What happened on this day, September 28 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1968
Double world champion Mika Hakkinen was born on this day in Vantaa, Finland. Known for his immense natural speed he overcame serious head injuries from a crash at the 1995 Australian Grand Prix and returned to form in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, Hakkinen edged out Michael Schumacher in the final race to win the title with eight victories. He retained his crown in 1999, despite winning only five races, before the Ferrari-Schumacher era began. After a season plagued by mechanical issues in 2001, Hakkinen announced a sabbatical, from which he never returned.
Consistent and quick, he scored points in over half his races and took to the top of the podium 20 times. In their 11 years as rivals, only Michael Schumacher achieved more, and Schumacher himself said that the opponent he most respected was Hakkinen.
1980
Williams driver Alan Jones won an accident-filled 1980 Canadian Grand Prix to secure his only World Championship, with teammate Carlos Reutemann claiming second and Ligier driver Didier Pironi third. Nelson Piquet, who had arrived in Montreal leading the standings, was forced out of the race when the Ford engine in his Brabham blew on lap 23. “It’s what I’ve been dreaming of and working for,” Jones said after his victory. “I still don’t believe it … when I’m back in the hotel and having a shower then I might start jumping up and down.” A seven-car crash at the first turn delayed the race for almost an hour.
The most serious casualty of the race was a few laps later with Jean-Pierre Jabouille, who broke both legs when his Renault crashed into a barrier. Jabouille had to be cut from the car.
Jones became only the second Australian to claim the world championship, a title last won by Jack Brabham in 1966.
1990
Martin Donnelly’s short but promising career came to a devastating end when he crashed his Lotus during practice for the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix. He hit a barrier at 140 mph, causing his car to disintegrate and leaving him thrown onto the track, still strapped into his seat. Onlookers initially feared he had been killed. Medical assistance took three minutes to arrive, and he was stabilised after an hour, then airlifted to the hospital with severe head injuries and broken legs. Donnelly endured a long recovery, suffering from kidney failure and facing the potential loss of his right leg. Although he eventually recovered, he never raced again.
1997
The 1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix saw no brotherly love between the Schumachers when Ralf‘s Jordan collided with Michael‘s Ferrari just 200 meters from the start, damaging Michael’s front suspension. Two laps later, Michael retired, severely denting his chances of winning a third championship, while Jacques Villeneuve won the race in his Williams, taking a nine-point lead in the title race with two races remaining. “After Ralf hit me, my car was handling strangely,” Michael said. “In the pits we saw the suspension arm was bent. It was a shame it happened with my brother, but I don’t think it was deliberate. That’s motor racing.”
Benetton driver Jean Alesi finished in second, while Villeneuve’s teammate Heinz-Harald Frentzen took third.
2003
Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher won the 2003 United States Grand Prix after starting from seventh on the grid. McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen, who started from pole position, finished second, while Sauber driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen secured third place, marking his first podium finish in three years and the final one of his career.
2008
Fernando Alonso‘s victory for Renault at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix was hailed as a miracle after he started 15th in the first-ever night race. However, the race later became infamous as part of the “Crashgate” scandal. On the 14th lap, Alonso’s teammate, Nelson Piquet Jr., crashed, bringing out the safety car, which worked in Alonso’s favour. Ten months later, the true nature of Piquet’s intentional crash came to light. Meanwhile, race leader Felipe Massa’s Ferrari team suffered a disastrous pit stop, where Massa drove off with the fuel hose still attached, dropping him to last after a penalty. Nico Rosberg took second for Williams, and Lewis Hamilton third in a McLaren.
2009
Lewis Hamilton‘s victory at the 2009 Singapore Grand Prix kept the championship fight alive, despite Brawn GP driver Jenson Button finishing fifth and maintaining a 15-point lead. Hamilton, reflecting on his own 2007 experience of losing a 17-point lead with two races to go, advised Button to “continue pressing hard all the way to the finish.” Fernando Alonso finished third, his best result of the season, and controversially dedicated his performance to his agent Flavio Briatore, who had been banned from the sport by the FIA just six days earlier for his role in the Crashgate scandal. Timo Glock came home in second for Toyota.
F1 Driver Birthdays 28 September
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 28 September 1920 | Jiggs Peters |
| 28 September 1927 | Russ Congdon |
| 28 September 1963 | Erik Comas |
| 28 September 1968 | Mika Hakkinen |
| 28 September 2004 | Isack Hadjar |
F1 Driver Deaths 28 September
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 28 September 1958 | Jimmy Reece |
| 28 September 1996 | Mennato Boffa |
F1 Champion 28 September
| Date | Driver/Team |
|---|---|
| 28 September 1980 | Alan Jones |
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