Iconic/Must See F1 Races

[52Paddy]

I was thinking about some classic races over the years and thought it might be worth having a thread for them. Just post any suggested great F1 races you think we should all see. Whether they include great racing or demonstrate something that happens rarely, post them here with your reason for choosing.

I'll start off with Monaco 1996. Really good racing throughout. From Frentzen on Irvine early on, to Panis' charge through the field and ultimate win, the many incidents that occured inc. Schumacher crashing out, Hill's engine blowing from a comfortable lead and then Alesi's wheel trouble from an also comfortable lead. And Coulthard's unsuccessful late dash for the win. This race had a record low 4 cars running by the final lap!

For fans of the underdogs, both Forti drivers now had the new FG03 at their disposal. Montermini, however, injured himself late into the weekend and didn't start the race. And Badoer stupidly smashed into Villeneave when being lapped late on. At least you get to see the car running in anger!

Now, please enlighten me.. :)

[52Paddy]

Oh, also Phoenix 1990. To witness Martini's Minardi 2nd on the grid is special. Also, Alesi (an inexperienced young-gun at this point) holding off Senna for a good deal of the first stint was special. Senna passed Alesi eventually, but Alesi got the position back within another corner. On the next lap, Senna past Alesi for good but that was some phenomenal driving worth watching! :up:

[ShiftingGears]

1957 German Grand Prix.
1968 German Grand Prix.

[BDunnell]

The 1967 Italian Grand Prix. You can find edited bits of the period BBC coverage on YouTube, though Raymond Baxter must be commentating if the clip is totally 'genuine'.

[Sonic]

Some that come to mind;

Silverstone '95 - why? I hear you call. Damon hunting schumi and closing the gap to nothing had the fans on their feet. The clash at proiry. And then battle between the other Williams/Benetton pairing of DC and Herbert, Herbs claiming a very popular win afte DC had been given a pit speeding violation if memory serves.

It also happened to be the first GP I saw in the flesh. Awesome.

Germany '97 - Berger returns from injury to claim an emotional win after the death of his father (I think).

South Africa '93 - Senna and Prost in a ding dong battle in cars of massively differnt pedigree.

Spa '95 - 16th on the grid and still he won!

I'll come back with a few more but I just need to check the year on a couple.

[UltimateDanGTR]

monaco 84, monaco 04, monaco 82, monaco 81, monaco 96...seeing the recurring theme?

:D

theres also greats like British gp 87, britain 08 (classic?), europe 85 at brands...


lots of great races.

[wedge]

Don't agree with Monaco 1996. Panis lucked it by punting off Irvine, Alesi and Hill had rotten luck and immensely deserved to win.

Dijon 79

[BDunnell]

Don't agree with Monaco 1996. Panis lucked it by punting off Irvine, Alesi and Hill had rotten luck and immensely deserved to win.

Well, it remains one of the most exciting races I've watched, and it's one of the few of which I've kept the taped highlights.

[BDunnell]

Dijon 79

Agreed. It should also be viewed regularly by FIA stewards.

[DazzlaF1]

Dijon 79

Totally agree on that one, Villeneuve v Arnoux, THE battle to end all battles

[UltimateDanGTR]

Totally agree on that one, Villeneuve v Arnoux, THE battle to end all battles

all for a second place as well! :D

another classic battle is san marino 82-Pironi vs Villeneuve. yes i know it was overshadowed by FISA vas FOCA, but even so great race!

[D-Type]

Well, one driver thought he was simply putting on a show, but the other ...

[woody2goody]

Nurburgring 1999 - great win for Johnny Herbert, although one of Coulthard, Fisichella, Irvine, R Schumacher could have won it.

Japan 2005 - so much overtaking, Alonso v Schumi, Fisi v Kimi, etc. Brilliant race!

Britain 2003 - Mad man on track caused pit-stop shuffles. Rubens won with many great moves including round the outside at Bridge on Kimi if I remember.

