European Grand Prix

This article is about the Formula One race. For other uses, see European Grand Prix (disambiguation).
Azerbaijan European Grand Prix
Baku City Circuit
Race information
Number of times held 23
Germany Nürburgring (12)
Spain Valencia Street Circuit (5)
United Kingdom Brands Hatch (2)
Spain Circuito de Jerez (2)
United Kingdom Donington Park (1)
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit (1)
First held 1983
Last held 2016
Most wins (drivers) Germany Michael Schumacher (6)
Most wins (constructors) Italy Ferrari (7)
Circuit length 6.003 km (3.73 mi)
Race length 306.049 km (190.170 mi)
Laps 51
Last race (2016)
Pole position
Podium
Fastest lap

The European Grand Prix (also known as the Grand Prix of Europe) was a Formula One event that was introduced during the mid-1980s and was held regularly from 1999 until 2012. A recent host venue for this event was the Valencia Street Circuit in Valencia, Spain, hosting the race from 2008 until 2012. The race was removed from the calendar in 2013. In 2016, the race returned, being run on a street circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan, but was subsequently discontinued as the event was renamed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

In earlier years, the European Grand Prix was not a race in its own right but just an honorific title; one of the national Grands Prix was also designated as the European Grand Prix. The first race to be so named was the 1923 Italian Grand Prix, held at Monza and won by Carlo Salamano in a Fiat and the last one was the 1977 British Grand Prix.

Since its reintroduction, the European Grand Prix has usually been held in a country in Europe that also holds a national Grand Prix in that same year.

Pre- and post-war years

Honorific title

The European Grand Prix was created as an honorific title by the AIACR, the FIA's predecessor in the organisation of motor racing events. The first race to receive the title was the Italian Grand Prix, in 1923, and it was followed by the French Grand Prix and Belgian Grand Prix. After a hiatus in 1929, Spa received the last honorific title of the pre-WWII years, in 1930.

The title was revived by the FIA after World War II, and was first given to the Belgian Grand Prix in 1947, and was distributed across several countries until the 1977 British Grand Prix, the last race to receive the honorific title. All post-war honorific European Grands Prix were Formula One races except for the 1952 event, which was run to Formula Two regulations.

The Italian Grand Prix was named the European Grand Prix seven times, which was more than any other race. It received the title three times in the 1920s.

As a round of the World Championship

Brands Hatch

The event was initially created as a stop-gap. In 1983, the Formula One schedule originally featured a race near Flushing Meadows Park in New York City. When the race was cancelled three months before the event, track organizers at Brands Hatch were able to create a European Grand Prix at the track in its place. The success of the event, buoyed by a spirited battle for the World Championship, led to the event returning on the schedule the following year.

Brands Hatch was unable to host the European Grand Prix in 1984, as it was hosting the British Grand Prix in even numbered years (alternating with Silverstone) so the European GP went to a redesigned and shorter Nürburgring circuit in 1984.

Brands Hatch returned to host the European Grand Prix in 1985, but the race was replaced in 1986 by the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Donington Park

In 1990, a wealthy Japanese businessman, Tomonori Tsurumaki, built the Nippon Autopolis with the idea of hosting a Formula One race. In 1992, plans were made to have an Asian Grand Prix in 1993 to replace the Mexican Grand Prix on the schedule. However, these plans failed to materialize. Instead, Bernie Ecclestone added a race at Donington Park to the schedule, which brought back the European Grand Prix moniker. The race was the brainchild of Tom Wheatcroft, who had been trying to bring F1 to the track since an abortive attempt to host the British Grand Prix in 1988. The first and so far only Formula One Grand Prix at Donington Park resulted in Ayrton Senna's victory in mixed wet and dry conditions.

Jerez

The European race would go the following season to Jerez in Spain. Jerez hosted round 14 of 16 in 1994 and the season finale in 1997, and it was the site of the famous collision between Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve which saw Schumacher get disqualified from the championship and it was also the scene of Mika Häkkinen's first Formula One victory.

Nürburgring

Brands Hatch was unable to host the European Grand Prix in 1984, so the European GP went to a redesigned and shorter Nürburgring circuit in 1984. It was a far cry from the 14 mile Nürburgring that most were used to seeing, and was initially unpopular during Formula One's return.

