It’s Friday, or Fri-yay in some parts of the corporate world, and that means another list of questionable quality and theme to bolster the quality of content here at The Gurgler. This week we offer some more F1 inspired top-fivery, this time talking about other Formula 1 Disaster Races after the opening to the recent Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix last weekend.
The much-hyped Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix couldn’t got off to a much worse start after years of banging the Las Vegas drum and spending a reported $500M when a manhole cover ruined the first session, a Ferrari and made the second session so late everyone got sent home.
It all improved with a great race despite it being won by Max Verstappen, but it needed to after the first day. The raceday wasn’t without drama after oil was dumped on the start line by a support race.
But was it one of the biggest Formula 1 Disaster Races, or are there better ones? Maybe, but there probably won’t be more expensive ones, and nor was it the only one in the US…..
READ MORE: LAS VEGAS F1 SUMMARY
Top Formula 1 Disaster Races
1982 DETROIT GRAND PRIX
F1 – Murray’s Memories – Detroit 1982 – YouTube
Another first-time US Grand Prix in 1982 also didn’t get off to the best start.
It is best summed up from the Wikipedia report, pasted with thanks below.
“Due to organizational problems, extra practice planned for Thursday was cancelled, and the first qualifying session on Friday had to be postponed. There was time for only a one-hour practice session on Friday, and so qualifying would take place on Saturday in two one-hour sessions, four hours apart. Saturday was cold and overcast with a threat of rain, and nearly all the drivers scrambled to get a time in on the dry track while they could, with many spins and trips down the escape roads of the unfamiliar circuit. The afternoon session was wet throughout, as expected, and the times from the morning session did indeed determine the grid.”
It did recover like the Las Vegas Grand Prix did (in 2023) as the race saw a win for John Watson, who overtook three cars in three separate moves on the one lap to win from a midfield grid slot.
1985 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
They had two cracks at the 1985 Belgian Grand Prix.
The first was in June of 1985 where the F1 circus arrived at the recently resurfaced Spa circuit.
The new track work had only been finished ten days before the first race was scheduled, and when the hot weather and powerful 1980’s cars arrived, they tore up the new track.
It was part way through the first Saturday session when the track got undriveable and the best of the decisions they could make was postpone the event. Which they did and a few months later Ayrton Senna took a sensational win in the wet.
2005 US GRAND PRIX
USA Grand Prix 2005 Formation lap + Start Highlights – YouTube
F1’s ability to not compromise for the better of the sport and fans happens all the time, and currently too. Like the F1 teams rejecting the new Andretti F1 team and even the Carlos Sainz penalty from last weekend should have found a better solution.
The worst case of this was the 2005 US Grand Prix at Indianapolis.
This race was in an era where there were two different tyre companies fighting for World Championship glory, and at this stage it was Bridgestone vs Michelin. Essentially Bridgestone had favoured Ferrari so much that only the lowly Jordan and Minardi teams shared the supply. The rest of the teams chose the French Michelin rubber.
The 2005 US Grand Prix being one of the Formula 1 Disaster Races was down to a poor decision by Michelin to bring the wrong tyres to the famous Indianapolis track. The banking caused a different stress to the tyres, and despite this only being for a little section of the lap, there were tyre failures in practice sessions. According to Wikipedia – Michelin advised its seven customer teams that without a reduction in speed in Turn 13, the tyres provided for the race would only be safe for 10 laps. This made worse by the 2005 F1 season not allowing tyre changes.
So what could they do? Michelin cars could slow down themselves and be at the mercy of Bridgestone cars. Or they could install a chicane. They even offered to race for no points for Michelin teams just to allow the race to start.
But no agreement came, and after the formation lap all the Michelin cars headed for the pit lane and just the six Bridgestone cars remained in an absurd sight. US fans were unimpressed and they booed heartily.
Whilst the start of six cars was silly enough, it could have been worse with the Ferraris almost taking each other out as one of the Ferraris emerged from the pitlane for a refueling stop at one stage.
But six cars starting a race was F1 at its worst, and it ruined the US Grand Prix for a while until it ended up in Texas.
1991 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
The Shortest Race In History | 1991 Australian Grand Prix – YouTube
The Australian Grand Prix in the 1980’s and 1990’s in Adelaide usually brought drama and excitement and the 1991 was no different, except it was the shortest race in F1 history – a record it held for a long time.
1991’s edition brought a second race in three years where torrential rain turned the streets of Adelaide into canals.
But unlike the 1989 race, which went to full two hour distance somehow despite some big crashes including Ayrton Senna destroying a TV camera in the back of Martin Brundle’s Brabham, the 1991 Australian Grand Prix last just 14 laps. Ended when Nigel Mansell crashed out to much drama like always for Nigel.
So just 14 laps of one of the shortest laps of the season is all the fans got for sitting there in the wet.
2021 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX
Verstappen Wins Rain-Curtailed Race | 2021 Belgian Grand Prix – YouTube
The title of the shortest F1 Grand Prix was taken over by the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, which lasted just two laps. Just enough to be classified as a race and some points being handed out.
As ever it rained in Belgium, but the rain combined with poor visibility and saw the race continually delayed. Bad enough in general, but more painful for those in the Pacific region watching at midnight.
Eventually over three hours late, the race started behind the Safety Car in the pit lane. They circulated for the two laps required to make an official result and stopped the race. Making it Formula One’s most pointless race.
1984 DALLAS GRAND PRIX
F1 1984 R09 – US Dallas – Highlights – YouTube
Another first time Grand Prix in the US where the track fell apart in the early days of the event, but a race still went ahead.
The track got torn up by a sportscar race on the Saturday and an urgent fix was required. This meant that quick drying cement was used on the sections ruined. The heat also contributed to the misery.
There was talk of a boycott on safety grounds, but the TV and locals fans were waiting and a Grand Prix eventually happened.
It was won by street track specialist Keke Rosberg.
