September 18 delivered a championship-changing victory for Nico Rosberg while also marking the births of several figures who left distinctive marks on Formula 1.The biggest on-track moment came at the 2016 Singapore Grand Prix. Rosberg started from pole for Mercedes and led throughout, but Daniel Ricciardo closed rapidly during the final stint.
Rosberg held on by just 0.488 seconds, claiming victory in his 200th Formula 1 start. Lewis Hamilton finished third in the second Mercedes. The result carried major championship significance. Hamilton had arrived in Singapore two points ahead, but Rosberg left with an eight-point advantage.
It proved another crucial step towards Rosberg’s first and only Drivers’ Championship, secured at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Giancarlo Minardi was born on September 18, 1947. The Italian founded the team carrying his name, which progressed from Formula 2 into Formula 1 in 1985.
Oliver Panis quits
Minardi remained on the grid until 2005, rarely possessing the resources to fight the established teams but earning affection for its resilience. The operation also gave opportunities to numerous young drivers before eventually becoming Toro Rosso, now Racing Bulls under Red Bull ownership.On this day in 1951, Marc Surer was born in Switzerland. He made 82 Grand Prix starts between 1979 and 1986, racing for teams including ATS, Brabham, Arrows and Ensign. Surer twice finished fourth in Formula 1 before a serious rally accident in 1986 ended his top-level racing career.
September 18, 2006 brought the announcement that Olivier Panis would end his Formula 1 career. The Frenchman had started 157 Grands Prix and famously won the chaotic 1996 Monaco Grand Prix for Ligier.
Panis also survived a major accident at the 1997 Canadian Grand Prix in which he broke both legs. He later raced for BAR and Toyota before moving into testing roles.