10 Crazy Moments From German Grand Prix History

The 2000 German Grand Prix was pretty mad, partly thanks to this bizarre moment mid-way through the race when a disgruntled former Mercedes employee ran onto the track at one of its fastest points. He had previously tried to protest before the formation lap but was taken away by marshals. He had to pay a £600 fine for breaching track limits.

One of the most recent examples of team orders in Formula 1, the moment on lap 49 of the 2010 German GP brought the topic into the spotlight and caused team order rules to be revoked at the end of the season.

Felipe Massa had a great start and led most of the race, but his Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso was just behind him and looked quicker. Massa was told on lap 49 “Fernando is faster than you,” a not-so subtle call to let Alonso past. He did so and Ferrari were fined $100,000 for the command.

It’s rare we see tempers flare in F1 but that’s what happened during the 1982 German GP, after leader Nelson Piquet and backmarker Eliseo Salazar collided at the Ostkurve chicane. Piquet was clearly outraged, approaching Salazar and throwing a few punches and kicks.

The 2001 German Grand Prix kicked off in spectacular style with a big crash between Michael Schumacher and Luciano Burti. A gear selection issue caused Schumacher’s car to slow off the line and Burti was unable to see him, smashing into the Ferrari and going airborne.

His Prost landed on Enrique Bernoldi’s Arrows and went into the wall. Amazingly both drivers were OK and took part in the restart at the wheel of spare cars.

Alain Prost had been running in fourth place at the 1986 F1 round in Germany but his McLaren ran out of fuel on the last lap. Incredibly, his team-mate Keke Rosberg’s car had done the exact same thing just moments earlier. Prost actually got out of his car with the finish line in sight and tried to push his McLaren across the line. It didn’t work but Rosberg and Prost were classified fifth and sixth.

Rubens Barrichello had been waiting quite some time for a maiden F1 victory and it arrived in brilliant style at the 2000 race. He started down in 18th due to problems in qualifying but the combination of a first-lap shunt, safety car, some great overtakes and an inspired decision to stay out on slick tyres as the rain arrived late in the race helped him secure a hugely popular first F1 win.

7. Unusual victory lap

Michael Schumacher triumphed on home soil in Hockenehim in 1995, achieving an important milestone in his career. But his victory lap after taking the chequered flag didn’t go to plan. He stalled his Benetton while celebrating and had to be towed back to the pits by a recovery vehicle.

Kimi Raikkonen suffered a scary, new-race-suit-please moment during the 2004 race after a rear wing failure on the flat-out run to the first corner. The huge loss of downforce and lack of warning caused Raikkonen to spin into the wall. A heavy hit but fortunately he was OK.

The last F1 race to take place at the Hockenheimring in 2014 started with high drama at the first corner. Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen collided, which pitched the Williams of the former driver upside down – sparks flying from the car before it eventually landed the right way.

The 1994 German GP featured one of the most frightening pitstop moments in F1 history, when Jos Verstappen’s Benetton crew were engulfed in flames after a fuel leak. Fortunately, the driver and crew emerged with only minor burns.

What other moments can you think of? Let us know in the comments.