Your F1 most memorable moment

[roy928tt]

I've only attended 3 GPs, all in my hometown Adelaide and all iin the course of employment.

Most interesting was '86 we blagged our way into the F1 pits for the 4 days.

We actually had little idea of what was happening in the race, but had gathered that Mansell had had a blowout and thus was out of the running for the championship. I had noticed that retirees were swamped by the media as they made their way back into the pits compound. Nobody was rushing to hassle Mansell when he wandered in, he made his way to the rear of his pit before being consoled by a team member......

I lived and worked remote for the 90's so Senna's death wasn't a pivotal moment...

I picked up enthusiasm again as Webber made his way into F1. Watching the races live when I could, and FINALLY see him get it all together for the 2009 German GP after what, 130 starts, he finally took the top step that his ability and hard work so deserved.I do believe I teared up very early in the morning as he took the chequered flag after a rollercoaster of a race.

With a good car under him he would go on to prove what we had long believed, he was pretty handy. His move on Alonso at Spa, was lovely, a couple of respectfull racers doing their thing.

With Mark moving on and Daniel's ascendancy, we Aussies still have skin in the game, and what a character. No disrespect to any of the other drivers, but Dan is capable of beating any of them in their own car, that is why he is always grinning....he knows how good he is.

[Spekkie]

1) Max winning Spain

2) Hamilton's debut race (actually his debut season as a whole)

3) Max in the rain Brazil 16

Most races I'm in total awe about the performance of Hamilton > especially considering the fact that he's probably always racing after a night out

Max en Hamilton are in my view currently the only real entertainers in F1

[LordGrover]

Kubica, Montreal 2007.



How the juddering feck he came away pretty much unscathed was miraculous.

[tozerman]

Silverstone 1989 I think (poss 1990) I was right at the front at Copse, as others have said before Mansell Mania was prolific in those days.
Senna was booed nearly every time he went past.
Senna retired from the race just up from Copse towards Maggots, he walked back right past me, literally 4 feet or so in front of me. he was very casual about it, just looking around taking it all in. The crown booed him as he walked past (this didn't fluster him one bit) which I though was a real shame, I clapped him.

Cheers.....Tony..

[throwerp]

The first grand prix that I went to was the European grand prix at Brands Hatch, won by some bloke called Mansell! An amazing experience and I'll never forget seeing Nige win his first GP, also the fly past of Concord and various Spitfires was pretty good!

[fenby9]

Hamilton (McLaren) and Raikkonen (Ferrari) battling it out at the end of the Belgian GP a few years ago when the rain started coming down and they were on slick tyres resulting in Raikkonen putting it in the wall, I was watching it at home and it was really exciting! Close second/third is the Brazilian Grand Prix for both Jenson Button's championship and Lewis Hamilton's championship. Great F1 moments

[a11y_m]

My most memorable (Senna's crash) has obviously alredy been done, but this stands out in my memory too:



Verstappen, also 1994 from memory.

[Gad-Westy]

LordGrover said:

Kubica, Montreal 2007.



How the juddering feck he came away pretty much unscathed was miraculous.

Yep, that one still sticks in the memory more than most F1 crashes. It was the huge impact at the start of it more than the cart wheeling that followed. The sheer energy involved was horrifying.

[STiG911]

Norfolkit said:

Mine is Monza 2013.


It was a hot humid, beautiful morning without a breath of wind, so humid it was almost misty.
For Friday practice we were a little bit late getting there and practice started as we were walking down the track in Monza park (from Via Enzo Ferrari to the entrance gate), through the trees. This was the last year of the V8s and the scream of those engines at full throttle down the pit straight coming through the trees in Monza park is something I'll never forget. It wasn't my first GP by any means but it was my first time at Monza and that was a great introduction, just something about that sound, in that location in that weather made it perfect.