Nurburgring 2007 was pretty good too. Marcus Winkelhock leading his only Grand Prix, torrential downpour, Alonso charging through to win, good stuff.

Singapore 08 - First night race. Not iconic on it's own, but a very good race plus the different setting.

Brazil 03 - Great race with a win for Jordan, all manner of incidents, and a controversial finish!

Others:

Hungary 2006
Indianapolis 2003
Hungary 1997
Canada 2007
Monaco 2008

[Ranger]

Races I would go out of my way to watch again:

Spain 1996
Hungary 1998
Belgium 1998
France 1999
Europe 1999
Germany 2000
Brazil 2003
Japan 2005
Hungary 2006
Europe 2007

[Cozzie]

Any race at Spa!

[Robert Edwards]

The 1971 Italian GP has got to be up there, I'd have thought...

[markabilly]

The 1967 Italian Grand Prix. You can find edited bits of the period BBC coverage on YouTube, though Raymond Baxter must be commentating if the clip is totally 'genuine'.
yep,no 1 on my list

Dijon 79
no 3,

another exciting race was monaco, the year rindt passed jack b on the last corner, year 68 or 69?

Hungaroring 98 - Incredible performance.

[BDunnell]

another exciting race was monaco, the year rindt passed jack b on the last corner, year 68 or 69?

1970.

[markabilly]

1970.
Thnaks, No.2 for me

[cynisca]

Dijon 79

Eu9T9B1Rg00

[markabilly]

Nobody mentioned Spain 1996? or 97? the time of the bump between Jv and MS for the WDC?

Austria 82.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWA0sYlS-5k

[ClarkFan]

The 1971 Italian GP has got to be up there, I'd have thought...

Absolutely - more lead changes per lap than we get in half a season now. But that was often true at Monza in those days - 1965 and 1969 also were multi-car ding-dongs.

Bring back slipstreaming!

ClarkFan

[TheFamousEccles]

Austria 82.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWA0sYlS-5k

Hey, what a great link. That track is fantastic, and Rosberg was using every bit of ground-effect he could muster to catch de Angelis on that last lap.

I had to laugh at the edited out advert - I vividly remember being a young F1 fan staying up until ch.9 (in OZ) decided it had played enough crap repeat American sit-coms for one night and finally show the race (often in the very early hours) - that little tune they played is etched into my memory (for some odd reason).

[ArrowsFA1]

The 1982 Long Beach GP is worth a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4Hb3MDG-Aw

de Cesaris on pole, the Ferrari bi-plane rear wing that got Villeneuve excluded, Giacomelli drop-kicking Arnoux out of the race, de Cesaris more worried about being angry at Boesel than losing the lead, great Rosberg v Villeneuve battle and Lauda won.

[Sonic]

LMAO. Who is doing the voice over?? Utter genius!

[Bruce D]

LMAO. Who is doing the voice over?? Utter genius!

If its from the FOCA review video then its Clive James - Aussie comedian who was a F1 nut and did the reviews for 82, 84, and 86 for FOCA.

[52Paddy]

I saw that clip before. That guy is brilliant. So many great quotes. Harsh enough on De Cesaris though :up:

[5001]

Britain 1987 Mansell"s move on Piquet

Spain 1991 Mansell and Senna wheel to wheel down the front straight

Monaco 1992 Mansell all over the back of Senna in the closing laps

Hungary 1993,2006 first wins for Damon Hill and Button

Belguim 1998 Damon Hill"s last win and the Schmacher-Coutard incident

Britain 2003 An overtakeing fest

San Marino 2005 Schmacher trying to get past Alonso spoil by the adverts

Germany 2008 Hamilton losing a comfortable due to a mistake by Mclaren over pit stops and then fighting back from third to win in the last 15 laps

If I been born earlier I would have love to see a Grand Prix at the old Nurburgring and on the banking at Monza

[Saint Devote]

The late great James Hunt in the Hesketh versus Niki Lauda in the Ferrari.

