What Happened On This Day November 17 In F1 History?

From Sebastian Vettel clinching his eighth consecutive victory in 2013 to Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz achieving their first-ever podium finishes in 2019.

Mark Phelan

By Mark Phelan
Updated on November 11, 2024

2019 Brazilian Grand Prix Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz celebrates on the podium with his team post-race at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix after being promoted to 3rd place // Image: McLaren Media

What happened on this day, November 17 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.

1902

In an era of rapid technological advances, Frenchman M. Augieres set a new land-speed record, achieving 77.13 mph (124.13 kph) in a 60-brake-horsepower Mors on a road near Chartres. His achievement, breaking a record set just 12 days prior, held for eight months.

2001

Flavio Briatore announced he would continue leading the Renault Sport F1 team for the next three years, with the support of Renault Sport chairman Patrick Faure. “I have no intention of stepping down,” Briatore stated. “I am an integral part of Renault. Not everyone may appreciate an Italian boss, but even Ferrari has a French one. Renault chose me, and things are going well.” He ultimately left Renault under difficult circumstances in 2009 due to the Crashgate scandal.

2003

McLaren revealed that Juan Pablo Montoya would leave Williams to join their team in 2005 despite another season of racing for the Williams team. Montoya expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “The team is consistently a world championship contender and has a great heritage. It’s a fantastic opportunity, and I can’t wait for my first time behind the wheel of one of their cars. Joining McLaren is an incredible experience and challenge that I intend to fully enjoy.” Although a shoulder injury disrupted his 2005 season, Montoya returned strong, securing three wins and matching the pace of teammate Kimi Raikkonen. In 2006, however, he often trailed Raikkonen, culminating in a dramatic incident at the start of the 2006 US Grand Prix where both drivers collided.

2008

At the Autocar Awards in London, Martin Brundle announced he would be joining the BBC as a Formula 1 commentator in 2009. “I’m thrilled to tell you all that I’ll be with the BBC next year,” he shared. “After twelve years in F1 commentary, I briefly considered stepping back, but ultimately, the BBC’s offer was too exciting to pass up.”

2009

Rumours swirled that world champion Jenson Button was leaving Brawn for McLaren, sparking scepticism among Formula 1 insiders. “It’s not ideal for F1 to have two world champions in the same team, but Button and Brawn are probably just sparring, and something will be worked out,” remarked Bernie Ecclestone. Veteran commentator Murray Walker added, “I would fear for Jenson in what is very much Lewis Hamilton’s team.” Ross Brawn dismissed the reports, stating, “Negotiations [with Button] are ongoing, and rumours of him agreeing with McLaren are unhelpful. I would be amazed if that were true. His best future is with our team, where he has strong support.” Despite the logic Brawn cited, Button signed with McLaren the very next day.

2013

The 2013 United States Grand Prix was the eighteenth and penultimate race of the season, and only the second time the event took place at the Circuit of the Americas. Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel clinched his eighth consecutive victory, setting a new Formula 1 record for the most consecutive wins in a single season. Lotus F1 driver Romain Grosjean fought hard to secure second place, successfully holding off Vettel’s teammate, Mark Webber who completed the podium in third. This win would be Red Bull’s last at the Circuit of the Americas until the 2021 United States Grand Prix.

In the week leading up to the race, Kimi Raikkonen announced that he would miss the season’s final two races to undergo back surgery, an operation he initially hoped to postpone until the off-season. His increasing discomfort forced the decision to make the previous race his last for Lotus before his planned return to Ferrari in 2014. Raikkonen’s seat was filled by Heikki Kovalainen, who stepped in under a two-race deal with the team.

