What happened on this day, February 8 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1932
Cliff Allison was born on this day in Brough, Cumbria. As a Ferrari driver in the late 1950s, he raced in six events before a crash at the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix nearly ended his career.
Cliff Allison
F1 Debut 1958 Monaco Grand Prix
Current/Last Team Privateer
After switching from driving Lotus and Maserati cars to Ferrari in 1959, his promising trajectory was cut short when he crashed, was ejected from his car, and lay unconscious for 16 days, mysteriously waking up speaking French, a language he had never learned.
Attempting a comeback in 1961 with Lotus, he suffered another setback with a crash that broke both his legs. He eventually retired to manage a family-owned garage, reflecting often on what might have been a more illustrious career in Formula One.
2002
A coroner’s investigation into the death of marshal Graham Beveridge during the 2001 Australian Grand Prix concluded that the incident was preventable. Beveridge died after being struck by a wheel from Jacques Villeneuve’s BAR car, which had collided with Ralf Schumacher. The wheel penetrated a gap in the safety fencing, which the coroner deemed unnecessary. Despite the coroner’s findings, the FIA announced that the 2002 Australian Grand Prix would proceed as scheduled.
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2006
The Belgian Grand Prix was removed from the 2006 Formula One calendar as renovations at the Spa Francorchamps circuit were not completed in time. This marked the second cancellation of the race at this popular venue within the decade, following a previous omission in 2003 due to Belgium’s tobacco sponsorship laws.
2011
Luiz Bueno passed away on 8 February 2011. He was a Brazilian driver who participated in one World Championship race for the Surtees team at the 1973 Brazilian Grand Prix on 11 February but did not score any championship points. He also competed in the 1972 non-championship Brazilian race, finishing sixth. Bueno died from cancer at the age of 74.
2026
Cadillac, the first team to join the grid in 10 years, unveiled the first livery of its Formula 1 car in a high-profile Super Bowl advert, a bold introduction for the American team ahead of its debut season. During the NFL championship game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium, the reveal featured a striking black-and-white split design, with a replica car also displayed simultaneously in New York’s Times Square. Backed by General Motors, Cadillac became Formula 1’s 11th team in 2026 and the first all-new entrant in a decade, using the launch to position its identity at the crossroads of performance, culture and entertainment.
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The team said the asymmetric livery reflected a yin-and-yang philosophy combining determination and performance with optimism and ambition. Chief executive Dan Towriss described the design as a statement of Cadillac’s values and American identity, while team principal Graeme Lowdon highlighted the Super Bowl launch’s innovative nature. Cadillac had already run its Ferrari-powered 2026 car in a temporary livery during a Silverstone shakedown and a group test in Barcelona, completing 164 laps, and would debut the race colours at a Bahrain filming day ahead of pre-season testing, which ran from 11 to 13 February.
F1 Driver Birthdays 8 February
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 8 February 1920 | Mike Magill (d. 2006) |
| 8 February 1932 | Cliff Allison (d. 2005) |
F1 Driver Deaths 8 February
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 8 February 1969 | Kurt Kuhnke (b. 1910) |
| 8 February 2011 | Luiz Bueno (b. 1937) |
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