What happened on this day, June 13 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1965
Jim Clark skillfully navigated a wet and slippery track to claim his fourth consecutive victory at the 1965 Belgian Grand Prix, overtaking Graham Hill early in the race. Interestingly, Clark had skipped the previous 1965 Monaco Grand Prix to participate in the Indianapolis 500, returning to Formula 1 to continue his winning streak after his victory in South Africa.
1976
Ferrari’s streak of nine consecutive wins was broken by Jody Scheckter in the six-wheeled Tyrrell at the 1976 Swedish Grand Prix. The Guardian newspaper speculated on the slim chance of catching Niki Lauda in the drivers’ standings. Scheckter humorously remarked on the uncertainty of the competition, saying, “You never know, Lauda might fall over tomorrow and break a leg.” Tragically, less than two months later, Lauda was severely burned in a crash at the Nurburgring but narrowly missed winning the championship to James Hunt.
1982
The tragic death of Riccardo Paletti marred Nelson Piquet‘s victory at the 1982 Canadian Grand Prix. The race began with Didier Pironi‘s Ferrari stalling on the front row, prompting him to signal the approaching drivers. Although many drivers swerved to avoid Pironi, Paletti in the Osella, starting from the back in only his second Grand Prix, collided with Pironi’s stationary car at high speed. The impact caused Pironi’s car to shift left, while Paletti’s car stopped where it crashed. Rescuers, including Pironi, rushed to assist, but Paletti’s car caught fire. It took nearly a minute to extinguish the flames and another 25 minutes to extract him. Paletti succumbed to severe abdominal injuries, possibly before reaching the hospital. This was Formula 1’s last fatality until the tragic weekend at Imola in 1994.
1993
The 1993 Canadian Grand Prix proved challenging for Williams’ pit crew, which inadvertently compromised Damon Hill’s chance for a top finish by preparing the wrong tyres during a critical pit stop. This error allowed Michael Schumacher to overtake Hill. Despite the mishap, Hill finished on the podium after Ayrton Senna retired with mechanical issues. Hill expressed his surprise at the pit crew’s frantic search for the correct tyres.
1999
Mika Hakkinen narrowly secured a victory at the 1999 Canadian Grand Prix, which concluded under a safety car, making the small margin of victory misleading. A dramatic crash involving Heinz-Harald Frentzen happend when his brake disc exploded, propelling his car into a wall at 150 mph, though he emerged mostly unscathed. Michael Schumacher also crashed after losing control at the same spot, affecting Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve. Schumacher admitted his error, hoping it would be his only mistake of the season.
2004
Williams and Toyota were disqualified from the 2004 Canadian Grand Prix for using non-compliant brake cooling ducts, as explained by BMW technical director Sam Michael. He stated the modification was unintentional and did not provide a performance advantage, but accepted the FIA’s decision. Michael Schumacher won the race for Ferrari, with his teammate Rubens Barrichello finishing second. Ralf Schumacher was originally third but was replaced on the podium by Jenson Button due to the disqualification. A disheartened Ralf commented on the harsh reality of the regulations, acknowledging the need for adherence despite the personal disappointment.
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