The race returned to Nürburgring in 1995, which was now popular again with drivers. But after complaints that no other countries were to get the race, the Nürburgring race was renamed the Luxembourg Grand Prix. Jerez got the race back in 1997 as a replacement for the Portuguese Grand Prix.

In 1998, the European Grand Prix was dropped from the schedule, but returned in 1999 when the race at Nürburgring re-adopted the European Grand Prix name.

The 1999 race saw torrential rain conditions which caused numerous retirements, presenting Johnny Herbert with the opportunity to take Stewart Grand Prix's first and only victory in its final season before being sold to Ford.

The race continued to be held at the Nürburgring until 2007. On 29 August 2006 it was announced that it had been removed from the F1 calendar for the 2007 season. From then there would only be one GP hosted in Germany each year, alternating between Hockenheimring and Nürburgring. However, what the name of this Grand Prix would be was uncertain for a time; while originally intended to be the German Grand Prix from 2007,[1] the Nürburgring race of 2007 was renamed "Großer Preis von Europa" (European Grand Prix)[2] due to a dispute over the ownership of the title "German Grand Prix".[3]

Valencia

From 2008 to 2012 the European Grand Prix took place in Valencia, Spain. During the 2009 event, Valencia signed a deal for a further 5 races, which put Valencia on the calendar until 2014. Despite this, in March 2012, it was announced that the European Grand Prix was to be discontinued in 2013, with the Spanish Grand Prix planned to alternate between Barcelona and Valencia.[4] However, Barcelona has retained the race since 2013, and the Valencia circuit was removed from the calendar.

Baku

The European Grand Prix returned to the Formula One World Championship in 2016, being held on the Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan. The race was renamed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for the 2017 season. This means that the European Grand Prix would be discontinued starting in 2017.

Winners of the European Grand Prix

Repeat winners (drivers)

Only includes standalone events. Bold indicates a driver active in the current season.

# of wins Driver Achieved
6 Germany Michael Schumacher 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006
3 Spain Fernando Alonso 2005, 2007, 2012
2 Brazil Rubens Barrichello 2002, 2009
Germany Sebastian Vettel 2010, 2011

Repeat winners (constructors)

Only includes standalone events. Bold indicates a constructor active in the current season.

# of wins Constructor Achieved
7 Italy Ferrari 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012
4 United Kingdom McLaren 1984, 1993, 1997, 2007
3 United Kingdom Williams 1985, 1996, 2003
2 United Kingdom Benetton 1994, 1995
Austria Red Bull 2010, 2011

By year: the European Grand Prix as a standalone event

Valencia Street circuit, used from 2008 to 2012
Nürburgring GP circuit, used from 1984, 1995-1996 and 1999-2007
Jerez, used in 1994 and 1997
Donington, used in 1993
Brands Hatch, used in 1983 and 1985
A map of all the locations of the European Grand Prix and other Grands Prix designated as the European Grand Prix.
Year Driver Constructor Location Report
2016 Germany Nico Rosberg Mercedes Azerbaijan Baku Report
2015

2013
Not held
2012 Spain Fernando Alonso Ferrari Spain Valencia Report
2011 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault Report
2010 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault Report
2009 Brazil Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes Report
2008 Brazil Felipe Massa Ferrari Report
2007 Spain Fernando Alonso McLaren-Mercedes Germany Nürburgring GP-Strecke Report
2006 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2005 Spain Fernando Alonso Renault Report
2004 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2003 Germany Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW Report
2002 Brazil Rubens Barrichello Ferrari Report
2001 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2000 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
1999 United Kingdom Johnny Herbert Stewart-Ford Report
1998 Not held
1997 Finland Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Mercedes Spain Jerez Report
1996 Canada Jacques Villeneuve Williams-Renault Germany Nürburgring GP-Strecke Report
1995 Germany Michael Schumacher Benetton-Renault Report
1994 Germany Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford Spain Jerez Report
1993 Brazil Ayrton Senna McLaren-Ford United Kingdom Donington Report
1992

1986
Not held
1985 United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Williams-Honda United Kingdom Brands Hatch Report
1984 France Alain Prost McLaren-TAG Germany Nürburgring GP-Strecke Report
1983 Brazil Nelson Piquet Brabham-BMW United Kingdom Brands Hatch Report

