Silverstone, 1991: Nigel Mansell delivers one of the most dominant performances of his career — a Grand Slam on home soil that sends the crowd into raptures and ends with an unforgettable gesture of sportsmanship, offering a lift to a stranded Ayrton Senna.

In this episode of Chequered Past, we relive that extraordinary day and explore the events that shaped it — from the collision that ended Riccardo Patrese’s race on lap one to the wild track invasion that crowned Mansell a national hero.

We also rewind to 1979, when Clay Regazzoni gave the fledgling Williams team its first Grand Prix win, and to 1973, when Silverstone’s opening lap turned into a demolition derby in one of F1’s most notorious pile-ups.

Three British Grands Prix. One iconic circuit. And the kind of stories that remind us why we fell in love with Formula 1 in the first place.

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On this day in Formula One history, drama unfolded at every turn.

In our main story, we revisit the 1997 British Grand Prix, where Jacques Villeneuve overcame a disastrous pit stop and the might of Michael Schumacher to seize a vital victory at Silverstone. It was a race that defined his championship charge — and tested his resilience to the limit.

We also head back to 1986 and the final F1 race at Brands Hatch, where Nigel Mansell delighted the home crowd with a stunning win amid turbocharged tension and a terrifying first-lap pile-up that ended Jacques Laffite’s career. Behind the celebrations, resentment simmered in the Williams garage as Nelson Piquet questioned his role in the team’s title fight.

And we pay tribute to one of the sport’s earliest icons — Alberto Ascari — born on this day in 1918. A two-time world champion, Ascari brought precision and calm to the chaos of 1950s Grand Prix racing and became Ferrari’s first true legend.

From comeback wins to career-ending crashes, this episode captures the highs, lows, and legacies of July 13 in F1 history.

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In this episode of Chequered Past, we relive the move that lit up Silverstone—Nigel Mansell’s unforgettable overtake on teammate Nelson Piquet during the 1987 British Grand Prix. With fresh tyres, relentless pace, and a roaring home crowd behind him, Mansell produced one of the most iconic moments in Formula One history.

We also celebrate the birthday of Guy Ligier, the no-nonsense Frenchman who transformed from rugby bruiser to F1 team boss and built a team that became a national institution. And we revisit the controversial and confusing finish to the 1998 British Grand Prix, where Michael Schumacher somehow won while serving a penalty… in the pit lane.

It’s a story of daring drives, eccentric team owners, and one very peculiar chequered flag.

Original Image: Honda Racing Gallery 1987 Williams FW11B Nelson Piquet

Creator: BWard 1997

Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Image has been adapted

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On this day in Formula One history: a title fight is turned on its head, a fearless talent is lost too soon, and a new British Grand Prix venue makes its debut.

We look back at the 1999 British Grand Prix, where Michael Schumacher’s high-speed crash at Stowe broke more than just his leg — it shattered Ferrari’s championship plan and thrust Eddie Irvine into the spotlight. We also honour Pedro Rodríguez, the brilliant and courageous Mexican driver who died on this day in 1971, and revisit the 1964 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, where Jim Clark delivered a masterclass in the circuit’s first time hosting F1’s biggest event.

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On this day in Formula One history, controversy reigned at Silverstone. We revisit the 1994 British Grand Prix, where Michael Schumacher’s refusal to serve a stop-go penalty — and Benetton’s failure to respect a black flag — sparked one of the sport’s most dramatic disciplinary showdowns. The fallout reshaped the championship and handed Damon Hill an emotional home victory.

We also celebrate the birthday of Jean-Pierre Jarier, the flamboyant Frenchman known for his pace, personality, and near misses, and recall Jim Clark’s composed but gritty win at the 1965 British Grand Prix — a performance marked by oil pressure trouble and mechanical restraint.

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Career-defining moves take centre stage in this episode of Chequered Past, as we look back at three seismic moments in Formula 1 history.

At the 1989 French Grand Prix, Alain Prost delivered a dominant win at Paul Ricard — his fourth on home soil — just as he publicly confirmed his impending departure from McLaren. The win came amid rising tension with Ayrton Senna and marked a turning point in one of F1’s most intense rivalries. The race also featured a terrifying opening-lap crash and the quiet debut of future fan-favourite Jean Alesi.

Fast forward to 2006, and another bombshell landed: Juan Pablo Montoya stunned the paddock by announcing he was leaving F1 with immediate effect to race in NASCAR, trading Woking for Watkins Glen and closing the book on a brilliant but turbulent Grand Prix career.

And at Silverstone in 2023, the spotlight shifted to a new generation. Lando Norris thrilled home fans by jumping Max Verstappen at the start and finishing a brilliant second — signalling McLaren’s resurgence and cementing his place as Britain’s next F1 star.

From exits and arrivals to a glimpse of the future, this is the story of the moves that shook Formula 1.

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On this day in Formula One history, a silver machine from Stuttgart toppled the titans of the sport. In this episode of Chequered Past, we revisit the 1962 French Grand Prix, where Dan Gurney delivered a stunning breakthrough victory for Porsche—the marque’s only win in Formula One—as Ferrari’s dominance faded into memory.

We also reflect on the brief but bold F1 ambitions of Mauritz von Strachwitz, the German nobleman and privateer whose homemade entry never quite made it to the grid, but who embodied the spirit of a more romantic era in racing.

Finally, we crank up the heat—literally—as we return to the 1984 Dallas Grand Prix, a race remembered as much for its 66°C track temperatures and crumbling surface as for Keke Rosberg’s unshakable drive to victory in the Texas inferno.

From Normandy breakthroughs to Texan meltdowns—this is a journey through the moments when the giants faltered, and the underdogs rose.

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On July 7th, 1991, Formula One planted its flag in a new corner of France. As Magny-Cours made its Grand Prix debut, three titans of the sport—Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna—shared a podium that symbolised an entire era of F1 greatness. In this episode, we relive that pivotal race: the strategy, the tension, and the significance of a win that reignited Mansell’s title hopes and signalled Williams’ resurgence.

But the story of July 7th doesn’t end there. We revisit Jacky Ickx’s breakthrough victory at Rouen in 1968 on a day of both triumph and tragedy. Then it’s on to 1974, where Ronnie Peterson dazzled at Dijon in a commanding drive. And finally, we honour the birthday of Jo Siffert, the Swiss privateer whose passion and bravery made him a fan favourite.

Four moments. One date. A journey through the victories, losses, and legacies that shaped generations of racing.

Original Image: Mansell at 1991 United States Grand Prix

Creator: Stuart Seeger

Licensed under CC BY 2.0. Image has been edited.

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