August 15 has a special place in Formula 1 history — a day when the top step of the podium has so often been claimed for the very first time. In this episode, we revisit three maiden victories from three different decades.
We begin in 1982 at the Österreichring, for one of the closest finishes the sport has ever seen — Elio de Angelis edging out Keke Rosberg by just 0.05 seconds in a race packed with drama, attrition, and mechanical heartbreak. Then it’s back to the same circuit in 1976, where John Watson delivered not only his first win but also Penske’s one and only Grand Prix triumph, keeping his cool in a race overshadowed by Niki Lauda’s absence. Finally, we head to Hungary in 1993, where Damon Hill ended a string of near-misses to take his first victory, the start of a three-race winning streak and proof that the hardest win is the first.
Three drivers, three different eras, one shared moment — The Days That Delivered Debut Triumphs.
Cover Image: From Speeder76 under CC BY-SA 3.0
Music by #Mubert Music Rendering
