What happened on this day, November 11 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1926
Maria Teresa de Filippis was an Italian racing driver who made F1 history as the first female F1 driver to compete in Formula One was born on this day in Naples, Campania, she broke barriers in a male-dominated sport, debuting in 1958.
Her first Formula One entry was at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix, though she did not qualify. She made her official start later that year at the 1958 Belgian Grand Prix, where she finished in 10th place, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer in motorsport. De Filippis passed away in Scanzorosciate, Lombardy, on January 8 2016, leaving behind an inspiring legacy for women in racing.
Formula One History Recommends
1937
Nicknamed “the Monza Gorilla,” Vittorio Brambilla was born in Monza, Italy. He began racing on motorcycles, then karts, before joining his brother Tino Brambilla in Formula Three in 1968, eventually moving up to Formula Two. In 1974, he took Beta Tools to Formula One with March, securing his first point that same year. His second season showed potential, highlighted by a pole position in Sweden, but was marred by frequent retirements until his memorable victory at the rain-soaked 1975 Austrian Grand Prix. Celebrating mid-race, he famously crashed off the circuit moments after crossing the finish line. He died at Lesmo, near Milan, of a heart attack at the age of 63 while gardening at his home.
1967
A double IndyCar Champion, Indianapolis 500 winner, and British Formula 3 Champion, Gil de Ferran was one of motorsport’s most complete and respected competitors.
Born on this day in Paris and raised in Brazil, Gil began karting in the 1980s before moving to the UK to compete in British Formula Ford in 1987. By 1991 he was racing in British Formula 3 with Edenbridge Racing, finishing an impressive third overall behind Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard.
He switched to Paul Stewart Racing for 1992 and dominated the season, taking seven wins and seven podiums to claim the championship ahead of Philippe Adams. Two strong years in Formula 3000 followed, with 4th and 3rd place finishes in 1993 and 1994, which earned him F1 tests with Footwork and Williams — though one was famously interrupted by a head injury after walking into a motorhome door.
Choosing a different path, de Ferran crossed the Atlantic in 1995 to join the CART series with Hall/VDS Racing. He immediately impressed, scoring his first podium in Vancouver and his maiden victory in Las Vegas. A win in the opening round of 1996 confirmed his growing reputation.
After three years with Walker Racing — highlighted by victory in Portland — Gil joined Team Penske in 2000. His first season brought two wins and seven podiums from sixteen races, sealing the IndyCar title. He successfully defended the championship in 2001, then triumphed at the Indianapolis 500 in 2003, beating teammate Hélio Castroneves.
In 2000, he set a closed-circuit world record at California Speedway with an astonishing average speed of 241.428 mph, a mark that still stands as a symbol of his precision and courage.
Across his CART and IndyCar career, Gil de Ferran won 12 of 160 starts. Beyond driving, he remained deeply involved in racing as a team owner in IMSA and IndyCar, and as Sporting Director for BAR, Honda, McLaren, and others.
Gil passed away on 29 December 2023, aged just 56, following a suspected heart attack while driving alongside his son in a private event in Florida.
A brilliant racer, a gentleman, and a beloved figure in motorsport — Gil de Ferran will always be remembered with admiration and affection.
1980
The prospect of a breakaway series was quelled when six leading constructors, including Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, and Renault, announced their commitment to the official championship for 1981. A dispute between FOCA and FISA had divided manufacturers and sponsors, nearly leading to a split. However, the teams confirmed their participation just four days before the FIA deadline.
1996
Michael Schumacher extended his contract with Ferrari, committing to the team until the end of the 1999 World Championship in a deal reportedly worth over $25 million per year. Beyond his salary, Schumacher was expected to earn significantly more through his Schumacher Collection merchandise and sponsorship deals.