Edited by Norfolkit on Monday 7th August 11:38

Almost identical to me, except it was 2009 and Monza was my up-close-and-personal introduction to live F1 racing. The noise was ridiculous, the atmosphere was amazing, the crowd booed everytime Hamilton's name was mentioned, the missus thought I was going get killed for making wker signs everytime they did, ah, good times.
Similarly was when we did Spa in 2010, and let me tell you, watching F1 cars dive full-chat through Eau Rouge during qualy is something every Motorsport fan should see. Watching the Porsche Supercup cars doing the same thing later in the day sounds amazing but looks so much slower it's almost comical.

Aside from that here are mine, please bear with:
> 'That' side-by-side moment which got me into F1 in the first place
> Watching Mansell qualify in the then fastest ever time at Silverstone in '92 and the crowd - and me - going bananas
> Wondering why Mansell never beat the st out of Senna for punting hiim off at the last race in '92
> Patrese getting serious air at Portugal after hitting the back of Berger
> Even though I was never a Senna fan, just sitting with my hands over my face watching the aftermath of Imola - and feeling pretty disgusted that Ratzenburger's death was always mentioned as a post-script in news reports
> Schumachers bizzare self-inflicted crash about 30 seconds after leaving the pits in - I think '95 - just drove over the kerb and spun into the barriers; I'm just watching that thinking 'What the?'
> The reaction time of Jos Vestappens mechanics, managing to get the fireball under control almost as soon as it started.
> Hakkinens' breakdown - really felt for the guy
> Kimi's 'I'm all in' dive to overtake Fisichella on the final lap in Japan - the only time Ron's showed real emotion on TV
> Alonso's crash coming out of the final corner in Brazil 2003. Gave me the right shivers, that
> Schumacher getting beaten to the title - twice - by Alonso. Particularly in 2006 when everyone thought he'd walk it
> 2007 Some kid called Hamilton putting the manners on just about everyone
> Alonso losing his toys (see above)
> 2008 The year of biased FIA judgements, ending in the 'you literally can't make this up' race of the century
> Buttons All or Nothing drive in Brazil; and his really, really bad singing voice
> 2010 Lewis win at Spa, mainly cos I was there - another great atmosphere from fans genuinely there for the racing
> 2011 Wondering what Lewis was smoking some weekends, some truly dire drives that year
> Webbers try-out for the Red Arrows, Christ no one thought he was coming back from that (see also Patrese, '92)
> 'Leave me alone, I know what I'm doing' lol
> Quite possible the Best Start in F1 ever, Abu Dhabi, 2014
> Thinking kimi was just going to crash into Max if he moved under braking one more time, Spa 2016

[justleanitupabit]

coppice said:

justleanitupabit said:

e21Mark said:

Seeing Damon Hill almost win in that gorgeous looking, all black Arrows. Genuinely moved me to tears, as had his taking the world championship.

Erm........if that's your most memorable moment then maybe you ought to reconsider.

What an asinine comment. Things don't stick in the memory because other people think they should . I may be the only person who still tingles at the memory of Jackie Stewart's Tyrrell sideways out Lodge on 9 April 1971 - my first encounter with the sight and sound of a Grand Prix car at close range . Context is all .

Don't be so wet - "most memorable moment" - Getting something as simple and obvious as the colour scheme completely wrong suggests that by definition it cannot possibly be the most memorable.

But you carry on getting vicariously offended if it helps.

Gad-Westy said:

LordGrover said:

Kubica, Montreal 2007.



How the juddering feck he came away pretty much unscathed was miraculous.

Yep, that one still sticks in the memory more than most F1 crashes. It was the huge impact at the start of it more than the cart wheeling that followed. The sheer energy involved was horrifying.

I was convinced he'd be dead in the seconds just after the crash.



I'd add - Vettel going wide in Canada and watching Jenson going past was a brilliant moment. (For a Brit or Button fan).