By year: the European Grand Prix as an honorary designation

A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Year Driver Constructor Designated Grand Prix Location Report
1977 United Kingdom James Hunt McLaren-Ford United Kingdom British Grand Prix Silverstone Report
1976 United Kingdom James Hunt McLaren-Ford Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix Zandvoort Report
1975 Italy Vittorio Brambilla March-Ford Austria Austrian Grand Prix Österreichring Report
1974 Switzerland Clay Regazzoni Ferrari Germany German Grand Prix Nürburgring Nordschleife Report
1973 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Zolder Report
1972 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Ford United Kingdom British Grand Prix Brands Hatch Report
1971

1969
Not held
1968 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart Matra-Ford Germany German Grand Prix Nürburgring Nordschleife Report
1967 United Kingdom John Surtees Honda Italy Italian Grand Prix Monza Report
1966 Australia Jack Brabham Brabham-Repco France French Grand Prix Reims-Gueux Report
1965 United Kingdom Jim Clark Lotus-Climax Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps 14 km circuit Report
1964 United Kingdom Jim Clark Lotus-Climax United Kingdom British Grand Prix Brands Hatch Report
1963 United Kingdom Graham Hill BRM Monaco Monaco Grand Prix Monaco Report
1962 United Kingdom Graham Hill BRM Netherlands Dutch Grand Prix Zandvoort Report
1961 United Kingdom Stirling Moss Lotus-Climax Germany German Grand Prix Nürburgring Nordschleife Report
1960 United States Phil Hill Ferrari Italy Italian Grand Prix Monza Full Circuit Report
1959 United Kingdom Tony Brooks Ferrari France French Grand Prix Reims-Gueux Report
1958 United Kingdom Tony Brooks Vanwall Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps 14 km circuit Report
1957 United Kingdom Tony Brooks
United Kingdom Stirling Moss
Vanwall United Kingdom British Grand Prix Aintree Report
1956 United Kingdom Stirling Moss Maserati Italy Italian Grand Prix Monza Full Circuit Report
1955 France Maurice Trintignant Ferrari Monaco Monaco Grand Prix Monaco Report
1954 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes Germany German Grand Prix Nürburgring Nordschleife Report
1953 Not held
1952 Italy Alberto Ascari Ferrari Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps 14 km circuit Report
1951 Italy Luigi Fagioli
Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio
Alfa Romeo France French Grand Prix Reims-Gueux Report
1950 Italy Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo United Kingdom British Grand Prix Silverstone Report
1949 Italy Alberto Ascari Ferrari Italy Italian Grand Prix Monza Report
1948 Italy Carlo Felice Trossi Alfa Romeo Switzerland Swiss Grand Prix Bremgarten Report
1947 France Jean-Pierre Wimille Alfa Romeo Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps 14 km circuit Report
1946

1931
Not held
1930 Monaco Louis Chiron Bugatti Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps 15 km circuit Report
1929 Not held
1928 Monaco Louis Chiron Bugatti Italy Italian Grand Prix Monza Full Circuit Report
1927 France Robert Benoist Delage Italy Italian Grand Prix Monza Full Circuit Report
1926 France Jules Goux Bugatti Spain San Sebastián Grand Prix Lasarte Report
1925 Italy Antonio Ascari Alfa Romeo Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps 15 km circuit Report
1924 Italy Giuseppe Campari Alfa Romeo France French Grand Prix Lyon Report
1923 Italy Carlo Salamano Fiat Italy Italian Grand Prix Monza Full Circuit Report

References

  1. Official FIA press release. "2007 FIA Formula One championship circuit and lap information, published on February 14, 2007". Official FIA press release. Retrieved 22 April 2007.
  2. "Nürburgring". Official Homepage of the Nürburgring. Retrieved 14 April 2007.
  3. The race held at Nürburgring in 2007 was originally going to be called the German Grand Prix but the title was changed to European Grand Prix due to the dispute over the ownership of the German Grand Prix name. See Autosport: Name row leads to return of European GP
  4. "Valencia pays 2012 fee, Spain to alternate from 2013". MSN Sport. MSN Sport. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
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