What Happened On This Day September 6 In F1 History?

From the birth of former F1 Chief Medical Officer Sid Watkins in 1928 to Pierre Gasly winning his first F1 race at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix for AlphaTauri.

Lee Parker

By Lee Parker
Updated on February 10, 2025

2020 Italian Grand Prix Pierre Gasly
Pierre Gasly wins his first F1 race at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix for AlphaTauri // Image: Formula One Media

What happened on this day, September 6 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.

1928

Sid Watkins was a British neurosurgeon born on this day, 6 September 1928. He became well-known in Formula One for his role as the sport’s chief medical officer, a position he held from 1978 to 2004. Watkins was instrumental in improving safety standards in F1, advocating for better medical facilities and rapid response teams, and introducing safety measures that have significantly reduced fatalities and serious injuries in the sport. He was highly respected for his quick response and expertise during numerous on-track incidents, saving the lives of several drivers, namely Martin Donnelly, Rubens Barrichello, Mika Hakkinen and Karl Wendlinger. Sid Watkins passed away on 12 September 2012 at the age of 84.

1964

John Surtees won the 1964 Italian Grand Prix for Ferrari, much to the delight of the Tifosi. This victory was instrumental in his journey to becoming the only person to win World Championships on both two and four wheels. Bruce McLaren finished second for the Cooper team, and Surtees teammate Lorenzo Bandini came in third. The race also marked the final Grand Prix for Maurice Trintignant, the first French driver to win a Grand Prix and a two-time winner at Monaco, who retired at the age of 47.

1964 Italian Grand Prix Race Results
PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
12John SurteesFerrari782:10:51.8009
226Bruce McLarenCooper Climax78+66.000s6
34Lorenzo BandiniFerrari77+1 lap4
420Richie GintherBRM77+1 lap3
546Innes IrelandBRP BRM77+1 lap2
610Mike SpenceLotus Climax77+1 lap1
712Jo SiffertBrabham BRM77+1 lap0
830Giancarlo BaghettiBRM77+1 lap0
96Ludovico ScarfiottiFerrari77+1 lap0
1016Dan GurneyBrabham Climax75+3 laps0
1122Bob AndersonBrabham Climax75+3 laps0
1234Jo BonnierBrabham Climax74+4 laps0
1338Peter  RevsonLotus BRM72+6 laps0
1414Jack BrabhamBrabham Climax59DNF0
NC8Jim ClarkLotus Climax27DNF0
NC50Mario  de Araujo CabralDerrington-Francis ATS24DNF0
NC48Maurice  TrintignantBRM21DNF0
NC28Ronnie BucknumHonda12DNF0
NC40Mike HailwoodLotus BRM4DNF0
NC18Graham HillBRM0DNF0

1970

Ferrari driver Clay Regazzoni secured his first Formula One victory at the 1970 Italian Grand Prix in just his fifth race, finishing ahead of Jackie Stewart in a March and Jean-Pierre Beltoise in a Matra. However, the celebrations were subdued due to the tragic death of Jochen Rindt during practice the previous day.

This was the final race at Monza to be contested over 68 laps; starting in 1971, the race distance was reduced to 55 laps. It also marked the last victory in Formula 1 for a driver wearing an open-face helmet.

1970 Italian Grand Prix Race Results
PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
14Clay RegazzoniFerrari681:39:06.8809
218Jackie StewartMarch Ford68+5.730s6
340Jean-Pierre BeltoiseMatra68+5.800s4
430Denny HulmeMcLaren Ford68+6.150s3
546Rolf StommelenBrabham Ford68+6.410s2
620Francois  CevertMarch Ford68+63.460s1
748Chris AmonMarch Ford67+1 lap0
834Andrea de AdamichMcLaren Alfa Romeo61+7 laps0
NC32Peter  GethinMcLaren Ford60+8 laps0
NC8Jackie OliverBRM36DNF0
NC52Ronnie PetersonMarch Ford35DNF0
NC44Jack BrabhamBrabham Ford31DNF0
NC2Jacky IckxFerrari25DNF0
NC12George EatonBRM21DNF0
NC54Tim  SchenkenDe Tomaso Ford17DNF0
NC42Henri PescaroloMatra14DNF0
NC6Ignazio  GiuntiFerrari14DNF0
NC10Pedro RodriguezBRM12DNF0
NC50Jo SiffertMarch Ford3DNF0
NC14John SurteesSurtees Ford0DNF0

1987

Nelson Piquet won the 1987 Italian Grand Prix with Williams, enhancing his chances of securing the 1987 Championship title. Ayrton Senna in a LotusHonda briefly led the race following mid-race pit stops and seemed poised to finish without stopping, but he went wide across a sand trap, allowing Piquet to pass. Nigel Mansell in the sister Williams finished third. The event also marked Michele Alboreto‘s 100th Grand Prix start.

