Chequered Past
Chequered Past is a Formula 1 history podcast that dives deep into iconic races, legendary drivers, and forgotten moments from motorsport’s rich and dramatic past. Each episode revisits Grand Prix events that took place on the same date in history, uncovering fascinating stories, on-track controversies, and the evolution of F1 through the decades. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the sport, Chequered Past offers compelling insights and nostalgia-fuelled storytelling from the world’s fastest sport.
Chequered Past
31st July 1994: The Fireball That Fueled Suspicion
On this day in 1994, the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim delivered high-speed drama, mechanical attrition, and a pitlane fireball that intensified the storm of suspicion surrounding Benetton. With Michael Schumacher retiring and Gerhard Berger taking a long-awaited win for Ferrari, the race was another flashpoint in a season already fraught with controversy. We revisit the blaze that engulfed Jos Verstappen’s car and the scandal that followed, alongside Ligier’s remarkable double podium and a chaotic opening lap that wiped out nearly half the field.
We also mark the birthday of the much-missed Justin Wilson — the gentle giant of motorsport — and travel back to 1977, where Niki Lauda completed a powerful comeback at Hockenheim while Hans Heyer etched his name into F1 folklore for all the wrong reasons.
Music by #Mubert Music Rendering