Titles for Stewart and Ferrari, victory down to the wire for De Angelis: August 15, not a day off for F1!

1971: Stewart's second title

The first Grand Prix of Formula 1 to be held on August 15 is the Austrian Grand Prix, in 1971. Among the attractions of the weekend, there is the first participation in Grand Prix for Niki Lauda and Helmut Marko, but also the outcome, already, in the title race. If there are still three rounds left after the Austrian event, Jackie Stewart can already win the championship: with 32 points ahead of Jacky Ickx and 34 over Ronnie Peterson, the Scot can glean his second coronation if the Belgian does not finish among the first two and if the Swede does not win.

Aboard his Tyrrell-Ford, the Briton starts from the front row alongside Swiss Jo Siffert. Very quickly, fate turned to Jackie Stewart's advantage: Ronnie Peterson tumbled down the rankings, suffering with a March with unpredictable handling, while Jacky Ickx encountered problems with his ignition, due to a wire. candle unplugged.

Halfway through the race, Ickx gives up. Only Peterson can still deprive Stewart of the title, but the Swede does not even manage to stay in the top 8. The Scot then knows that the title is won. On lap 35, Stewart's left rear wheel came loose in the Texaco curve. The Tyrrell skids and lands spinning in the grass. This is the first retirement of the season for the now double world champion, who acquires his second world crown after dominating the first part of the season head and shoulders.

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1982: De Angelis on the line!

As in 1971 and 1976, F1 went to the Österreichring on August 15, for the Austrian Grand Prix. The mood is not good: the paddock is still in shock from Didier Pironi's serious accident, which occurred the previous week at Hockenheim. In the championship, nothing is decided and the uncertainty is now total: the Frenchman, who was comfortably in the lead with 39 points, will not be able to defend his chances for the last four races. John Watson, Keke Rosberg and Alain Prost then have a chance to be titled for the first time in their careers.

However, in qualifying, it was the reigning champion Nelson Piquet who took pole position aboard his Brabham. Under the sun and the crushing heat of Styria, the Brazilian retained the lead at the start ahead of Patrese and Prost. The Brabhams escape, but suffer successive mishaps which lead them to abandon: for Piquet, it is excessive wear of his tires then a breakage of his camshaft, for Patrese, the BMW engine which leaves in smoke.

Alain Prost then leads the Austrian GP with his Renault, but was also the victim of a mechanical problem which forced him to retire. Surprise in mind: Elio de Angelis leads the way with his Lotus-Ford! The Italian can win his first race in F1... but so can Keke Rosberg, and the Finn is closing in on De Angelis by seconds per lap!

The duel will go until the last round, where the Williams – yet faster – will fail just five hundredths of a second behind the Lotus! This is the 4th lowest gap ever recorded in Formula 1, enough to make Colin Chapman throw in his hat! Rosberg would still win the title at the end of the season, with only one victory in 1982.

2004: Ferrari, total domination

The 2004 season is under the sign of the Prancing Horse in Formula 1. Arriving at the Hungaroring, Ferrari won eleven of the twelve Grand Prix contested (all won by Schumacher), for six doubles! An impressive score which allowed the Italian team to secure the Manufacturers' title at the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 15, 2004.

From qualifying, Ferrari sets the pace: Schumacher on pole ahead of Barrichello... and more than five tenths ahead of the competition! On Sunday, the German – in search of a seventh world title – teaches a lesson to the rest of the grid. With her F2004 as impressive as it is efficient, the Red Baron will achieve his fifth (and final) Grand Slam in Formula 1: pole position, victory having led all laps and best time in the race. Only the top 5 managed to finish on the winner's lap, but almost a minute behind Schumacher.

Rubens Barrichello secures 2nd place and the Manufacturers' title for Ferrari, which is crowned at the end of the Hungarian round at five Grands Prix at the end of the season. Two weeks later, Michael Schumacher will go for his 7th and final world crown in the discipline.

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It also happened on August 15…

1976 : First victory for John Watson in F1 (Austrian GP), first race after Niki Lauda's accident at the Nürburgring

1993 : First victory for Damon Hill in F1 (Hungarian GP), last podium for Riccardo Patrese

1999 : Mika Häkkinen's 13th victory in F1 (Hungarian GP)

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