Race narratives, championship battles, world context and the drivers who made history. One grand prix at a time.
British Grand Prix · Silverstone
On a converted RAF airfield in rural Northamptonshire, in front of King George VI and 100,000 spectators, the FIA World Championship for Drivers began. Nino Farina drove an Alfa Romeo to victory and into history.
Read the full story →Japanese Grand Prix · Mount Fuji Speedway
Niki Lauda had cheated death at the Nürburgring ten weeks earlier. Now, in a Japanese typhoon, he chose life over a championship. James Hunt drove through the chaos and the title was his by a single point.
Read the full story →French Grand Prix · Dijon-Prenois
Jean-Pierre Jabouille won the race and made history with the first turbo victory. Nobody remembers that part. They remember Gilles Villeneuve and René Arnoux fighting for second in a battle so intense, so mutual, so reckless and brilliant that it redefined what racing could mean.
Read the full story →Monaco Grand Prix · Circuit de Monaco
Ayrton Senna, 24 years old and driving a Toleman, was catching Alain Prost at three seconds per lap in a Monaco downpour. He was going to win. Then the race director showed the red flag.
Read the full story →San Marino Grand Prix · Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
Two men died at Imola in May 1994. Roland Ratzenberger on Saturday, Ayrton Senna on Sunday. The sport they raced in was never the same again.
Read the full story →United States Grand Prix · Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Fourteen cars did a formation lap in front of 120,000 spectators, then drove into the pit lane and stopped. Six cars remained to race. The crowd booed. It was the lowest moment in modern Formula 1 history.
Read the full story →Brazilian Grand Prix · Autódromo José Carlos Pace
Lewis Hamilton arrived at Interlagos needing only fifth place to become the youngest World Champion in history. A gearbox failure, a fall to eighteenth place, and a recovery that fell one position short left him seventh. Kimi Räikkönen took the title by a single point.
Read the full story →Brazilian Grand Prix · Autódromo José Carlos Pace
For 70 laps, Lewis Hamilton was going to be champion. Then he dropped to sixth with two laps to go. Then it rained. Then Timo Glock slowed on the final lap. Hamilton went through at the last corner of the last lap of the season. World Champion by one point.
Read the full story →Canadian Grand Prix · Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Jenson Button started seventh, spent time in the pits after a collision, ran last with twenty laps to go, and won. The race lasted four hours and four minutes — the longest in Formula 1 history. His final overtake on Fernando Alonso, with less than a lap remaining, is among the great moments of the modern era.
Read the full story →Abu Dhabi Grand Prix · Yas Marina Circuit
Lewis Hamilton led with five laps to go. A safety car, a controversial decision about lapped cars, and fresh soft tyres for Max Verstappen produced an overtake on the final lap. Verstappen was champion. The sport has not stopped talking about it since.
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