Edited by justleanitupabit on Thursday 17th August 16:04

[Europa1]

STiG911 said:

Almost identical to me, except it was 2009 and Monza was my up-close-and-personal introduction to live F1 racing. The noise was ridiculous, the atmosphere was amazing, the crowd booed everytime Hamilton's name was mentioned, the missus thought I was going get killed for making wker signs everytime they did, ah, good times.
Similarly was when we did Spa in 2010, and let me tell you, watching F1 cars dive full-chat through Eau Rouge during qualy is something every Motorsport fan should see. Watching the Porsche Supercup cars doing the same thing later in the day sounds amazing but looks so much slower it's almost comical.

Aside from that here are mine, please bear with:
> 'That' side-by-side moment which got me into F1 in the first place
> Watching Mansell qualify in the then fastest ever time at Silverstone in '92 and the crowd - and me - going bananas
> Wondering why Mansell never beat the st out of Senna for punting hiim off at the last race in '92
> Patrese getting serious air at Portugal after hitting the back of Berger
> Even though I was never a Senna fan, just sitting with my hands over my face watching the aftermath of Imola - and feeling pretty disgusted that Ratzenburger's death was always mentioned as a post-script in news reports
> Schumachers bizzare self-inflicted crash about 30 seconds after leaving the pits in - I think '95 - just drove over the kerb and spun into the barriers; I'm just watching that thinking 'What the?'
> The reaction time of Jos Vestappens mechanics, managing to get the fireball under control almost as soon as it started.
> Hakkinens' breakdown - really felt for the guy
> Kimi's 'I'm all in' dive to overtake Fisichella on the final lap in Japan - the only time Ron's showed real emotion on TV
> Alonso's crash coming out of the final corner in Brazil 2003. Gave me the right shivers, that
> Schumacher getting beaten to the title - twice - by Alonso. Particularly in 2006 when everyone thought he'd walk it
> 2007 Some kid called Hamilton putting the manners on just about everyone
> Alonso losing his toys (see above)
> 2008 The year of biased FIA judgements, ending in the 'you literally can't make this up' race of the century
> Buttons All or Nothing drive in Brazil; and his really, really bad singing voice
> 2010 Lewis win at Spa, mainly cos I was there - another great atmosphere from fans genuinely there for the racing
> 2011 Wondering what Lewis was smoking some weekends, some truly dire drives that year
> Webbers try-out for the Red Arrows, Christ no one thought he was coming back from that (see also Patrese, '92)
> 'Leave me alone, I know what I'm doing' lol
> Quite possible the Best Start in F1 ever, Abu Dhabi, 2014
> Thinking kimi was just going to crash into Max if he moved under braking one more time, Spa 2016

There have been a few people stretching the thread title, but that is positively greedy.

[STiG911]

Europa1 said:

There have been a few people stretching the thread title, but that is positively greedy.

Yeah, I might have got carried away

[glazbagun]

coppice said:

What an asinine comment. Things don't stick in the memory because other people think they should . I may be the only person who still tingles at the memory of Jackie Stewart's Tyrrell sideways out Lodge on 9 April 1971 - my first encounter with the sight and sound of a Grand Prix car at close range . Context is all .

Nah, he just hasn't read the thread. The OP has already been reminded that Hill's Arrows was blue and white that year, so it's still redundant.

[Muzzer79]

Hungary 92
Mansell finally getting the championship. I was a huge fan.

Adelaide 94
Hill being robbed after a fantastic drive in Japan and a better one in Adelaide up to that point. If only he'd held back before diving through....

Silverstone 95
First GP I went to. Herbert's first win, in front of the home crowd.
As a sign of how times have changed, Marlboro had 'concession' stand out the back of Copse handing out free sample....packs! Imagine doing that today...

Brazil 08
To win the WDC on the last corner of the last lap of the last race is something I'm not sure I'll see again. Whatever you think of Hamilton, that was truly gripping to the last moment.

Canada 11
If you wrote out the story of your ideal GP, this for me would pretty much be it. Edge of the seat stuff.

[JBT]

spodrod said:

I still watch F1 now, but that feeling of excitement has long gone. It used to feel so exotic and removed from the mundane. Now high definition pictures, almost perfect reliability, a sanitised environment and a lack of unpredictability make it feel more like reality TV.

