What Happened On This Day October 23 In F1 History?

What happened on this day, October 23 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.

1955

In 1955, the Spanish Grand Prix at Pedralbes was set to take place, but a tragic accident at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which claimed the lives of over 80 people, led to new regulations regarding spectator safety. As a result, the Spanish Grand Prix and several other races were cancelled that year and for the next two years, partly due to financial difficulties. The wide, pedestrian-lined street circuit at Pedralbes was never used for motor racing again.

1966

John Surtees claimed victory at the 1966 Mexican Grand Prix in a Cooper T81-Maserati, his first victory since leaving Ferrari to join Cooper. He finished ahead of the Brabham drivers Jack Brabham and Denny Hulme in P2 and P3, respectively. The race was largely a formality, as Brabham had already secured the World Championship at the 1966 Italian Grand Prix two races earlier. The race marked the fifth Mexican Grand Prix and the first held under the new three-litre Formula regulations.

1966

This day also marked the birth of former F1 driver Alessandro Zanardi. Known for his larger-than-life personality, Zanardi debuted with Jordan in 1991, then served as a Benetton test driver before racing two seasons with Lotus. He found great success in IndyCar, winning titles in 1997 and 1998. A return to F1 with Williams in 1999 ended in disappointment with no points. In 2001, Zanardi lost both legs in a horrific crash during an IndyCar race in Germany, but he defied the odds, walking again and even winning a touring car race in a specially adapted car.

1977

A year after his dramatic World Championship win at Fuji, McLaren driver James Hunt returned to Japan for another triumph at the 1977 Japanese Grand Prix. Starting from the front row, Hunt seized the lead and maintained it, securing victory ahead of the Ferrari of Carlos Reutemann and Tyrrell of Patrick Depailler. Meanwhile, pole-sitter and Lotus driver Mario Andretti crashed out on the second lap. However, the race’s biggest incident happend on lap six when Gilles Villeneuve misjudged his braking and collided with Ronnie Peterson‘s Tyrrell. Villeneuve’s Ferrari somersaulted off the track, disintegrating and showering debris onto spectators. Although Villeneuve miraculously emerged uninjured, tragedy struck as a spectator and a marshal were killed, and seven other spectators were injured. It was also the final Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway until its return in 2007. In 1987, the race made its comeback at the more popular and safer Suzuka Circuit.

2016

The 2016 United States Grand Prix saw the Mercedes team dominate the race, with Lewis Hamilton securing a crucial win to keep his championship hopes alive. He led from start to finish, earning his 50th career victory, while his teammate Nico Rosberg, who was leading the championship, finished second. This victory narrowed the points gap between Hamilton and Rosberg, setting up a dramatic showdown for the rest of the season. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo rounded out the podium in third place after a hard-fought battle with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. Notably, Ricciardo had an early advantage and was in contention for second place, but a strategic pit stop under the Virtual Safety Car played into Rosberg’s hands, allowing the German to overtake him. The race also saw Max Verstappen retire due to a mechanical issue. Off-track, the event drew massive crowds, cementing the popularity of Formula 1 in the United States.

This race marked the final time 2009 World Champion Jenson Button earned points in a Formula One Grand Prix.

2022

The 2022 United States Grand Prix, also held at COTA on October 23, saw Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing, secure victory after an intense fight with Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. The win gave Red Bull the 2022 Constructors’ Championship just days after the passing of Dietrich Mateschitz, the founder of Red Bull, making it an emotional victory for the team. It was the team’s first championship since 2023. Verstappen had a tough challenge, including a slow pit stop that dropped him down the order, but he fought back to overtake Hamilton in the closing stages of the race. Hamilton finished second, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took third after recovering from a grid penalty. The race also had its fair share of drama, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll colliding at high speed, a moment that led to post-race controversies.

F1 Driver Birthdays 23 October

F1 Driver Deaths 23 October

F1 Champion 23 October