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Chequered Past is a Formula 1 history podcast that dives deep into iconic races, legendary drivers, and forgotten moments from motorsport’s rich and dramatic past. Each episode revisits Grand Prix events that took place on the same date in history, uncovering fascinating stories, on-track controversies, and the evolution of F1 through the decades. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the sport, Chequered Past offers compelling insights and nostalgia-fuelled storytelling from the world’s fastest sport.
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On 18 March 2007, Formula One witnessed one of the most remarkable debuts in its history. At the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, a young Lewis Hamilton announced himself to the world with a stunning podium finish on his very first start — going wheel-to-wheel with double world champion Fernando Alonso and showing immediately that he belonged at the very front of the sport. At the same time, Kimi Räikkönen delivered a perfect debut of his own for Ferrari, taking victory in the first race o...
Martin looks back at three memorable season openers from Formula One history. The main story comes from the 2002 Malaysian Grand Prix, where a dramatic first-corner collision between Michael Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya reshaped the race and opened the door for a commanding Williams victory. We also revisit Kimi Räikkönen’s strategic masterclass at the 2013 Australian Grand Prix and Valtteri Bottas’ dominant statement win at the 2019 season opener in Melbourne, which marked the return of...
On 16 March 2014, Formula One entered a completely new technological age. At the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, the sport introduced turbocharged hybrid power units that would transform both the sound and competitive balance of the grid. Nico Rosberg led a dominant Mercedes performance to win the opening race of the new era, while Daniel Ricciardo’s home-race podium celebrations were later overturned by a controversial disqualification. In this episode of Chequered Past, we revisit the d...
On 15 March, Formula One history shows that even the start of a season cannot always be taken for granted. In 1981, political conflict between FISA and the FOCA teams had already disrupted the championship calendar. With the Argentine Grand Prix postponed and a controversial non-championship race held in South Africa, the World Championship effectively began on the streets of Long Beach, where Alan Jones led a Williams one–two finish in the United States Grand Prix West. More than three decad...
On 14 March 1993, Formula One returned to Kyalami for a season opener that would quietly become a historic milestone. Alain Prost began his comeback season with victory in the technologically remarkable Williams FW15C, while Ayrton Senna fought hard in an underpowered McLaren and a young Michael Schumacher showed flashes of the future. In the years that followed, the race would take on additional significance as the most recent Formula One World Championship event held in Africa. We also revi...
On 13 March 1983 the Formula One season began in dramatic fashion at Jacarepaguá in Rio de Janeiro. Nelson Piquet thrilled the home crowd by winning for Brabham in their radical new BMW-powered BT52, but the race is remembered just as much for the chaos behind him. A fiery pit stop for Keke Rosberg triggered one of the most unusual outcomes in Grand Prix history: the reigning World Champion finished second on the road, only to be disqualified after the race for receiving an illegal push start...
On this day in Formula One history, three races capture the sport at very different moments in its evolution. At Brands Hatch Circuit in 1967, the Race of Champions brought together many of the era’s leading drivers for one of the most prestigious non-championship contests on the calendar. Dan Gurney guided his Eagle to victory after a race shaped by clever tactics, mechanical trouble and fierce competition from Ferrari, Brabham and Honda. More than three decades later, the 2000 Australian Gr...
On 11 March 1990, Formula One returned to the streets of Phoenix for the opening race of a new season. What should have been a routine victory for one of the sport’s established stars instead became the race that introduced a remarkable new talent. In only his ninth Grand Prix start, Jean Alesi stunned the paddock by taking the lead at the start and going wheel-to-wheel with Ayrton Senna. Their fierce duel on the tight Phoenix street circuit turned the season opener into one of the most memor...
On this day in motorsport history, a remarkable debut nearly rewrote the record books. In 1996, Formula One arrived at Albert Park in Melbourne for the first time as the Australian Grand Prix moved from Adelaide. It was also the debut race for Jacques Villeneuve, the reigning CART and Indianapolis 500 champion — and the Canadian immediately made history by taking pole position in his first Formula One race. After a dramatic start and race restart, Villeneuve led most of the race and even set ...
On 9 March, the Australian Grand Prix has twice opened the Formula One season in Melbourne — and on both occasions it was David Coulthard who stood on the top step of the podium. In this episode of Chequered Past, we revisit the 1997 Australian Grand Prix, a race that marked a moment of transition for Formula One. New teams arrived on the grid with the debut of Stewart Grand Prix and Prost Grand Prix, Bridgestone entered the sport as a tyre supplier, and the hastily prepared Lola team collaps...
