What happened on this day, September 17 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1929
Few drivers achieved the fame of Sir Stirling Moss, born on this day. While competing, none managed to maintain their profile so well that they remain a familiar name outside the world of motorsport almost 50 years after their last race. For just over a decade, Moss was one of the leading drivers in various formats, a brilliant driver aware of his worth and profile. Somehow, he never won a world title, which almost added to his standing. His racing career ended in a horrendous crash in a minor race at Goodwood in 1962. But as one door closed, another opened, and he remained a high-profile figure into his 80s.
His career saw him take 16 wins, 24 podiums, 16 poles and 19 fastest laps racing for Mercedes-Benz, Maserati, Vanwall, Rob Walker, Cooper, Lotus, HWM.
Beyond F1, Moss was well known for his love of design and the latest gadgets. In 2009, the Stirling Moss brand was created, leading to various licensing opportunities. While qualifying for the 2011 Le Mans Legends race, Moss retired from competitive racing.
1960
Damon Hill was born to race, and before he was out of short trousers, his father, Graham Hill, had won his two F1 World titles. He didn’t take up racing cars until the relatively late age of 23, initially dabbling with bikes. He broke into Formula One in 1992 and, the following season, switched to Williams. From 1993, he finished third, second, and second in the Drivers’ Championship before winning the title in 1996. Alongside Nico Rosberg, he stands as one of the only individuals to follow in his father’s footsteps by securing a Formula 1 World Championship. His success was slightly marred by the fact he immediately left Williams to join an uncompetitive Arrows team, then moving for two moderate seasons to Jordan before retiring. He has remained close to the sport and has been president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club where he was instrumental in securing a 17-year contract for Silverstone to continue hosting Formula 1 races, as well as overseeing the development of the circuit’s modernisation. As of 2024, he remains a part of the Sky Sports F1 broadcasting team.
2001
Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher was forced to back down on threats not to compete in the 2001 US Grand Prix at the end of the month after Bernie Ecclestone warned him he could be stripped of his almost-certain title if he did. Schumacher was one of several drivers raising concerns about safety in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He received backing from Jaguar boss and former champion Niki Lauda. “Personally I don’t think we should go, but it’s not my decision,” Lauda said. “We have a contractual commitment to Indianapolis, and the race could only be cancelled if the organisers there wanted it.”
2004
As Jaguar prepared to unveil massive job cuts at its Birmingham plant, it pre-empted the announcement by revealing it was scrapping its Formula One team, which had been struggling ever since it emerged from the Stewart outfit in 1999. It also withdrew its support for its Cosworth engine division, which had provided subsidised engines for Jordan and Minardi. Ford, Jaguar’s owners, said it “could not justify the spending.”
2006
The 2006 Belgian Grand Prix was originally scheduled for 17 September but was cancelled after the large-scale renovation of the Spa track could not be completed before the September race. The Belgian Grand Prix returned in 2007 when Kimi Raikkonen took the pole position and won his third consecutive race.
2017
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix after seizing the lead on the first lap, following a major collision involving the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel, the Red Bull of Max Verstappen, and teammate Kimi Raikkonen. At the start, Raikkonen had a much better getaway than his teammate Vettel and Red Bull’s Verstappen. Verstappen found himself squeezed between Vettel and Raikkonen with no room to manoeuvre. Raikkonen’s car made contact with Verstappen’s tyres, causing him to lose control and collide with the left side pod of Vettel’s car, significantly damaging both Ferraris. Raikkonen’s car then slid into turn 1, hitting Verstappen again, which led to a collision with Fernando Alonso—the chain of events forced both Raikkonen and Verstappen to retire from the race immediately.
Daniel Ricciardo claimed second place for Red Bull, with Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas finishing third. The result extended Hamilton’s lead in the 2017 Drivers’ Championship to 28 points and boosted Mercedes’ advantage in the Constructors’ standings to 102 points.
2023
The 2023 Singapore Grand Prix started with 19 drivers after Lance Stroll‘s crash at the end of Q1. Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz claimed his second Formula One victory, having secured pole position and leading the race from start to finish. He crossed the line ahead of the McLaren of Lando Norris, who he strategically kept in DRS range to keep the two faster Mercedes cars at bay. The Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton finished third after teammate George Russell, who was in contention for a podium spot, crashed out on the final lap at turn 10. This Grand Prix was the only race of the 2023 season not won by a Red Bull Racing driver, ending Max Verstappen’s record streak of ten consecutive wins and Red Bull’s record streak of fifteen consecutive victories. AlphaTauri driver Liam Lawson earned his first Formula One points by finishing ninth after replacing the injured Daniel Ricciardo.
F1 Driver Birthdays 17 September
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 17 September 1929 | Stirling Moss |
| 17 September 1960 | Damon Hill |
| 17 September 1996 | Esteban Ocon |
F1 Driver Deaths 17 September
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 17 September | None |
Seen in:
