What Happened On This Day October 1 In F1 History?

From a British 1-2 for Lotus at the 1967 US Grand Prix to an F1 taxi service at the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix.

Lee Parker

By Lee Parker
Updated on June 2, 2025

2017 Malaysian Grand Prix Pascal Wehrlein
Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein gives Sebastian Vettel a lift back to the pits on the cool down lap of the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix // Image: Uncredited

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

1927

The second British Grand Prix (officially known as the Royal Automobile Club GP) at Brooklands was won by Robert Benoist. It was the fifth and final race in the 1927 AIACR World Manufacturers’ Championship season, and as Benoist had won four, his Delage team took the championship title.

1928

Born on this day in Momignies, Belgium, Willy Mairesse only started 12 Grand Prix over four seasons from 1960–1963 and 1965 (finishing three) but gained a reputation for accidents during that time. His F1 career ended when he crashed at the 1963 German Grand Prix. He drove for Ferrari, ENB, Lotus, and Scuderia Centro Sud and finished once on the podium in P3 at the 1960 Italian Grand Prix for Ferrari.

In 1968, he was thrown out in a crash at Le Mans and sustained severe head injuries. Although he recovered, he realised he could not race again and tragically committed suicide a year later.

1942

Born on this day in Paris, Jean-Pierre Jabouille secured his place in the history books when he scored the first win by a turbocharged car at the 1979 French Grand Prix. That it was in a Renault only served to cap a great day for France. It was the first of two F1 wins in 49 starts – those were to be his only podium finishes – but a broken leg in a crash at the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix all but ended his career.

Sadly, Jabouille died on 2 February 2023 at the age of 80.

1967

Lotus drivers Jim Clark and Graham Hill completed a British 1-2 finish at the 1967 United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, keeping the season alive until the final race. In the race, Brabham driver Denny Hulme finished third, which was enough to help him take the title at the following race in Mexico despite Clark winning there, too. Hill had led until he suffered gear problems, allowing Clark to overtake and then Chris Amon’s Ferrari to take second. Amon ran out of oil, restoring Hill to second, but by then, he was seemingly too far behind to challenge his teammate. Three laps from the finish, a support broke on the top of Clark’s right rear suspension, causing the wheel to sag inward and forcing him to slow in corners. Hill was in no position to capitalise fully, and both Lotuses limped over the line, with Hulme back in third after running out of fuel at the end.

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1967 United States Grand Prix Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
15Jim ClarkLotus Ford1082:03:13.2009
26Graham HillLotus Ford108+6.300s6
32Denny HulmeBrabham Repco107+1 lap4
415Jo SiffertCooper Maserati106+2 laps3
51Jack BrabhamBrabham Repco104+4 laps2
616Jo BonnierCooper Maserati101+7 laps1
722Jean-Pierre BeltoiseMatra Ford101+7 laps0
NC3John SurteesHonda96DNF0
NC9Chris AmonFerrari95DNF0
NC7Jackie StewartBRM72DNF0
NC21Jacky IckxCooper Maserati45DNF0
NC19Guy  LigierBrabham Repco43DNF0
NC17Chris  IrwinBRM41DNF0
NC8Mike SpenceBRM35DNF0
NC4Jochen RindtCooper Maserati33DNF0
NC11Dan GurneyEagle Weslake24DNF0
NC14Bruce McLarenMcLaren BRM16DNF0
NC18Moises SolanaLotus Ford7DNF0

1978

Carlos Reutemann won the 1978 USA East Grand Prix, the fourth and final win in his last season before leaving Ferrari. Championship winner Mario Andretti, who had secured the title in the previous race, driving for the Lotus team’s second car after an accident in practice, retired when his engine blew.

Williams driver Alan Jones finished second, with Jody Scheckter for Wolf in third.

1978 USA East Grand Prix Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
111Carlos ReutemannFerrari591:40:48.8009
227Alan  JonesWilliams Ford59+19.739s6
320Jody ScheckterWolf Ford59+45.701s4
415Jean-Pierre JabouilleRenault59+85.007s3
514Emerson FittipaldiFittipaldi Ford59+88.089s2
68Patrick TambayMcLaren Ford59+110.210s1
77James HuntMcLaren Ford58+1 lap0
822Derek DalyEnsign Ford58+1 lap0
918Rene ArnouxSurtees Ford58+1 lap0
103Didier PironiTyrrell Ford58+1 lap0
1126Jacques LaffiteLigier Matra58+1 lap0
1221Bobby RahalWolf Ford58+1 lap0
1323Brett LungerEnsign Ford58+1 lap0
1417Clay RegazzoniShadow Ford56+3 laps0
1555Jean-Pierre JarierLotus Ford55DNF0
1636Rolf StommelenArrows Ford54+5 laps0
NC37Arturo MerzarioMerzario Ford46DNF0
NC9Michael BleekemolenATS Ford43DNF0
NC1Niki LaudaBrabham Alfa Romeo28DNF0
NC5Mario AndrettiLotus Ford27DNF0
NC2John WatsonBrabham Alfa Romeo25DNF0
NC4Patrick DepaillerTyrrell Ford23DNF0
NC12Gilles VilleneuveFerrari22DNF0
NC32Keke RosbergATS Ford21DNF0
NC16Hans-Joachim StuckShadow Ford1DNF0
NC25Hector RebaqueLotus Ford0DNF0