1987 Italian Grand Prix Race Results
PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
16Nelson PiquetWilliams Honda501:14:47.7079
212Ayrton SennaLotus Honda50+1.806s6
35Nigel MansellWilliams Honda50+49.036s4
428Gerhard BergerFerrari50+57.979s3
520Thierry BoutsenBenetton Ford50+81.319s2
62Stefan JohanssonMcLaren TAG50+88.787s1
719Teo FabiBenetton Ford49+1 lap0
826Piercarlo GhinzaniLigier Megatron48+2 laps0
910Christian DannerZakspeed48+2 laps0
1025Rene ArnouxLigier Megatron48+2 laps0
1111Satoru NakajimaLotus Honda47+3 laps0
124Philippe StreiffTyrrell Ford47+3 laps0
1316Ivan CapelliMarch Ford47+3 laps0
143Jonathan  PalmerTyrrell Ford47+3 laps0
151Alain ProstMcLaren TAG46+4 laps0
1624Alessandro NanniniMinardi Motori Moderni45DNF0
NC9Martin BrundleZakspeed43DNF0
NC30Philippe AlliotLola Ford37DNF0
NC23Adrian CamposMinardi Motori Moderni34DNF0
NC18Eddie  CheeverArrows Megatron27DNF0
NC22Franco ForiniOsella Alfa Romeo27DNF0
NC21Alex CaffiOsella Alfa Romeo16DNF0
NC27Michele AlboretoFerrari13DNF0
NC17Derek WarwickArrows Megatron9DNF0
NC8Andrea de CesarisBrabham BMW7DNF0
NC7Riccardo PatreseBrabham BMW5DNF0

2015

At the 2015 Italian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton achieved the second grand slam of his career by winning the race, taking pole position, setting the fastest lap, and leading every lap. He finished 25 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who came in second, while Felipe Massa secured third place for Williams.

This race marked the 41st and final podium finish for Felipe Massa, the 2008 World Championship runner-up, and, as of 2024, remains the most recent podium for a Brazilian driver in Formula One.

2015 Italian Grand Prix Race Results
PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
144Lewis HamiltonMercedes531:18:00.68825
25Sebastian VettelFerrari53+25.042s18
319Felipe MassaWilliams Mercedes53+47.635s15
477Valtteri BottasWilliams Mercedes53+47.996s12
57Kimi RäikkönenFerrari53+68.860s10
611Sergio PerezForce India Mercedes53+72.783s8
727Nico HulkenbergForce India Mercedes52+1 lap6
83Daniel RicciardoRed Bull Racing Renault52+1 lap4
99Marcus EricssonSauber Ferrari52+1 lap2
1026Daniil KvyatRed Bull Racing Renault52+1 lap1
1155Carlos SainzSTR Renault52+1 lap0
1233Max VerstappenSTR Renault52+1 lap0
1312Felipe NasrSauber Ferrari52+1 lap0
1422Jenson ButtonMcLaren Honda52+1 lap0
1528Will StevensMarussia Ferrari51+2 laps0
1698Roberto MerhiMarussia Ferrari51+2 laps0
176Nico RosbergMercedes50DNF0
1814Fernando AlonsoMcLaren Honda47DNF0
NC8Romain GrosjeanLotus Mercedes1DNF0
NC13Pastor MaldonadoLotus Mercedes1DNF0

2020

At the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly, driving for AlphaTauri, claimed his first Formula One victory, becoming the first French driver to win a race since Olivier Panis at the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix. This win also marked the 80th Formula One World Championship race win for a French driver. Additionally, it made Honda the first engine manufacturer to win with two different teams in the V6 turbo-hybrid era. McLaren driver Carlos Sainz finished second, while the Racing Point of Lance Stroll took third place.

The race was also the last for both Claire Williams and Frank Williams, as they stepped down from their positions at Williams Racing and the first time that Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull all failed to score a podium finish since the 2012 Hungarian Grand Prix.

2020 Italian Grand Prix Race Results
PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
110Pierre GaslyAlphaTauri Honda531:47:06.05625
255Carlos SainzMcLaren Renault53+0.415s18
318Lance StrollRacing Point BWT Mercedes53+3.358s15
44Lando NorrisMcLaren Renault53+6.000s12
577Valtteri BottasMercedes53+7.108s10
63Daniel RicciardoRenault53+8.391s8
744Lewis HamiltonMercedes53+17.245s7
831Esteban OconRenault53+18.691s4
926Daniil KvyatAlphaTauri Honda53+22.208s2
1011Sergio PerezRacing Point BWT Mercedes53+23.224s1
116Nicholas LatifiWilliams Mercedes53+32.876s0
128Romain GrosjeanHaas Ferrari53+35.164s0
137Kimi RäikkönenAlfa Romeo Racing Ferrari53+36.312s0
1463George RussellWilliams Mercedes53+36.593s0
1523Alexander AlbonRed Bull Racing Honda53+37.533s0
1699Antonio GiovinazziAlfa Romeo Racing Ferrari53+55.199s0
NC33Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing Honda30DNF0
NC16Charles LeclercFerrari23DNF0
NC20Kevin MagnussenHaas Ferrari17DNF0
NC5Sebastian VettelFerrari6DNF0
Note – Hamilton scored an additional point for setting the fastest lap of the race.

F1 Driver Birthdays 6 September

BirthdayF1 Driver
6 Septembern/a

F1 Driver Deaths 6 September

DeathF1 Driver
6 Septembern/a

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About The Author

Staff Writer

Lee Parker
Lee Parker

Lee is our staff writer specialising in anything technical within Formula 1 from aerodynamics to engines. Lee writes most of our F1 guides for beginners and experienced fans as well as our F1 on this day posts having followed the sport since 1991, researching and understanding how teams build the ultimate machines. Like everyone else on the team he listens to podcasts about F1 and enjoys reading biographies of former drivers.

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