F1 Fanatic

It’s a lazy Sunday evening and quite frankly I’m sick of waiting for Spa so thought we could reminisce about lovely/inspirational F1 stories.

Are there any stories, cases, quotes that warm your heart? :P

Lauda likes to have his say but I’ll always respect his absolute bravery after the Nurburgring. He’s a hero just for that.

Nannini won my heart in much the same way. I’m glad he got to win in F1 before his accident though.

I liked how after Minardi’s 5th in Aus 2002 all the teams in F1 sent champagne straight to the team to celebrate. That was sweet.

My favourite Massa has been caught up in a rather good tale. Lost out in 08 in the most dramatic style possible, came back and showed his worth in a dog of a car to be nearly killed and then came back after having a son and hasn’t done dreadfully. Then there was Germany…

Seein a Toro Rosso win and a FI pole were other big moments.

One of my favourite ever quotes was from Alain saying that Gilles was the last of the great racers and that they were now all professionals.

So are there any stories or quotes that have stuck with you? Any huge achievements or small victories? Maybe just small stories or moments that make the sport seem more human.

austria 1976, john watsons first gp win in the penske ford, in those days F1 wasnt quite as well covered in the media as it is now, had to wait until 7 pm to hear the result on the radio on bbcs sunday sport, could not believe he won, it was a magic moment for john and for northern irish motorsport and me
happy days

ps he shaved his beard off too!

The Ferrari 1-2 at Monza 1988. Mclaren’s going for the perfect season and had utterly destroyed everyone and everything all year only to go to the first Italian GP after the old man’s death and miraculously the Ferrari’s had some pace. Senna was pressured into a risky pass on a backmarker and the rest as they say is history

As for ones I actually watched the best story would have been Hill winning in Hungary 1997, shame it didn’t happen. So many people underestimated just how good a driver he really was and said he couldn’t win without a Williams but he dominated that race in an Arrows that had no right being anywhere near the lead of a Grand Prix. As a 7 year old Damon Hill fan I found it all very traumatic, but I guess looking back 2nd place in that Arrows was still a sensational result.

Fisichella’s win in Brazil 2003 was brilliant, just a shame that McLaren tried to take it away from him.

Hockenhiem 1997. “I couldn’t be happier, Formula 1 couldn’t be happier!”

Also there was an interesting story I remember about Alonso at Brazil 2008. As McLaren celebrated Alonso went to the Mclaren garage to congratulate the team and Hamilton on winning the championship. After all that had gone on the year before it was very big of him.

Lord Hesketh saying he may as well fail in F1 as it wasn’t much more expensive than F2.

Hunt – apparently he was meant to be testing (perhaps a Mclaren) and got out and went to sleep.

Kimi entering his snow mobile race under Hunt’s name or at least an anagram of it I believe.

Not quite F1 but Mansell after breaking his neck, defying doctors and carrying on racing to eventually reach F1. I liked that. He always found himself in scrapes but never gave up which reminds me of a few of Gilles V’s races…

Speaking of Gilles V if I recall correctly he sold his home so he could race which I think was before he discussed it with his wife.

I’m a bit exhausted so sorry if any aren’t quite accurate :P

Jackie Stewarts reaction to his teams second place at Monaco,

The whole Frank Williams story too from his beginnings to his accident and back to the front again is a great story for F1

Always remember Japan 1996, ‘And I’ve got to stop because I’ve got a lump in my throat.’

Brundle’s “YES!” When Hamilton overtook Glock in Brazil 2008.

Vettel’s team radio after Monza 2008. “I don’t know what to say” A Toro Rosso win, I could never have even dreamed it!

Brazil 1991, Senna won his first home GP without 3rd, 4th and 5th gear. He had to use only 6th gear, so in slow curves he risked to stall. His scream after the finish line is memorable…

“Jean Alesi winning the 1995 Canadian GP in the #27 Ferrari, the first F1 result I can remember”

It’s my earliest F1 memory as well, but I only watched it a week or so after when I went round to my grandads and watched it on video. I think the first race I watched live was Silverstone 1995, but I lost interest once Hill was out lol

Brazil 2008. Brundle going “is that Glock? is that Glock?!?!?” and Allen going “it is!!” didn’t warm my heart exactly but I’m sure its up there with “and Solskaer has won it” for a lot of people

Hungary 1997, Murray Walker at his best as Hill looks to pass Schumi ” ‘Move over!’ You can feel him saying in the cockpit ‘I’m going through!’ Damon Hill leads! Oh Boy!” Its in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sySTUEpCP8E&feature=related