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
11th March 1990: The Duel That Introduced Jean Alesi
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
On 11 March 1990, Formula One returned to the streets of Phoenix for the opening race of a new season. What should have been a routine victory for one of the sport’s established stars instead became the race that introduced a remarkable new talent. In only his ninth Grand Prix start, Jean Alesi stunned the paddock by taking the lead at the start and going wheel-to-wheel with Ayrton Senna. Their fierce duel on the tight Phoenix street circuit turned the season opener into one of the most memorable breakthrough performances in modern Formula One.
In this episode of Chequered Past, we revisit that dramatic 1990 United States Grand Prix and the moment Alesi announced himself to the world.
We also celebrate the birthday of Irish driver Derek Daly, whose career took him from the British Formula 3 championship to Formula One before continuing across the Atlantic in IndyCar and endurance racing.
And we remember Arturo Merzario — a distinctive figure of 1970s Formula One — whose courage during Niki Lauda’s fiery Nürburgring crash in 1976 became one of the most remarkable acts of bravery in the sport’s history.
Three stories from one day in racing history: a breakthrough duel, a career that crossed continents, and a moment of courage that saved a champion.
Music by #Mubert Music Rendering