1997
The FIA World Motorsport Council convened to decide Michael Schumacher’s punishment for his attempt to force title rival Jacques Villeneuve off the track during the season’s final race in Jerez. Speculation about a hefty fine or even a multi-race ban for the following season circulated, but the FIA ultimately opted to exclude Schumacher from the championship standings and require his participation in a road safety campaign. Even German tabloid Das Bild called the decision “crazy.”
2008
Two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen announced a new chapter in his career, stepping into driver management to support and develop emerging talent. Partnering with longtime friend and manager Didier Coton at Aces Management Group, Hakkinen shared his excitement, saying, “I understand what it takes to reach the top and how essential a close, trusted team is for an athlete. I’m eager to share the lessons I learned in winning two world titles with ambitious, talented young drivers.”
2018
The 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix marked a historic moment as the first race in Interlagos without a Brazilian driver, following Felipe Massa‘s retirement at the end of the 2017 season. Starting from pole, Lewis Hamilton claimed victory, securing the race win and helping Mercedes clinch their fifth consecutive Constructors’ Championship, with teammate Valtteri Bottas finishing in fifth place. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen crossed the line in third, marking his 103rd and final career podium, as well as his last for Ferrari.
Although Hamilton had already secured the Drivers’ Championship going into the season’s penultimate race, the Constructors’ title was still in contention between Ferrari and Mercedes. With Hamilton’s win, Mercedes ultimately sealed the championship.
Drama unfolded when Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who had been leading and building a gap to Hamilton, collided with the Force India of Esteban Ocon on lap 44. This incident cost Verstappen the win and fueled tensions post-race, leading to a confrontation in the FIA garage where Verstappen pushed Ocon several times in frustration. The altercation led to Verstappen receiving a penalty of two days of community service for unsportsmanlike behaviour.
2018 Brazilian Grand Prix Race Results
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Laps | Time/retired | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 71 | 1:27:09.066 | 25 |
| 2 | 33 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer | 71 | +1.469s | 18 |
| 3 | 7 | Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari | 71 | +4.764s | 15 |
| 4 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer | 71 | +5.193s | 12 |
| 5 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | 71 | +22.943s | 10 |
| 6 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 71 | +26.997s | 8 |
| 7 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Sauber Ferrari | 71 | +44.199s | 6 |
| 8 | 8 | Romain Grosjean | Haas Ferrari | 71 | +51.230s | 4 |
| 9 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari | 71 | +52.857s | 2 |
| 10 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Force India Mercedes | 70 | +1 lap | 1 |
| 11 | 28 | Brendon Hartley | Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda | 70 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 12 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Renault | 70 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 13 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda | 70 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 14 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Force India Mercedes | 70 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 15 | 2 | Stoffel Vandoorne1 | McLaren Renault | 70 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 16 | 35 | Sergey Sirotkin | Williams Mercedes | 69 | +2 laps | 0 |
| 17 | 14 | Fernando Alonso1 | McLaren Renault | 69 | +2 laps | 0 |
| 18 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Williams Mercedes | 69 | +2 laps | 0 |
| NC | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Renault | 32 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 9 | Marcus Ericsson | Sauber Ferrari | 20 | DNF | 0 |
F1 Driver Birthdays 11 November
Find a complete list here of the birthdays of current and past F1 Drivers’ birthdays, death’s and when a Drivers’ or Constructors’ Championship was won.
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 11 November 1909 | Piero Scotti |
| 11 November 1926 | Maria Teresa de Filippis (d. 2016) |
| 11 November 1937 | Vittorio Brambilla |
| 11 November 1998 | Callum Ilott |
| Birthday | F1 Mentions |
|---|---|
| 11 November 1967 | Gil de Ferran (d. 2023) Champ Car driver and known for being the Sporting Director for F1 teams BAR, Honda, McLaren, and others. |
F1 Driver Deaths 11 November
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 11 November 1951 | Mack Hellings |
| 11 November 2020 | Gunther Seiffert |
F1 Champion 11 November
| Date | Team/Driver |
|---|---|
| 11 November 2018 | Mercedes |
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