Today is my 28th birthday and I'm reminiscing. I have watched Formula One for a very long time and throughout those years there have been some excellent moments. Whether it's the wheel to wheel racing or the off track antics, there have been many. So I've asked myself "which of these are my favourite?" Keep reading on to find out.
(The below points are in not any particular order. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
1) Brazil GP 2012
The twentieth and final round of the 2012 season took place in Brazil and was one of the most thrilling races in modern-day F1 history. Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso were still in the title fight and one of them would finish the race as a world champion. After a race with mixed-conditions and safety cars, Vettel took the championship win, his third in F1.
The race received many positive reviews with it being described as a "rollercoaster," "spectacular" and "historic." With it's dramatic nature, the 2012 Brazilian GP was definitely one for the history books.
2) Carlos Sainz First Pole and Win
As a self-proclaimed Carlos Sainz "hypewoman," this F1 moment HAD to make the list. And, to make it even more special; I was there in the crowd for his first pole.
The 2022 British Grand Prix was to be Sainz's 150th race start in F1 and after a wet qualifying session he took pole by 0,034 seconds. Max Verstappen would start alongside him in 2nd. During the race, Verstappen overtook him for the lead. But, after the Red Bull driver sustained damage, Sainz took the lead back. After pitting for soft tyres in the closing laps, Sainz regained the lead once again therefore taking his maiden win in Formula One and ending his winless streak which was the second highest in F1 history.
3) Montoya and the Deer
Radio transmissions are the easiest way for drivers to communicate to their team while out on track. And, lucky for us, we sometimes get to hear these messages when broadcast on TV. Most of the time they are just informative and gives fans an insight into the communications between team and driver. However, sometimes they are pure gold.
Let's rewind to the 2001 Austrian Grand Prix. It's practice and Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya is out on track. He wasn't the only person, or "living thing" out on track, however. A deer had got onto the circuit and was jumping around. Cue Montoya's radio:
Engineer: “We’ve seen a deer on the circuit. We believe it’s somewhere on the circuit, so just come in cautiously.”
Montoya: “OH DEER”.
Engineer [missing the joke completely]: “It’s like a horse with horns” (!)
Montoya: “I know, I know. Oh deer. Hahahahahaha.”
Just brilliant.
4) Rowan Atkinson
Celebrities make regular appearances at Formula One race weekends and it was no different in 2011 at the Indian Grand Prix when Rowan Atkinson, aka Mr Bean, spent the weekend with McLaren. It was during this weekend that one of F1's best reactions was born.
Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa were battling out on track when things got a bit hairy. Atkinson first started to look nervous before his emotion dramatically changed to frustration when Hamilton and Massa collided. All this was caught on camera and broadcast live to the joy of millions. I expect Atkinson wasn't being intentionally funny but thanks to his background as Mr Bean, you couldn't help but chuckle.
5) 2013 Belgian GP Press Conference
Like radio transmissions, the press conferences are a regular part of an F1 weekend. And, although they are usually serious, some questions can, at times, provide us with entertainment.
For example, take the Belgian GP press conference in 2013 which included Jean-Eric Vergne, Giedo Van Der Garde, Sebastian Vettel, Jules Bianchi, Charles Pic and Romain Grosjean. Grosjean hadn't long become a father for the first time and the question was put out for the others. "For everyone except Romain, are you ready to become a father?" Among the chuckles and nervousness of the other drivers there were many answers that gave us a good laugh. From "it doesn't take long to get the job done" to "we are still in free practice," the answers were hilarious. It's one press conference we wont be forgetting about any time soon.
6) Vettel vs Alonso - Italy 2011 and 2012
The Italian GP in 2011 and 2012 was remarkable based on the fact that each race had an identical incident involving the same drivers, Vettel and Alonso, two years in a row.
Both incidents took place on the Curve Grande section of the Monza circuit. In 2011, Vettel was the brave man taking Alonso on the outside line at over 180mph. However, Alonso pushed him and his outside wheels touched the dirt. In 2012, it was vice versa. The only difference? Vettel got penalized in 2012 for pushing Alonso off.
Was all this just a coincidence? Who knows.
7) Vettel's First Win
Sebastian Vettel may be a four time F1 World Champion but like all champions his first win had to come somewhere.
It was in 2008 at a rain-soaked Italian Grand Prix. Vettel started on pole in his Toro Rosso behind the safety car and eventually won the race becoming the youngest Formula One race winner at the time. What made Vettel's win impressive was the wet conditions the race took place in and the inferior F1 car he took to victory. It was no surprise that only a few years later he won his fourth World Championship.
8) 2005 USA GP
There have been some mere strange moments in F1 history but nothing like the 2005 USA Grand Prix which has been described as the most "notorious race in F1."
After a number of incidents earlier on in the F1 weekend, tyre supplier Michelin advised it's customers to reduce speed in Turn 13 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This was because in 2005 teams could not change tyres during a race and the Michelin spec tyres were not going to last the race distance. Eventually, teams running the Michelin tyres boycotted the race and only a total of six cars competed that day with Michael Schumacher taking the race win.
9) Italy GP Qualifying 2019
"Everyone looked like idiots." This qualifying session will definitely go down in F1 history.
Monza is known for it's fast speeds and the ability for teams to create tows for their drivers. Unfortunately, it was the tows that was the root cause of the Italian GP Q3 mess. Nobody wanted to be out on track without that tow. Once everyone was out on the track there was a lot of dangerous and unnecessary slow driving. No one wanted to be first across the line. However, during all the dawdling, time was ticking and eventually Sainz was the only driver to reach the line in time to start his lap. Charles Leclerc, who didn't reach the line in time, was on pole.
10) Hamilton's 7 World Drivers Championships
I'll be honest, I'm not much of a Hamilton fan but you can't deny, his achievements are incredible which is why he has made this list.
After witnessing only a few of Schumacher's World Driver Championships, I didn't think we'd ever see anything of his caliber in F1 again. Cue, Hamilton and Mercedes. And this time, I have managed to witness all 7. Something I feel incredibly lucky to admit. Will we see it again? I'm sure Verstappen could challenge this in the future.
So, there we have it - ten of my favourite F1 moments. Although, there were plenty more I could add to the list. Honorable mentions include:
Verstappen's first championship
Kevin Magnussen's pole
Schumacher vs Alonso
Are there anymore you can think of? Do you agree with mine? Let me know in the comments below.
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