1989

A flag-to-flag victory for Ayrton Senna in a McLaren at the 1989 Spanish Grand Prix only came after he held off a determined challenge from Gerhard Berger‘s Ferrari, who finished second. Senna’s teammate, Alain Prost, who finished third, still held a commanding lead in the 1989 Drivers’ Championship, but Senna’s victory kept him in the hunt. “It was Mission Impossible,” Prost said. “I just sat back and drove my taxi home for third place.”

1989 Spanish Grand Prix Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
11Ayrton SennaMcLaren Honda721:47:48.2649
228Gerhard BergerFerrari72+27.051s6
32Alain ProstMcLaren Honda72+53.788s4
44Jean AlesiTyrrell Ford71+1 lap3
56Riccardo PatreseWilliams Renault71+1 lap2
630Philippe AlliotLola Lamborghini71+1 lap1
722Andrea de CesarisDallara Ford71+1 lap0
811Nelson PiquetLotus Judd70+2 laps0
99Derek WarwickArrows Ford70+2 laps0
103Jonathan  PalmerTyrrell Ford70+2 laps0
NC10Eddie  CheeverArrows Ford60DNF0
NC20Emanuele PirroBenetton Ford58DNF0
NC21Alex CaffiDallara Ford54DNF0
NC7Martin BrundleBrabham Judd50DNF0
NC15Mauricio GugelminMarch Judd46DNF0
NC24Luis Perez-SalaMinardi Ford46DNF0
NC5Thierry BoutsenWilliams Renault39DNF0
NC26Olivier GrouillardLigier Ford33DNF0
NC23Pierluigi MartiniMinardi Ford26DNF0
NC16Ivan CapelliMarch Judd22DNF0
NC37Jyrki JarvilehtoOnyx Ford19DNF0
NC18Piercarlo GhinzaniOsella Ford16DNF0
NC19Alessandro NanniniBenetton Ford13DNF0
NC8Stefano ModenaBrabham Judd10DNF0
NC17Nicola LariniOsella Ford5DNF0

1995

Williams driver Damon Hill conceded the title to Benetton driver Michael Schumacher after crashing out of the 1995 European Grand Prix on the ninth lap. He had a tight battle for third with Schumacher before clipping a curb, spinning, and crashing into a barrier. Schumacher went on to take the chequered flag with a brilliant drive, leaving him 27 points clear of Hill, with only 30 left up for grabs. Hill’s teammate David Coulthard took third place, with Jean Alesi‘s Ferrari claiming second.

1995 European Grand Prix Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
11Michael SchumacherBenetton Renault671:39:59.04410
227Jean AlesiFerrari67+2.684s6
36David CoulthardWilliams Renault67+35.382s4
414Rubens BarrichelloJordan Peugeot66+1 lap3
52Johnny HerbertBenetton Renault66+1 lap2
615Eddie IrvineJordan Peugeot66+1 lap1
725Martin BrundleLigier Mugen Honda66+1 lap0
88Mika HakkinenMcLaren Mercedes65+2 laps0
923Pedro LamyMinardi Ford64+3 laps0
104Mika SaloTyrrell Yamaha64+3 laps0
1124Luca BadoerMinardi Ford64+3 laps0
129Massimiliano PapisFootwork Hart64+3 laps0
1321Pedro DinizForti Ford62+5 laps0
143Gabriele TarquiniTyrrell Yamaha61+6 laps0
1516Jean-Denis DeletrazPacific Ilmor60+7 laps0
NC5Damon HillWilliams Renault58DNF0
NC17Andrea MonterminiPacific Ilmor45DNF0
NC29Jean-Christophe BoullionSauber Ford44DNF0
NC28Gerhard BergerFerrari40DNF0
NC22Roberto MorenoForti Ford22DNF0
NC30Heinz-Harald FrentzenSauber Ford17DNF0
NC26Olivier PanisLigier Mugen Honda14DNF0
NC7Mark BlundellMcLaren Mercedes14DNF0
NC10Taki InoueFootwork Hart0DNF0

2006

The 91st and last Formula One win for Michael Schumacher came at the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix, which drew him level in the drivers’ standings with Fernando Alonso, who came second in his Renault. Alonso had been leading by 19 seconds from his teammate Giancarlo Fisichella when he pitted on the 22nd lap, but a mistake with his tyres cost him dearly. “The decision to switch Fernando to new intermediate tyres at his first stop was taken jointly and obviously cost him time as he waited for them to scrub in,” said Michelin F1 director Nick Shorrock. “With the benefit of hindsight, that was a mistake, but in the heat of a race, split-second decisions have to be taken.” Schumacher passed Fisichella when the pair pitted and was never caught.

