What happened on this day, April 11 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1920
Al Keller, born on this day in New York State, was an adaptable racer who competed in both NASCAR and the Champ Car series throughout the 1950s. In 1954, he made history as the first driver to win a NASCAR race in a foreign-built car, driving a Jaguar.
Between 1954 and 1961, Keller made 32 starts in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, including multiple appearances at the Indianapolis 500, when it formed part of the F1 World Championship of Drivers. Tragically, in 1961, he lost his life in a crash at the Arizona State Fairgrounds track.
1926
Pete Lovely, born on this day in Montana, was best known for entering privately-run Lotus cars in Formula One, often under the banner “Pete Lovely Volkswagen,” reflecting his business as a VW dealer.
Over 11 Grand Prix starts his best result came at the 1969 Canadian Grand Prix, where he finished seventh. His racing career in various series spanned an impressive 50 years.
1993
The ever-changing weather at the 1993 European Grand Prix made McLaren driver Ayrton Senna’s 38th career win even more special. Damon Hill finished second for Williams, describing the treacherous conditions as a nightmare and the worst you would ever want to race in. Hill’s teammate, Alain Prost, claimed third despite making an astonishing seven tyre changes throughout the race.
Senna, who started fourth on the grid, delivered a masterclass in wet-weather driving, surging into the lead by the end of the first lap. He also made five pit stops—one of which he had to abort when his mechanics were caught off guard—yet still managed to dominate in one of his most celebrated performances.
The race was the first held under the European Grand Prix title since 1985, and to date is the only Formula 1 Grand Prix to have been held at the Donington Park circuit
1993 European Grand Prix Race Results
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Laps | Time/retired | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren Ford | 76 | 1:50:46.570 | 10 |
2 | 0 | Damon Hill | Williams Renault | 76 | +83.199s | 6 |
3 | 2 | Alain Prost | Williams Renault | 75 | +1 lap | 4 |
4 | 12 | Johnny Herbert | Lotus Ford | 75 | +1 lap | 3 |
5 | 6 | Riccardo Patrese | Benetton Ford | 74 | +2 laps | 2 |
6 | 24 | Fabrizio Barbazza | Minardi Ford | 74 | +2 laps | 1 |
7 | 23 | Christian Fittipaldi | Minardi Ford | 73 | +3 laps | 0 |
8 | 11 | Alessandro Zanardi | Lotus Ford | 72 | +4 laps | 0 |
9 | 20 | Erik Comas | Larrousse Lamborghini | 72 | +4 laps | 0 |
10 | 14 | Rubens Barrichello | Jordan Hart | 70 | DNF | 0 |
11 | 21 | Michele Alboreto | Lola Ferrari | 70 | +6 laps | 0 |
NC | 9 | Derek Warwick | Footwork Mugen Honda | 66 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 15 | Thierry Boutsen | Jordan Hart | 61 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 4 | Andrea de Cesaris | Tyrrell Yamaha | 55 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 27 | Jean Alesi | Ferrari | 36 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 10 | Aguri Suzuki | Footwork Mugen Honda | 29 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 19 | Philippe Alliot | Larrousse Lamborghini | 27 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 5 | Michael Schumacher | Benetton Ford | 22 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 26 | Mark Blundell | Ligier Renault | 20 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 28 | Gerhard Berger | Ferrari | 19 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 30 | Jyrki Jarvilehto | Sauber | 13 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 3 | Ukyo Katayama | Tyrrell Yamaha | 11 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 25 | Martin Brundle | Ligier Renault | 7 | DNF | 0 |
1999
Mika Hakkinen secured his 10th F1 victory at the 1999 Brazilian Grand Prix, crossing the line 4.9 seconds ahead of Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari. Heinz-Harald Frentzen claimed third for Jordan, despite his car stopping on the final lap running out of fuel, as the next car was a lap down.
Häkkinen’s race was not without drama—at one point, he lost his gears and feared the race was over. “I suddenly couldn’t get a high gear, and I thought the game was over, but suddenly the gears came back,” he recalled. This brief setback allowed Rubens Barrichello to take the lead, igniting cheers from the 120,000-strong home crowd. However, their excitement turned to heartbreak when Barrichello’s engine failed, ending his hopes of a dream victory.
1999 Brazilian Grand Prix Race Results
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Laps | Time/retired | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Mika Hakkinen | McLaren Mercedes | 72 | 1:36:03.785 | 10 |
2 | 3 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | 72 | +4.925s | 6 |
3 | 8 | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | Jordan Mugen Honda | 71 | DNF | 4 |
4 | 6 | Ralf Schumacher | Williams Supertec | 71 | +1 lap | 3 |
5 | 4 | Eddie Irvine | Ferrari | 71 | +1 lap | 2 |
6 | 18 | Olivier Panis | Prost Peugeot | 71 | +1 lap | 1 |
7 | 10 | Alexander Wurz | Benetton Playlife | 70 | +2 laps | 0 |
8 | 15 | Toranosuke Takagi | Arrows | 69 | +3 laps | 0 |
9 | 21 | Marc Gene | Minardi Ford | 69 | +3 laps | 0 |
NC | 14 | Pedro de la Rosa | Arrows | 52 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 22 | Jacques Villeneuve | BAR Supertec | 49 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 5 | Alessandro Zanardi | Williams Supertec | 43 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 16 | Rubens Barrichello | Stewart Ford | 42 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 12 | Pedro Diniz | Sauber Petronas | 42 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 9 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Benetton Playlife | 38 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 20 | Stephane Sarrazin | Minardi Ford | 31 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 11 | Jean Alesi | Sauber Petronas | 27 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 2 | David Coulthard | McLaren Mercedes | 22 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 19 | Jarno Trulli | Prost Peugeot | 21 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 17 | Johnny Herbert | Stewart Ford | 15 | DNF | 0 |
NC | 7 | Damon Hill | Jordan Mugen Honda | 10 | DNF | 0 |
F1 Driver Birthdays 11 April
Birthday | F1 Driver |
---|---|
11 April 1908 | Robert O’Brien (d. 1987) |
11 April 1920 | Al Keller (d. 1961) |
11 April 1920 | Wayne Selser (d. 1994) |
11 April 1925 | Johnny Fedricks (d. 2001) |
11 April 1926 | Pete Lovely (d. 2011) |
F1 Driver Deaths 11 April
Death | F1 Driver |
---|---|
11 April 1987 | Rudolf Krause (b. 1907) |
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