10 Unforgettable Moments of Formula One

MAY 13, 1950: The First Formula 1 Race

The British Grand Prix started it all. Located at an abandoned World War II airfield in Silverstone, England, the race was attended by around 140,000 fans, including King George VI, the Queen, and Princess Margaret. The winner was Giuseppe Farina, a former cavalry officer driving an Alfa Romeo.

MAY 21, 1950: Debut Of Ferrari

Making its debut at the famous Monaco Grand Prix in 1950, Scuderia Ferrari, the Italian racing division of the auto manufacturer Ferrari, has been the only team to participate in every year of the world championship from 1950 until the present day.

MAY 12, 1968: Advertising Sponsorships Allowed

Before advertising became normal in 1968, the team's nationality determined the cars' color. For example, Italian teams were Red, and French teams were Blue. However, Team Gunston, a private team founded by racing driver John Love, became the first to incorporate sponsorship brands on their cars, specifically orange, brown, and gold colors, representing Gunston cigarettes. After that race, many teams followed the pattern.

JULY 20, 1968: Grand Prix Cars Sprout Wings

British multinational automotive manufacturer, Lotus, pioneered a technical revolution that changed Formula One cars forever. The idea? Adding small front and rear wings to the cars, to help increase aerodynamic downforce, which pushes the car to the track and gives more traction in corners. This new design debuted at the Monaco Grand Prix, and by the British Grand Prix, all of the teams' cars had adapted the addition.

APRIL 12, 1981: Carbon Fiber Introduced

When former McLaren CEO Sir Ron Dennis joined the team, he introduced the first carbon fiber monocoque chassis designed by English racing car engineer John Barnard at the Argentine Grand Prix. Its lightweight and robust characteristics made it the standard material for Formula One cars. Under Dennis, McLaren became the second most successful team in the series after Ferrari. 

AUGUST 25, 1991: Michael Schumacher's Debut

German driver Michael Schumacher had his Formula One debut at the Belgian Grand Prix under the Jordan team. After qualifying seventh, he was forced to retire on the first lap due to a broken clutch. However, the Benetton team rapidly signed him as a regular driver, and he went on to win the title in 1994 and 1995. Throughout his career, Schumacher won 7 championship titles, 91 race wins, 155 podiums, and 1566 career points, making him one of the best drivers in Formula One history.

AUGUST 29, 2021: Formula One's Shortest Race

The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps was severely compromised by persistent heavy rain, resulting in just two processional laps behind the safety car before officials displayed the red flag. Following extended delays, organizers opted to complete only the minimum required laps for official race classification. This rare circumstance triggered half-point scoring, marking only the sixth such instance in Formula 1 history. 

DECEMBER 12, 2021: An Exhilarating Final Lap

The 2021 season concluded with a controversial Abu Dhabi showdown between Hamilton and Verstappen, tied on points. After Hamilton dominated most of the race, a late safety car led Race Director Masi to make a disputed call allowing only select cars to unlap themselves. This created a one-lap sprint where Verstappen, on fresher tires, passed Hamilton to secure his first championship.

NOVEMBER 26, 2023: Red Bull and Max Verstappen's Dominance 

In 2023, Red Bull won twenty-one out of twenty-two races, with Max Verstappen taking a record nineteen wins in a single season. 

JANUARY 2025: Lewis Hamilton Joins Scuderia Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, made a historic shift to Scuderia Ferrari for 2025 after departing Mercedes—his racing home for 12 years where he captured six world titles. This landmark move to the legendary Italian team marks a fresh chapter in Hamilton's illustrious career.