The Iconic F1 DNQ, DNF And DSQ Lore:

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

Ayrton

The briefcase incident lore:

Monza - 1991

involved: A.Senna & G.Berger

When Ayrton Senna and Gerhard Berger were flying in a helicopter to the Italian GrandPrix, Ayrton had a briefcase with him.

He claimed that the briefcase is indestructible because it’s made out of carbon fibre so Berger decided to test that theory.

When they were flying above the Monza track he literally threw out the briefcase (it had McLaren contract inside) out of the helicopter and watched it fall from the height of about 150m and hit the ground.

Ayrton had no idea that that happened because he was sitting in the front of the helicopter with the pilot and with a headset on (Mr. Important).

But after they landed a marshall came running towards them with Ayrton’s briefcase in hands.

At that moment Senna turned toward Berger and said “You didn’t do it”

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.

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.

This entire piastri-leclerc lore is going down in history

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

Frogs and cheese incident lore:

Australia - 1990

involved: A.Senna & G.Berger

This takes place during a holiday stay in Australia with Senna, Berger, McLaren boss Ron Dennis and then-wife Lisa.

One evening when Berger went on a run there was this golf course with some “big things jumping around” (frogs/toads) so he decided to prepare a nice friendly surprise for his good friend Senna.

He went to the concierge and gave him 100$ and told the concierge to “bring him some”.

The concierge then proceeded to give Berger a full bag of about 50 frogs (or toads god knows what it was) so Berger asked Lisa Dennis to help him with this little project.

When they had dinner Berger picked up Ayrton’s room key and together with Lisa went to his room and put those bloody frogs everywhere.

The next morning furious Senna confronted Berger about the situation to which Berger replied “Where did you find the snake?”

To this situation Senna responded with buying the most disgusting and strong smelling cheese and stuck it into Berger’s AC unit and turned it on full blast.