Top 10 Biggest Formula 1 Controversies
#10: The Michelin Tire Fiasco
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2005 United States Grand Prix
There was a time when Formula One has consistently struggled to break into the American market. Well, that wasn’t helped by the highly controversial 2005 Grand Prix. The event was being held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but an issue with tires befell the race before it even began. The Michelin cars were suffering from dangerous tire failures, and the rules stated that tires could not be changed during the race. Furthermore, the FIA refused to alter the track, claiming that it was dangerous and unfair to the teams using Bridgestone tires. As such, only six Bridgestone cars competed in the race, and the fourteen cars using tyres from Michelin were ordered to stand down. The race was widely criticized in the press, and it threw enormous doubt into Formula One’s future in America.
#9: Boycotts
1985 South African Grand Prix
The fifteenth event of the 1985 World Championship took place at Kyalami, a circuit found in the South African municipality of Midrand. This location was deemed controversial, as South Africa was in the midst of apartheid. A form of social segregation, apartheid ensured that the country’s minority white population was in charge, and it was greatly discriminatory against Black Africans. This system was established in 1948 and continued for over forty years. As a result, South Africa was boycotted by numerous international sporting organizations. French teams Ligier and Renault both refused to attend the Grand Prix, and companies ordered that their advertisements be removed from the cars.
#8: Spygate
2007 Formula One
2007 was a very messy year for Formula One. It began in July, when Ferrari fired mechanic Nigel Stepney; Stepney was allegedly selling Ferrari components to other teams. It was also around this time that Ferrari targeted McLaren’s chief designer Mike Coughlan for “theft of technical information.” Coughlan was sued by Ferrari, but the case was dropped when he agreed to tell Ferrari all that he knew. However, a second case was opened and McLaren was ordered to pay $100 million, making this the largest fine in sports history. But that’s not all. The following November, it was revealed that the Renault F1 team had stolen key information regarding McLaren cars. Now deemed “Spygate,” the event is an enormous stain on the history of Formula One.
#7: The 1994 Benetton Cheating Scandal
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1994 Formula One World Championship
Benetton saw great success in both 1994 and ‘95, winning two Drivers' Championships and one Constructors' Championship. However, these wins come with a major asterisk. In 1994, Teams accused Benetton of using illegal software in their cars. An investigation was launched by the FIA, and Benetton cars were found equipped with a launch control system. But Benetton wasn’t the only team to harbor electronic aids, as this type of software was found in the cars of numerous teams. However, no punishments were given, as the FIA could not prove that the tools were used during a race.
#6: Crashgate
2008 Singapore Grand Prix
Turns out, there are a lot of -gates in the world of Formula One. At the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Nelson Piquet Jr. was leading at turn 17 when he crashed into the circuit wall. This allowed his Renault teammate, Fernando Alonso, to win the race. At first, the accident was deemed a simple and common mistake. But when Piquet left the team the following year, he revealed that the crash was deliberate, having been ordered by the team’s principal and engineer. The incident had widespread ramifications, including terminated sponsorships, lifetime bans, libel cases, and Piquet Jr. leaving Formula One for NASCAR.
#5: Safety Issues
1994 San Marino Grand Prix
Few Formula One events were as hazardous as the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. A complete disaster of a race, Drivers Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna both died at the event, having suffered devastating crashes. Furthermore, several spectators were injured when Pedro Lamy collided with JJ Lehto, causing parts of Lehto’s car to fly into the stands. The controversy resulted in widespread changes to Formula One, including increased safety regulations and redesigned tracks. Senna’s death also resulted in legal proceedings, but all six defendants were acquitted.
#4: Bahrain Woes
2011 & 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix
Formula One had a tough time getting into Bahrain. A country in West Asia, Bahrain experienced a violent political uprising in 2011 - the same year that Formula One was scheduled to visit the country. The event was initially postponed owing to the civil unrest of the uprising and was later canceled altogether. The Grand Prix was eventually hosted in Bahrain on April 22, 2012, but this decision was met with enormous controversy. Violent protests were held in Bahrain near the site of the race, with protesters and police battling with the likes of molotov cocktails and tear gas.
#3: Max Verstappen’s Win
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2021 Formula One World Championship
Max Verstappen is one of the hottest names in racing. Not only is he the youngest driver in the history of Formula One, but he is also a back-to-back world champion, having won in both 2021 and ‘22. However, the former win is a bit contentious, to say the least. Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were tied for points going into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and if Lewis won, he would have broken the record for most championship wins. However, Verstappen emerged as victor following a controversial safety car restart. The blame was placed on race director Michael Masi, who resigned following the incident. The FIA acknowledged the accident as “human error” and refused to change the results, denying Hamilton his record-breaking eighth win.
#2: Michael Schumacher’s Contentious Win
1998 British Grand Prix
Michael Schumacher was a two-time world champion heading into the 1998 British Grand Prix, the ninth race of that year’s World Championship. Schumacher emerged victorious, narrowly defeating Mika Häkkinen and Eddie Irvine. But with two laps to go, Schumacher was given a ten second penalty, which resulted in pandemonium upon the conclusion of the race. People questioned if Schumacher had completed his stop-and-go penalty before crossing the finish line, throwing his victory into question. McLaren-Mercedes, the constructors of Häkkinen’s car, issued a protest but were rejected. The penalty was later rescinded, silencing all doubts that Schumacher was the real winner.
#1: Ayrton Senna’s Re-Entry
1989 Japanese Grand Prix
There are good teammates, there are bad teammates, and then there’s whatever happened between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. Despite being teammates on McLaren, the two racers were vehement rivals, and it all came to a head at the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix. On lap 46, Senna collided with Prost in an attempt to overtake him, causing both to spin out. Senna received help from the marshals, who pushed his car out of the way and down the escape road. Senna then used this push to restart his engine, and he proceeded to re-enter the track and win the race. However, he was immediately disqualified, as his re-entry was illegal. He was also issued a fine of $100,000 and given a suspended six month ban.