Am I the only one that misses timing information being in the local language?

I feel the same way, spodrod. The first race I can remember watching properly on TV at 8 years old was the 1986 Australian GP - the midday repeat on BBC2. The fleeting onboard shots of Johnny Dumfries manhandling the ultra-powerful Lotus 98T, Keke Rosberg laying black lines out of some of the slower corners, the ultra low Brabham BT55, it all looked like a different world to me - full of colour and excitement. Over the next few years, up to about '95'-96, I was a massive, massive fan of F1. But the gradual homogenisation of it all has slowly sucked the excitement out of it for me. I can appreciate that the very nature of the human race in competition - the best solution to a problem is found and everybody then does it the same way (i.e. engine configs, car design etc), the ever increasing professionalism of the sport (each race no longer feels like an individual event) and the constant push for ever greater safety all contribute to F1 moving further and further away from it's origins. By the time my 6 month old son gets to the age I was getting into the sport, I fear the variety and spectacle will be seriously diminished. I have no doubt this years car's are hugely impressive when seen live, but that alone doesn't make for an exciting sport.

Oh and my most memorable moment was Mansell going round the outside of Berger at the Peraltada, Mexico GP 1990. Someone else on the thread mentioned about the BBC going from recorded highlights straight into the live second half of the race - difficult to do seamlessly at the time I read once. The last 20 laps were so exciting - Mansell reversing back onto the track after spinning, losing P2 to Berger in a divebomb move, who himself was on a cracking recovery drive back though the field - I think he had a puncture early on? - Senna having a blowout trying to make his tyres last, then one of the greatest passes in the history of motorsport. Yes the Brummie was a whinger, and yes he didn't win that day - Prost had the measure of him all race really - but bloody hell, the balls out commitment he repeatedly showed, and in particular at that race - made me a fan of his forever.

Ultima vuelta, timing by Olivetti - Longines

[99dndd]

I don't remember watching the Senna crash but my 1st F1 memory is standing at the front of P3 the next day telling the class how sad I was about it.

Hill in '96 stands out for me, qualifying for the 1997 decider sticks out as the top 3 all set identical times.

But, as a Northern Irishman, the biggest memory was getting up in the early hours of the morning, in the caravan, to watch Eddie Irvine go the '99 title in Japan,

[Dickie Dastardly]

This one might not be my most memorable moment but I can still recall watching it with my dad and older brother when I was a youngster; in the days when F1 coverage consisted of a 35min slot on BBC 2 on Sunday night.

Possibly also because my dad had a Renault 12 at the time and I had that yellow car for my Scalextrics...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xASPhBrkIZM

[rastapasta]

I prefer 500cc/motogp and WRC but I would say my favourite F1 memory would have to be Donington 1993 and Senna's drive in the wet.

Off topic and to be cheeky my favourite bike memory is Ralf Waldemanns last lap in Donington in 2000 when he caught Olivier Jacque in the 250 race in the wet.

[BVB]

Joining tifosi cutting through a fence at Monza, pouring onto the track and being chased by police with batons. Eventually to reach the podium to celebrate Ferrari's win with Barrichello. Fantastic occasion.

[wioifoiee]

difficult to pick, but many of schumi's outstanding car control displays come to mind, whilst either maintaining the lap or coming back to stick it on pole. Watching him throw these v10 F1 cars around was a site to behold.

either
- Imola 2004 qualifying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVVITJ8Zfe8
- Monaca 1996 qualifying - just frankly on another level to anyone else - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-X45KU2WMk
- Austria 2003 qualifying - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCLW-ijN0GQ

and of course....
- Barcelona 1996, the entire race.

I recently got to drive the palmersport single seater in full wet conditions, with the car twitching about on full throttle - only then did i get a real appreciation and sense of how amazing his wet skills were in an F1 car compared to what i was driving, which was basically a slower formula renault with no downforce.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dbuw6z8qC8

Edited by wioifoiee on Saturday 19th August 18:05