2006 Chinese Grand Prix Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
15Michael SchumacherFerrari561:37:32.74710
21Fernando AlonsoRenault56+3.121s8
32Giancarlo FisichellaRenault56+44.197s6
412Jenson ButtonHonda56+72.056s5
54Pedro de la RosaMcLaren Mercedes56+77.137s4
611Rubens BarrichelloHonda56+79.131s3
716Nick HeidfeldSauber BMW56+91.979s2
89Mark WebberWilliams Cosworth56+103.588s1
914David CoulthardRBR Ferrari56+103.796s0
1020Vitantonio LiuzziSTR Cosworth55+1 lap0
1110Nico RosbergWilliams Cosworth55+1 lap0
1215Robert DoornbosRBR Ferrari55+1 lap0
1317Robert KubicaSauber BMW55+1 lap0
1421Scott SpeedSTR Cosworth55+1 lap0
1519Christijan AlbersMF1 Toyota53+3 laps0
1623Sakon YamamotoSuper Aguri Honda52+4 laps0
NC7Ralf SchumacherToyota49DNF0
NC6Felipe MassaFerrari44DNF0
NC8Jarno TrulliToyota38DNF0
NC18Tiago MonteiroMF1 Toyota37DNF0
NC3Kimi RäikkönenMcLaren Mercedes18DNF0

2017

Max Verstappen won the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix for Red Bull Racing, securing his second career victory after overtaking MercedesLewis Hamilton on lap 4 and dominating the race from there. Hamilton finished second, extending his championship lead, while Daniel Ricciardo, Verstappen’s teammate, completed the podium in third. Notable highlights included Sebastian Vettel’s impressive recovery from last on the grid to finish fourth for Ferrari, claiming the fastest lap along the way, and a bizarre post-race collision between Vettel and Lance Stroll‘s Williams, which caused significant damage to Vettel’s car. Pascal Wehrlein gave him a ride back to the paddock on the sidepods of his Sauber.

2017 Malaysian Grand Prix Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
133Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing TAG Heuer561:30:01.29025
244Lewis HamiltonMercedes56+12.770s18
33Daniel RicciardoRed Bull Racing TAG Heuer56+22.519s15
45Sebastian VettelFerrari56+37.362s12
577Valtteri BottasMercedes56+56.021s10
611Sergio PerezForce India Mercedes56+78.630s8
72Stoffel VandoorneMcLaren Honda55+1 lap6
818Lance StrollWilliams Mercedes55+1 lap4
919Felipe MassaWilliams Mercedes55+1 lap2
1031Esteban OconForce India Mercedes55+1 lap1
1114Fernando AlonsoMcLaren Honda55+1 lap0
1220Kevin MagnussenHaas Ferrari55+1 lap0
138Romain GrosjeanHaas Ferrari55+1 lap0
1410Pierre GaslyToro Rosso55+1 lap0
1530Jolyon PalmerRenault55+1 lap0
1627Nico HulkenbergRenault55+1 lap0
1794Pascal WehrleinSauber Ferrari55+1 lap0
189Marcus EricssonSauber Ferrari54+2 laps0
NC55Carlos SainzToro Rosso29DNF0
NC7Kimi RäikkönenFerrari0DNS0

F1 Driver Birthdays 1 October

BirthdayF1 Driver
1 October 1928Willy Mairesse (d. 1969)
1 October 1931Frank Gardner (d. 2009)
1 October 1942Jean-Pierre Jabouille (d. 2023)
1 October 1963Jean-Denis Deletraz

F1 Driver Deaths 1 October

DeathF1 Driver
1 October 1960Jim Packard (b. 1931)
1 October 1985Ninian Sanderson (b. 1925)
1 October 1986Joe Giba (b. 1909)
1 October 2006Luki Botha (b. 1930)

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About The Author

Staff Writer

Lee Parker
Lee Parker

Lee is our staff writer specialising in anything technical within Formula 1 from aerodynamics to engines. Lee writes most of our F1 guides for beginners and experienced fans as well as our F1 on this day posts having followed the sport since 1991, researching and understanding how teams build the ultimate machines. Like everyone else on the team he listens to podcasts about F1 and enjoys reading biographies of former drivers.

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