What happened on this day, September 18 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1918
American driver Johnny Mantz was born on this day in Hebron, Indiana. Mantz only ever made one Grand Prix appearance at the Indianapolis 500, but had 12 NASCAR Grand National starts, winning his third NASCAR race, the first Southern 500 held at Darlington Raceway.
1947
Giancarlo Minardi was born on this day. As a young boy, his family operated a Fiat dealership and an Agip fuel station. His father, Giovanni Minardi, who passed away when Giancarlo was still young, was also deeply involved in motor racing. Giancarlo eventually founded the Minardi team in 1980 with seasons in F2 with the most notable success being a 1981 win at the Misano round with Michele Alboreto. The team entered Formula 1 in 1985, a journey that lasted until 2005. Despite its limited success in terms of points and podium finishes, Minardi became a beloved underdog in the F1 paddock, known for nurturing young talent.
1951
Born on this day, Swiss driver Marc Surer competed in 82 grands prix between 1979 and 1986 without ever climbing onto the podium, his best finish being two fourth-place finishes. He struggled in a series of uncompetitive cars and also broke his legs while testing an ATS in 1980. Another serious accident in 1986 killed his co-driver in European Touring Car Championship and effectively ended his F1 career. He was retained in various roles by BMW and remained closely involved in the sport as a commentator and presenter.
1953
Belgian aristocrat and driver Charles de Tornaco died when he rolled his Ferrari while practising for the 1953 Modena Grand Prix. Without a doctor at the track, he had to be loaded into a private car for the journey to the hospital, but he died en route from serious head injuries. He was 26.
2001
Organisers of the 2001 US Grand Prix ended speculation that the 30 September event could be cancelled in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George said the race would go ahead “with deep respect for those affected by last week’s tragedies.”
2003
Jenson Button was forced to quit testing in Jerez after a high-speed accident when he lost control of his BAR and smashed into a wall. Button suffered bruised knees, but the car was beyond repair.
2006
Olivier Panis announced his retirement on this day from Formula One, ending a 12-year career in which he won once in 157 starts. In 1997, he was lying in third in the Drivers’ Championship when he crashed in the 1997 Canadian Grand Prix, breaking his legs and missing the remainder of the season. He never again featured on the podium and spent his last two years as a test driver. “It’s time for me to move on and fulfil my wish to race again,” he said.
2016
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg won the 2016 Singapore Grand Prix after starting the race from pole position and leading from start to finish, fending off a late charge from the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo to secure victory by less than half a second in his 200th Formula One race. Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel was named Driver of the Day after climbing 17 places to finish in 5th position. Rosberg’s teammate Lewis Hamilton finished in third. Having entered the race 2 points ahead of Rosberg, Hamiltons’s third-place finish saw him drop behind his title rival, with Rosberg securing the top spot in the Drivers’ standings.
F1 Driver Birthdays 18 September
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 18 September 1918 | Johnny Mantz |
| 18 September 1951 | Marc Surer |
| 18 September 1996 | Alfonso Celis |
F1 Driver Deaths 18 September
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 18 September 1953 | Charles de Tornaco |
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