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
6th September 1970: The Triumph That Followed Tragedy
On this day, the Italian Grand Prix has delivered some of Formula One’s most powerful stories — of glory, grief, and the unexpected.
In this episode, we revisit 1970 at Monza, where Ferrari rookie Clay Regazzoni scored his first victory in front of the tifosi, on a weekend darkened by the loss of championship leader Jochen Rindt. We also look back to 1964, when John Surtees started from pole and kept his title hopes alive with a Ferrari win, chased home by Bruce McLaren. Jumping forward to 2020, we relive Pierre Gasly’s shock triumph for AlphaTauri, one of modern Formula One’s greatest underdog stories.
Away from the racing, we celebrate the birthday of Professor Sid Watkins, the neurosurgeon who transformed F1 safety and whose interventions — from Ronnie Peterson in 1978 to Gerhard Berger in 1989 — saved lives and changed the sport forever.
Monza has always been more than just speed — it is a theatre where passion and peril intertwine. This is The Triumph That Followed Tragedy.
Cover Image: By Evers, Joost / Anefo / neg. stroken, 1945-1989, 2.24.01.05, item number 923-6110, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, Link
Music by #Mubert Music Rendering