What happened on this day, February 4 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1979
Jacques Laffite clinched his second consecutive victory at the 1979 Brazilian Grand Prix, driving for Ligier. The team’s dominance, with Patrick Depailler finishing second, waned as the season progressed into the European races, and Ferrari emerged as the dominant force. Ligier managed only one more victory by Depailler in Spain. The race also saw defending champion Mario Andretti retire early due to a fire and subsequent engine failure, while Carlos Reutemann faced controversies regarding a potential push-start, although his third-place finish was ultimately upheld despite objections and a protest by the Fittipaldi team and Ferrari.
1979 Brazilian Grand Prix Race Results
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Laps | Time/retired | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | Jacques Laffite | Ligier Ford | 40 | 1:40:09.640 | 9 |
| 2 | 25 | Patrick Depailler | Ligier Ford | 40 | +5.280s | 6 |
| 3 | 2 | Carlos Reutemann | Lotus Ford | 40 | +44.140s | 4 |
| 4 | 3 | Didier Pironi | Tyrrell Ford | 40 | +85.880s | 3 |
| 5 | 12 | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari | 39 | +1 lap | 2 |
| 6 | 11 | Jody Scheckter | Ferrari | 39 | +1 lap | 1 |
| 7 | 30 | Jochen Mass | Arrows Ford | 39 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 8 | 7 | John Watson | McLaren Ford | 39 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 9 | 29 | Riccardo Patrese | Arrows Ford | 39 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 10 | 15 | Jean-Pierre Jabouille | Renault | 39 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 11 | 14 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Fittipaldi Ford | 39 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 12 | 18 | Elio de Angelis | Shadow Ford | 39 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 13 | 22 | Derek Daly | Ensign Ford | 39 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 14 | 17 | Jan Lammers | Shadow Ford | 39 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 15 | 28 | Clay Regazzoni | Williams Ford | 38 | +2 laps | 0 |
| NC | 27 | Alan Jones | Williams Ford | 33 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 9 | Hans-Joachim Stuck | ATS Ford | 31 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 16 | Rene Arnoux | Renault | 28 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 8 | Patrick Tambay | McLaren Ford | 7 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 20 | James Hunt | Wolf Ford | 7 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 6 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham Alfa Romeo | 5 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 5 | Niki Lauda | Brabham Alfa Romeo | 5 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 1 | Mario Andretti | Lotus Ford | 2 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 4 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | Tyrrell Ford | 0 | DNF | 0 |
1979
Giorgio Pantano, born in Padova, Italy, moved up from three successful seasons in F3000 to Formula One in 2004 with Jordan. Timo Glock replaced him after his home Grand Prix due to financial difficulties. Pantano competed in GP2 in 2005, winning the championship by 2008, though he never secured another F1 seat. He later joined the football-related Superleague, racing for AC Milan.
2004
Felipe Massa experienced a severe crash while testing for Sauber at the Circuit de Catalunya, losing control at over 180 mph due to a suspension failure. He was hospitalised but released the same day without major injuries.
2007
During a special promotional event for Credit Suisse in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Nick Heidfeld drove his BMW Sauber across a frozen lake. The car was equipped with spiked tyres, and to prevent freezing, its engine required regular warming with oil and water every thirty minutes. Reflecting on the drive, Heidfeld remarked, “That was quite a unique experience.”
2008
Michael Schumacher founded the karting team KSM in the German national championship, collaborating with friends Peter Kaiser and Thomas Muchov. The team initially included Carlos Sainz. Schumacher shared his lifelong passion for karting, stating, “I grew up with them. I owe everything to karting and I never gave it up.”
F1 Driver Birthdays 4 February
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 4 February 1927 | Van Johnson |
| 4 February 1928 | Oscar Cabalen |
| 4 February 1979 | Giorgio Pantano |
F1 Driver Deaths 4 February
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 4 February 1999 | Vittorio Marzotto (b. 1922) |
| 4 February 2001 | Ernie McCoy (b. 1921) |
| 4 February 2015 | John Barber |
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