16th June 1985: The Fuel That Fed the Prancing Horse

In this episode of Chequered Past, we revisit June 16th in Formula 1 history — a date that delivered Ferrari glory, rising rivalries, and one race that never even happened.

We begin in 1985 with a deep dive into the Canadian Grand Prix, where Ferrari delivered a dominant 1–2 finish through Michele Alboreto and Stefan Johansson. It was a triumph built not just on speed, but fuel efficiency and strategy — a rare moment of supremacy in the turbo era.

Then, we head to Mexico 1991, where Williams teammates Riccardo Patrese and Nigel Mansell went wheel-to-wheel in a dramatic battle of equals. Mansell’s late charge came up just short, as Patrese held on with a fastest lap on the final tour.

In a shift from racing to politics, we reflect on the 1957 Dutch Grand Prix, cancelled due to the global fuel shortages caused by the Suez Crisis — a reminder that even F1 isn’t immune to world events.

Finally, we fast forward to 2023, when a technical glitch during Canadian Grand Prix practice brought the sport to a standstill — proof that modern racing can still be undone by the unexpected.

Music by #Mubert Music Rendering