2013 United States Grand Prix Race Results
PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
11Sebastian VettelRed Bull Racing Renault561:39:17.14825
28Romain GrosjeanLotus Renault56+6.284s18
32Mark WebberRed Bull Racing Renault56+8.396s15
410Lewis HamiltonMercedes56+27.358s12
53Fernando AlonsoFerrari56+29.592s10
611Nico HulkenbergSauber Ferrari56+30.400s8
76Sergio PerezMcLaren Mercedes56+46.692s6
817Valtteri BottasWilliams Renault56+54.509s4
99Nico RosbergMercedes56+59.141s2
105Jenson ButtonMcLaren Mercedes56+77.278s1
1119Daniel RicciardoSTR Ferrari56+81.004s0
124Felipe MassaFerrari56+86.914s0
1312Esteban GutierrezSauber Ferrari56+91.707s0
147Heikki KovalainenLotus Renault56+95.063s0
1514Paul di RestaForce India Mercedes56+96.853s0
1618Jean-Eric VergneSTR Ferrari56+104.574s0
1716Pastor MaldonadoWilliams Renault55+1 lap0
1822Jules BianchiMarussia Cosworth55+1 lap0
1921Giedo van der GardeCaterham Renault55+1 lap0
2020Charles PicCaterham Renault55+1 lap0
2123Max ChiltonMarussia Cosworth54+2 laps0
NC15Adrian SutilForce India Mercedes0DNF0

2019

The 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen take the victory, with Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz achieving their first-ever podium finishes in second and third, respectively. Sainz’s result marked McLaren’s first podium since the 2014 Australian Grand Prix, while Gasly’s finish became the final podium for Toro Rosso in Formula One.

Drama unfolded in the final moments of the race as the stewards launched an investigation into a collision between Lewis Hamilton and Alexander Albon on lap 70. Although the podium ceremony initially featured Verstappen, Gasly, and Hamilton, the investigation resulted in a five-second time penalty for Hamilton, dropping him from third to seventh place. This penalty elevated Sainz to third, awarding him his maiden podium finish and officially setting a new record for the youngest combined age of a Formula 1 podium, surpassing the previous record set at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix. Sainz’s promotion to the podium, however, took place after the ceremony had concluded, so he was not present to celebrate on the podium.

2019 Brazilian Grand Prix Race Results
PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
133Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing Honda711:33:14.67825
210Pierre GaslyScuderia Toro Rosso Honda71+6.077s18
355Carlos SainzMcLaren Renault71+8.896s15
47Kimi RäikkönenAlfa Romeo Racing Ferrari71+9.452s12
599Antonio GiovinazziAlfa Romeo Racing Ferrari71+10.201s10
63Daniel RicciardoRenault71+10.541s8
744Lewis Hamilton1Mercedes71+11.139s6
84Lando NorrisMcLaren Renault71+11.204s4
911Sergio PerezRacing Point BWT Mercedes71+11.529s2
1026Daniil KvyatScuderia Toro Rosso Honda71+11.931s1
1120Kevin MagnussenHaas Ferrari71+12.732s0
1263George RussellWilliams Mercedes71+13.599s0
138Romain GrosjeanHaas Ferrari71+14.247s0
1423Alexander AlbonRed Bull Racing Honda71+14.927s0
1527Nico Hulkenberg2Renault71+18.059s0
1688Robert KubicaWilliams Mercedes70+1 lap0
175Sebastian VettelFerrari65DNF0
1816Charles LeclercFerrari65DNF0
1918Lance StrollRacing Point BWT Mercedes65DNF0
NC77Valtteri BottasMercedes51DNF0
1Hamilton received a post-race, 5-second time penalty for causing a collision.
2Nico Hulkenberg received a post-race, 5-second time penalty for overtaking under safety-car conditions.

F1 Driver Birthdays 17 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.

BirthdayF1 Driver
17 November 1929Jimmy Reece
17 November 1939Chris Craft
17 November 1945Damien Magee
17 November 1967Domenico Schiattarella

F1 Driver Deaths 17 November

DeathF1 Driver
17 NovemberNone

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About The Author

Staff Writer

Mark Phelan
Mark Phelan

Mark is a staff writer specialising in the history of Formula 1 races. Mark researches most of our historic content from teams to drivers and races. He has followed Formula 1 since 1988, and admits to having a soft spot for British drivers from James Hunt and Nigel Mansell to Lando Norris. He loves a great F1 podcast and has read pretty much every drivers biography.

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