On this day 16 years ago, Michael Schumacher took Ferrari’s first F1 drivers’ championship in over 20 years when he beat Mika Hakkinen in a back and forth tussle at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Schumacher started from pole but was beaten into the first corner by Hakkinen and only reclaimed the lead thanks to a Ross Brawn strategy from the Ferrari pit wall.
The battle continued to rage until the last lap and Hakkinen ended up crossing the finish line just 1.8 seconds behind Schumacher.
“I didn’t think I had done enough. But as I went down the pit lane, Ross Brawn was saying ‘it’s looking bloody good!’ It was the most amazing moment of my racing career,” said Schumacher.
1972: Jackie Stewart wins the final race of the 1972 F1 season ahead of Tyrrell team-mate Francoise Cevert, to land the team a record-breaking $97,500 in prize money.
1987: The fourth cricket World Cup gets underway. Co-hosts Pakistan begin with a tight 15-run victory over Sri Lanka.
2011: The United States national football team get their first win under new manager Jurgen Klinsmann, beating Honduras 1-0 in a friendly.
