What happened on this day, October 17 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1926
Born on this day, Roberto Lippi was an Italian racing driver who competed in Formula One in three World Championship Grand Prix, all held in Italy. He made his debut on 10 September 1961 for Scuderia Settecolli, a non-works team, running a De Tomaso F1/002-Ferrari. However, he only managed to start in one of these races and failed to score any championship points during his career. He died on 31 October 2011.
1979
Kimi Raikkonen, aka “The Iceman”, named after his ice-cool attitude both on and off track, had one of the longest-ever careers in Formula 1 that peaked when he won the 2007 Drivers’ Championship with Ferrari but would become so unhappy with the sport that he changed to rallying in 2010 despite still being in contract with the Italian team. A hard-drinking, party animal, you suspect he would have thrived had he been involved a generation earlier. As he himself said: “If the F1 world could go back 20 years, it would be the same as rallying now.” Despite being relatively new to rallying, he managed impressive results, including a stage win and a tenth-place finish in the championship for two consecutive seasons.
However, his passion for F1 was reignited when he returned to the sport in 2012 with Lotus F1. During his time with Lotus, Raikkonen gave the team their only victories, establishing himself, once again, as one of the most sought-after drivers.
In a remarkable turn of events, Ferrari re-signed him in 2013 on a two-year contract, which was later extended to 2018. His second stint with Ferrari saw a run of consistent performances, with 26 podium finishes, two pole positions, and a memorable win at the 2018 United States Grand Prix—his first win after a 113 Grand Prix gap.
At the time of his retirement in 2021, he was the most experienced driver in F1 history, with 349 Grand Prix starts. However, he lost that distinction to Fernando Alonso the following year.
1981
Williams driver Alan Jones won the 1981 Caesar’s Palace Grand Prix from pole position in what he had said would be his final race, handing the world title he had been defending to Nelson Piquet, who came fifth and whose two points were enough for him to squeeze out Carlos Reutemann by a single point. Reutemann, 39, had led the championship coming into the race but lost fourth gear and finished out of the points in eighth. Jones undiplomatically made little secret of his dislike for Piquet and Reutemann in the post-race interviews following clashes earlier in the season, gleefully speaking of his pleasure when he lapped team-mate Reutemann. Piquet’s celebrations were muted as he had to be lifted out of his car at the finish. “When 33 laps to go were signalled, I nearly died,” he said. “By then my head was going out of the car at the bends … I was almost finished. My back and right shoulder were in agony.”
Frenchman Alain Prost finished in second in a Renault, and Italian Bruno Giacomelli third in an Alfa Romeo.
Full Race Report
1999
Mika Hakkinen retained his World Championship for seven days after both Ferraris were disqualified after finishing first and second at the 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix, giving Hakkinen, who crossed the line in third, the win. The announcement that the barge-boards on the cars infringed permitted dimensions by one centimetre came two hours after the race ended and with drivers heading home. Amid widespread confusion, Eddie Irvine was telephoned while checking in at Kuala Lumpur airport to be told his win did not count. Bernie Ecclestone said the disqualification was “a nonsense” and was “not the way” to settle the championship. A week later, the FIA overturned the punishment, and so Irvine headed to the final race in Japan with a four-point lead over Hakkinen. As it was, Hakkinen won at Suzuka, Irvine was third, and this time, there was no dispute – the championship was the Finn’s.
F1 Driver Birthdays 17 October
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 17 October 1906 | Jack Ensley |
| 17 October 1926 | Roberto Lippi |
| 17 October 1979 | Kimi Raikkonen |
F1 Driver Deaths 17 October
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 17 October 1955 | Joel Thorne |
| 17 October 2002 | Bob Gregg |
| 17 October 2006 | Luki Botha |
F1 Champion 17 October
| Date | Team/Driver |
|---|---|
| 17 October 1981 | Nelson Piquet |
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