The 1998 Formula One season began in Melbourne with new technical regulations, a dominant McLaren, and a finish that would spark one of the sport’s first controversies of the year. In this episode of Chequered Past, we revisit the 1998 Australian Grand Prix, where Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard controlled the race for McLaren before a pit-lane misunderstanding changed the order. What followed — Coulthard slowing to allow Häkkinen back through — honoured a pre-race agreement between the tea...
On 7 March, Formula One season-openers have told very different stories about how a championship can begin. In 1970, the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami launched a new decade for the sport. The grid was packed with new machinery — including the March 701 and Ferrari’s flat-12 — signalling a wave of technical change. Yet when the race was decided after 80 demanding laps, it was experience that prevailed. Jack Brabham guided his Brabham BT33 to victory ahead of Denny Hulme and Jackie Stewar...
On 6 March in Formula One history, the championship twice visited Kyalami Circuit — and on both occasions Ferrari emerged victorious. In 1971, Mario Andretti secured the first World Championship victory of his career after a dramatic late twist denied Denny Hulme what had seemed a certain win. Andretti’s triumph for Ferrari produced a truly international podium and marked an important early moment in the season. Five years later, at the 1976 South African Grand Prix, Ferrari returned to the t...
On 5 March 1977, Formula One arrived at Kyalami for a South African Grand Prix that would become one of the most tragic races in the sport’s history. As Niki Lauda drove to victory, the race was overshadowed by the devastating accident that claimed the lives of Welsh driver Tom Pryce and marshal Frederik Jansen van Vuuren — a moment that left a lasting mark on Formula One. In this episode of Chequered Past, we revisit the race that Kyalami could never forget. We also look back at the 2023 Bah...
On 4 March, Formula One history has often turned on the smallest of margins. In 1978, the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami unravelled in dramatic fashion. Engines failed, tyres overheated, and a race that seemed settled changed hands again and again — before being decided on the final lap, when Ronnie Peterson made his move and led for only the half-lap that truly mattered. Six years earlier, the same circuit delivered a different kind of turning point. In 1972, Jackie Stewart appeared in ...
On March 3rd, Formula One delivered Grands Prix that refused to follow the script. In 1979 at Kyalami, a rain-hit race was stopped after just two laps and restarted nearly an hour later — setting up a fascinating tyre gamble between Ferrari teammates Gilles Villeneuve and Jody Scheckter. As the circuit dried and strategies diverged, the race effectively became two separate contests, ending with Ferrari’s new T4 announcing itself in style with a commanding one-two finish. Six years earlier, th...
On 2nd March 2024, the Formula One season began under the floodlights of Bahrain — and under intense scrutiny. After a winter overshadowed by internal investigation and paddock tension at Red Bull, many wondered whether the competitive order might finally shift. Bahrain, with its abrasive asphalt and traction-heavy layout, has long served as a proving ground. If there were weaknesses, this circuit would reveal them. Instead, the stopwatch delivered a familiar verdict. Max Verstappen secured p...
On the 1st of March, the South African Grand Prix has repeatedly marked moments when Formula One stood on the brink of change. In 1969, Jackie Stewart’s victory at Kyalami signalled the beginning of a new professional era — one that would culminate in his first World Championship. In 1975, Jody Scheckter thrilled a home crowd with a calm and disciplined performance under sustained pressure. In 1980, Renault’s turbocharged power units dominated at altitude, demonstrating that forced induction ...
On 28th February, we mark the birthdays of Mario Andretti and Sébastien Bourdais — two champions separated by generations, united by a shared ambition. Both conquered American open-wheel racing. Both crossed the Atlantic to test themselves in Formula One. Only one became World Champion. In this episode of Chequered Past, we explore what happens when greatness travels — and why it does not always translate. From Andretti’s full immersion at Lotus, to Michael Andretti’s difficult McLaren season...
In 2006, Formula One’s championship fight reached its decisive phase — and history turned on a single plume of smoke. In Part Two of our season review, Martin Elliot follows the final chapter of the duel between Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher — a battle that would close one era and confirm another. From the controversy of Monaco to the strategic turning point in Shanghai, the title fight tightened until the two drivers arrived at Suzuka level on points. There, with Schumacher leading ...
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