What Happened On This Day October 26 In F1 History?

What happened on this day, October 26 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.

1942

Jonathan Williams, a British racing driver and close friend of Frank Williams and Piers Courage, was born in Cairo. He competed in various lower series and became a Ferrari F2 driver in 1967. Williams got his opportunity in Formula 1 at the 1967 Italian Grand Prix that year, finishing eighth after starting 16th, filling in after multiple Ferrari drivers were killed earlier in the season.

1947

British F1 driver Ian Ashley, born in Wuppertal, Germany, carved out a reputation in F5000 before bouncing between underperforming F1 teams in the 1970s. He debuted at the Nurburgring in 1974, finishing 14th in a Token car, hindered by a slow puncture. Later that season, his sponsors acquired a Brabham from Bernie Ecclestone, but Ashley recalled it as “a diabolical piece of machinery” due to mismatched shock absorbers. Stints with Frank Williams and BRM followed, leading to a 1977 drive with Hesketh. After qualifying for the 1977 US Grand Prix, his career ended abruptly with a severe crash during practice for the 1977 Canadian Grand Prix, where he sustained multiple injuries. Ashley later raced in Champ Cars and made a brief return in the British Touring Car Championship in 1993.

1986

The 1986 Australian Grand Prix delivered one of the most thrilling season finales in F1 history, where Alain Prost emerged victorious for McLaren over the Williams’ of Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet. Early in the race, Piquet spun, while Prost suffered a puncture, forcing a pit stop. Piquet quickly recovered and overtook Mansell, who seemed poised to win the title. However, disaster struck when Mansell’s left-rear tyre exploded at 180mph, showering sparks and ending his race. “And look at that! Out, and… and colossally… that’s Mansell!” exclaimed BBC commentator Murray Walker. Williams, fearing another tyre failure, called Piquet in for a precautionary stop, allowing Prost to win both the race and the 1986 Drivers’ Championship. Piquet finished second, with Stefan Johansson in a Ferrari finishing third. Reflecting on the incident years later, Mansell described it as a “simply awful experience.”

1997

Williams driver Jacques Villeneuve secured the 1997 Drivers’ Championship in a dramatic finale at the 1997 European Grand Prix, overcoming a controversial clash with the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher. On lap 48, Villeneuve attempted a decisive pass on Schumacher, only for the German driver to turn into him, resulting in heavy contact. Schumacher ended up in the gravel, while Villeneuve continued to finish third and clinch the title. “Either he had his eyes shut, or his hands slipped on the steering wheel,” Villeneuve fumed after the race. “I knew there was a 50% chance he’d try to take me out.” Schumacher defended his actions, claiming, “Jacques braked so late that if I hadn’t turned in, we both would have missed the corner.” The FIA later sided with Villeneuve, penalising Schumacher by stripping him of all his championship points. The McLaren drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard took first and second.

F1 Driver Birthdays 26 October

F1 Driver Deaths 26 October

F1 Champion 26 October