The Briefcase Incident Lore:

F1 sleepover protest lore:

South African Grand Prix - 1982

Involved: all drivers

In 1982 all drivers locked themselves into one shared hotel room and refused to drive at the South African GP as a protest against clauses on their super licence contracts.

Not even their teams managed to get them to leave the room, only one photographer was allowed inside.

There are photos of Alain Prost sharing a mattress with Gilles Villeneuve, and Patrick Tambay saying “If those two have kids after this tonight I might as well retire now.”

Elio de Angelis played the piano.

Niki Lauda was sharing a bed with Patrese

Someone next to Rosberg was snoring until Villeneuve put a blanket over him.

They were just having fun.

In the end Balestre and Exclestone (the people in power) agreed to all the changes they wanted and it was enough for the drivers to head back to the track

I read a book last month and a word popped up: anemoia. Which is a beautiful word that means you are missing a time/person you’ve never known. Which is exactly what I feel about Ayrton.

Kidnapped Fangio lore:

Cuban Grand Prix - 1958

involved: Juan Manuel Fangio

In the 1950s, Juan Manuel Fangio, also known as “El Maestro,” was dominating the Formula 1 scene.

However, just before the Cuban Grand Prix, he was kidnapped by a group of Cuban revolutionaries.

The revolutionaries were looking to make a political statement and thought that taking the world’s best driver hostage would bring them the attention they needed. (and you are telling me that I’m an attention seeker)

Surprisingly Fangio was treated nicely during his captivity. He was respected and even allowed to listen to the race on the radio.

Fangio later reported that he had friendly chats with his captors (Fangio’s new besties) and was never harmed.

His kidnappers (new besties) released him unharmed after the race. Fangio never held any grudge against them and in fact, described the experience as “uncomfortable but not frightening.” (bro was just unbothered)

Btw: I’m serious when I say he befriended some of his captors, who were, I quote “just young men passionate about their cause”.

There is so much classic Formula 1 lore and I have to talk about it

reminder that he’s just iconic

Jim Clark had a fight with a policeman and got arrested during the Dutch Grand Prix in 1963.

Thank you and good night.

1975: Niki Lauda at the Austrian Grand Prix

Interviewer: There has been a lot of shock surrounding the fact that there is a female driver [Lella Lombardi] now. What do you think of a woman driving in F1?

Niki: Yes, why not? A woman has the same ability as a man. She’s just… just made a little bit differently... *smirks cheekily* But it has nothing to do with the ability to drive. Why shouldn’t she drive?

Holi crap bless up Niki was a feminist before it was sexy

The iconic F1 DNQ, DNF and DSQ lore:

German Grand Prix - 1977

involved: Hans Heyer

Hans Heyer in 1977 failed to qualify for the German Grand Prix.

However, Heyer was well known by the marshals who looked the other way on lap 1 when he pulled out of the pit lane and joined the race.

The stewards had no idea that he had joined the race until the local crowd erupted after seeing him drive by.

Hans retired from the race on lap 9 with a gearbox problem and then was disqualified leaving him with a DNQ, a DNF AND a DSQ in single Grand Prix. that’s just impressive at this point

This entire piastri-leclerc lore is going down in history

mika and new lore about his turtle obsession never fails to amaze me