What happened on this day, September 7 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1952
Alberto Ascari capped off his and Ferrari‘s dominant season by winning the 1952 Italian Grand Prix in front of his home fans. However, Froilan Gonzalez ensured it wasn’t all about Ferrari on the day, bringing his Maserati home in second place, ahead of Ferrari drivers Luigi Villoresi and Giuseppe Farina. Such was the dominance of the Ferrari team throughout the 1952 season; the World Drivers’ Championship had already been clinched a month before the season-ending Italian Grand Prix.
1958
Tony Brooks spoiled the day for the Tifosi by winning the 1958 Italian Grand Prix in his Vanwall, finishing ahead of Ferrari drivers Mike Hawthorn in second and Phil Hill in third. It was a race marked by high attrition, with pole-sitter Stirling Moss fading from contention, leaving Brooks as the sole Vanwall to challenge the Italian cars, eventually passing Hawthorn with ten laps remaining. With that win, Vanwall won the first-ever Formula One Constructor’s title with one race of the 1958 season to go.
1969
Jackie Stewart narrowly defeated Jochen Rindt by just 0.08 seconds at the 1969 Italian Grand Prix in what was described by The Times as the most thrilling Grand Prix finish he had ever witnessed. The top four drivers were separated by only 0.19 seconds in a race that saw the lead change hands 14 times. Stewart’s victory secured him the 1969 Drivers’ Championship and the Matra team the 1969 Constructors’ title. “We had an absolutely terrific scrap,” Stewart said. “I feel utterly exhausted, but at this moment, I could not be happier.” The Times painted a vivid picture of the race’s final moments, noting, “In an electric atmosphere, with the crowd on their toes, we waited and watched for the leaders to appear out of the south curve on the final lap. Four cars roared into view—seemingly welded together—with Stewart and Rindt wheel-to-wheel, just ahead of [Jean-Pierre] Beltoise and [Bruce] McLaren. It was a fairytale finish to a tremendous race that will live long in grand prix history and thousands of Italian memories.”
1975
Ferrari driver Niki Lauda finished in third-place at the 1975 Italian Grand Prix, which was enough to secure him the 1975 Drivers’ Championship, while teammate Clay Regazzoni won the race, handing Ferrari the 1975 Constructors’ title on home soil. Emerson Fittipaldi took second for McLaren.
1986
Nelson Piquet led a Williams 1-2 finish at the 1986 Italian Grand Prix, with teammate Nigel Mansell in second and Stefan Johansson taking third for Ferrari. Although Teo Fabi and Alain Prost qualified on the front row, issues with their cars meant Fabi started from the back, and Prost from the pit lane. After overtaking Mansell, Piquet went on to secure a dominant win, moving him to second in the standings, just five points behind Mansell.
1997
McLaren driver David Coulthard won the 1997 Italian Grand Prix after starting from sixth on the grid, beating Jean Alesi in a Benetton and the Williams of Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Alesi had begun from pole position for only the second time in his career, leading Frentzen and a fast-starting Coulthard. The race was ultimately decided during the pit stops, with McLaren’s efficient work allowing Coulthard to emerge ahead of the Benetton of Alesi. Coulthard then led a procession to the finish.
2008
McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton was controversially stripped of victory at the 2008 Belgian Grand Prix after stewards ruled that he had gained an unfair advantage by passing Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari after cutting a chicane. Despite Hamilton giving back the position immediately after the manoeuvre, the stewards imposed a 25-second penalty, dropping him to third. “This is motor racing, and if there’s a penalty, then there’s something wrong,” Hamilton remarked as the stewards deliberated. “But you know what they are like.” Raikkonen later crashed out, allowing Felipe Massa to take the win for Ferrari, with Nick Heidfeld in a Sauber finishing second.
2014
At the 2014 Italian Grand Prix, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won the 53-lap race from pole, the 36th pole position of his career. His teammate Nico Rosberg finished second, while Felipe Massa in the Williams took third. The result saw Hamilton lower Rosberg’s lead in the 2014 Drivers’ Championship to 22 points, a championship Hamilton would go on to win by 67 points to Rosberg in second.
F1 Driver Birthdays 7 September
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 7 September 1910 | Lee Wallard |
| 7 September 1936 | Brian Hart |
F1 Driver Deaths 7 September
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 7 September 1956 | Sergio Sighinolfi |
F1 Champion 7 September
| Date | Driver/Team |
|---|---|
| 7 September 1969 | Jackie Stewart |
| 7 September 1975 | Niki Lauda |
| 7 September 1958 | Vanwall |
| 7 September 1969 | Matra |
| 7 September 1975 | Ferrari |
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