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
29th November 2020: The Day That Racing Faced Life and Death
On 29 November, the extremes of motorsport stand side by side. In today’s episode, we revisit the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix — a race defined not by results, but by Romain Grosjean’s miraculous escape from a terrifying, high-impact fireball that proved beyond doubt the life-saving value of modern Formula One safety.
We then step back to 1975, when tragedy struck far from the circuit. Graham Hill — double World Champion, Monaco master and the only driver ever to achieve motorsport’s Triple Crown — perished in a plane crash alongside his protégé Tony Brise and four members of the Embassy Hill team. It was a devastating moment for British racing, silencing a champion and a rising star.
Finally, we head to Abu Dhabi in 2015, a title-decided season finale that still mattered. Nico Rosberg, resurgent after a difficult year, completed a trio of late-season wins and quietly set the psychological foundations for his 2016 title run.
From survival against all odds, to loss that reshaped the sport, to the competitive battles that carried Formula One forward — this truly was The Day That Racing Faced Life and Death.
Music by #Mubert Music Rendering