9th July 1989: The Move That Shook F1
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9th July 1989: The Move That Shook F1
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About this listen
Career-defining moves take centre stage in this episode of Chequered Past, as we look back at three seismic moments in Formula 1 history.
At the 1989 French Grand Prix, Alain Prost delivered a dominant win at Paul Ricard — his fourth on home soil — just as he publicly confirmed his impending departure from McLaren. The win came amid rising tension with Ayrton Senna and marked a turning point in one of F1’s most intense rivalries. The race also featured a terrifying opening-lap crash and the quiet debut of future fan-favourite Jean Alesi.
Fast forward to 2006, and another bombshell landed: Juan Pablo Montoya stunned the paddock by announcing he was leaving F1 with immediate effect to race in NASCAR, trading Woking for Watkins Glen and closing the book on a brilliant but turbulent Grand Prix career.
And at Silverstone in 2023, the spotlight shifted to a new generation. Lando Norris thrilled home fans by jumping Max Verstappen at the start and finishing a brilliant second — signalling McLaren’s resurgence and cementing his place as Britain’s next F1 star.
From exits and arrivals to a glimpse of the future, this is the story of the moves that shook Formula 1.
Music by #Mubert Music Rendering