 1957, he lost control of the car and was killed when it crashed into a grandstand. He was just 26 years old.
1976
McLaren driver James Hunt closed to within three points of Niki Lauda in the Championship race after winning the 1976 US Grand Prix at Watkins Glenn. The weekend got off to a shaky start with terrible conditions on Friday that McLaren team boss Teddy Mayer said, “resulted in the drivers finishing in reverse ratio to the proportion of their IQs.” During the session, an air bottle fell off Hunt’s McLaren and hit Patrick Depailler’s six-wheel Tyrrell, breaking the front two wheels. After the session, as Hunt stood next to a much larger four-foot, 150-pound air bottle, ex-team owner Rob Walker asked: “Was that the one you threw at Depailler?” Hunt answered: “No, we are keeping that one for Niki on Sunday.” Hunt finished the opening day fastest and, as worse conditions — including snow in the evening — hit the circuit on Saturday, he was on pole for the race. On Sunday he was beaten away from the lights by Jody Scheckter but kept on the Tyrrell’s tail in the opening stages and finally snuck past on lap 46. Further down the field, Jacky Ickx had a horrifying accident that saw his Ensign split in two as it made contact with the barrier. The rear end ricocheted back into the track in a ball of flames as the Belgian got himself free of the cockpit and limped to safety before collapsing. It was a stark reminder of the dangers of the sport for Lauda, who had narrowly escaped death during a crash at the Nurburgring earlier that year. The Ferrari driver eventually finished third to take four valuable points, but shocked onlookers after the race as he removed his helmet to expose a balaclava soaked in blood from his burns. Hunt took the title at the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix two weeks later after Lauda retired, considering the conditions too dangerous to race.
Lauda’s third place clinched the Constructor’s Championship for Ferrari with one race left.
2001
Jordan Grand Prix owner Eddie Jordan signed Japanese driver Takuma Sato in an attempt to gain favour with engine supplier Honda. The Japanese motoring giant had signed engine deals with both Jordan and BAR earlier that year and made clear that the more successful team would get a works contract long term. But despite Jordan’s best efforts and his team beating BAR over the next two seasons, Honda still chose the tobacco-financed BAR outfit.
2004
Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher broke another small piece of Formula One history at Suzuka by qualifying on pole and winning a Grand Prix on the same day. Typhoon Ma-on had hit the circuit on Saturday, meaning qualifying was postponed until the morning of race day. The 2004 Japanese Grand Prix itself was relatively dull, with Schumacher leading his brother Ralf Schumacher throughout, who was driving for Williams at the time but never coming under threat in dry conditions. Further down the field, Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard made contact and both retired to the pits. But with the title sewn up by Schumacher three races earlier, neither appeared particularly fussed and put the collision down to a racing incident. BAR driver Jenson Button came home in third.
The most bizarre retirement was Mark Webber‘s, who returned to the pits with burnt buttocks after his Jaguar overheated. It was unfortunate as the wet weather had allowed him to qualify third for the race and fight for points. He later explained his decision to stop: “We could not find the cause for the heat and so I carried on in the hope that it would cool down or at least remain static. It didn’t and the heat soon became excruciatingly hot and I had no option but to retire. You need to be completely focused on the race and when the temperature is so high that you are being physically affected and thus distracted then you need to take the decision to stop. I am of course disappointed that I could not have continued with the race and finished in the points.”
2010
The 2010 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka saw Sebastian Vettel claim victory for Red Bull, followed by his teammate Mark Webber in second and Fernando Alonso of Ferrari in third. The race was characterised by a dominant Red Bull performance, with both drivers locking out the front row and leading comfortably throughout the race. Early collisions eliminated several drivers, including Nico Hulkenberg, Felipe Massa, Vitaly Petrov, and Vitantonio Liuzzi, and a safety car period added some drama. Still, Vettel’s control of the pace ensured his second win at Suzuka. Alonso’s third-place finish kept him in the title hunt, but Red Bull’s performance had established them as the team to beat.
2021
Valtteri Bottas won the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix for Mercedes, with a controlled drive in wet conditions. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished second, taking back the lead in the championship standings, while his teammate Sergio Perez took third after an intense battle with Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton had struggled after starting 11th due to a grid penalty and the decision by Mercedes to call him in late for fresh intermediate tyres, which ultimately cost him a potential podium. Bottas dominated the entire race, quickly leading from the start and handling the slippery conditions to secure his first win of the season. It turned out to be Bottas’s last win with Mercedes before moving to Alfa Romeo the following season.
Held during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the race was originally scheduled from 11-13 June but was rescheduled when the British government imposed travel restrictions. These restrictions affected most of the paddock, where the teams are based in the UK. It was the second consecutive year in which the Turkish Grand Prix had appeared on the calendar as a replacement round.
2021
The 2021 Japanese Grand Prix was scheduled at Suzuka but was cancelled due to ongoing concerns regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic. The cancellation was announced in August, as strict travel restrictions and public health measures in Japan made hosting the event logistically impossible. This was the second consecutive year the race was cancelled for the same reason. The 2021 Turkish Grand Prix took place on the scheduled dates instead.
F1 Driver Birthdays 10 October
| Birthday | F1 Legend |
|---|---|
| 10 October 1923 | Murray Walker (d. 2021) (F1) Motorsport Commentator |
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 10 October 1926 | Ralph Liguori |
| 10 October 1930 | Eugenio Castellotti |
| 10 October 1952 | Siegfried Stohr |
F1 Driver Deaths 10 October
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 10 October | None |
F1 Champion 10 October
| Date | Team/Driver |
|---|---|
| 10 October 1976 | Ferrari |
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