Hunt won his first grand prix in a cerebral victory that was to be his trademark against a driver, Lauda, with a tactical racing mind and the ability that remains an example to everyone today.

Two very different drivers in their approach in every way, and also good friends.

[jens]

Races that haven't been mentioned here:

Adelaide 1985 - almost all the time something was happening, even on the last lap, when two Ligiers collided while battling for P2.
Those races, where Watson came from the back and won (1982/1983) - a lot of overtaking and changes in the race.
Dallas 1984 - Rosberg's win in an underperforming Williams. Only 6 finishers, a messy race and problems with tarmac.
Monaco 1982 - no explanation needed.
Monaco 1984 - the great show by underdogs.
Adelaide 1986 - not only a dramatic championship decider, but a race with a lot of fluctuations and an unclear winner for a long time.

Hell yeah, the period of 81-87 isn't my favourite incidentally... Generally you may watch almost any race from that era and not find it completely boring. Which isn't the case with other eras.

[Tazio]

France 2004 Brilliant! :up:

South Africa 1982. Prost leading, punctures, limps back to the pits, loses a lap....Then wins.

San Marino 1983 & Monza 1988.....two results that were beautiful in their significance.

[Sonic]

If its from the FOCA review video then its Clive James - Aussie comedian who was a F1 nut and did the reviews for 82, 84, and 86 for FOCA.

Cool! Sat next to him on a flight to Sweden once apon a time, wished I'd known he was an F1 nut, could have past the time.

[Bruce D]

Here's one not mentioned - Canada 1985.

The first Ferrari 1-2 since Imola 1982 (and I think the last one until Monza 1988 as well). Prost runs out of fuel going over the line in 3rd. But the Ferrari's fought from behind and won. Other notable was Rosberg coming out of the what is now the first hairpin (the pits were still in the old position for this race) and leaving black rubber marks on the road while powering past Prost and squeezing between a backmarker to take the position!

Did anyone mention Imola 1990 already? That was also a great race. One of them Mansell charges until the car cried enough.

[Garry Walker]

Agreed. It should also be viewed regularly by FIA stewards.

Current F1 stewards would ban drivers racing like that for life.

[Pitflaps]

In no particular order:European 1999British 1995Australia 1986Imola 1988Hungary 1997Belgium 2000British 2003Japan 2005

[52Paddy]

I haven't watched Brands Hatch 1986, but I'm currently reading an autobiography about Nigel Mansell. It was written in 1987, the year after he lost out on the championship narrowly and way before he became eventual champion. The 1986 season races are written about in fair depth but just from Mansell's viewpoint. From reading the page on Brands Hatch, it sounded like a cracking race. Especially if you were British (which I'm not, but I could understand the tension in the grandstands.) Nigel and Piquet had a great battle; Nigel in Piquet's spare car!

[AndyL]

I haven't watched Brands Hatch 1986, but I'm currently reading an autobiography about Nigel Mansell. It was written in 1987, the year after he lost out on the championship narrowly and way before he became eventual champion. The 1986 season races are written about in fair depth but just from Mansell's viewpoint. From reading the page on Brands Hatch, it sounded like a cracking race. Especially if you were British (which I'm not, but I could understand the tension in the grandstands.) Nigel and Piquet had a great battle; Nigel in Piquet's spare car!

It seems astonishing to think that Brands was hosting Formula 1 as recently as 1986. They'd never hold a Grand Prix there now, not enough run-off. And I hope it stays that way, because you get some great views as a spectator there. It must have been quite something to behold in the 80's. Seeing those cars going round now in Formula EuroBOSS is great, but to see them being pushed to the limit by a couple of dozen of the world's best drivers in pursuit of the biggest prize in motorsport must have been something else.

[Tazio]

Just watched The '71 German GP at the Nurbergring.
Athough it had been tamed down that year (armco installed)
it still had a few jumps left on the long straight.
If anyone is interested Justin TV shows past GP's continuously.
Some are not in English, but most are.
Here is the Link
http://www.justin.tv/f1_legends_2