On this day in F1 07 March, is brought to you by TheJudge13 chronicler:
Kevin Russell

– Graham Hill returns from injury – 1970
– Irvine’s first Ferrari victory – 1999
– Michael Schumacher starts run to 7th Championship – 2004

Graham Hill returns from injury – 1970
Just over a week before his 42nd birthday Graham Hill returned from a massive crash at Watkins Glen 5 months previously to finish 6th in the South African grand prix. He was in pain and had to be lifted out of the car after the race but competed for the rest of the season finishing 13th in the championship.

Irvine’s first Ferrari victory – 1999
Irvine won his first race for Ferrari at Melbourne. He beat Heinz-Harald Frentzen’s Jordan by less than a second. He was helped by both McLarens having to retire in front of him. He won 4 races that season and finished 2nd in the championship. He led the Ferrari team following Schumacher’s broken leg at the British grand prix. Ironically the race before this accident in France, as the “loyal” number 2 he allowed Schumacher to pass him for 5th. Although Schumacher returned at the end of the season to support Irvine the point he lost there in France ultimately cost him the championship.

Michael Schumacher starts run to 7th Championship – 2004
Schumacher won the Australian opening race with team-mate Rubens Barrichello second (in Ferrari’s first one-two since Japan 2002) and Alonso a further 20 seconds back in third. He won 11 of the first 12 races (retiring in Monaco) on his way to win a total of 13 out of the 18 races and securing the championship at Spa, Belgium. This was his 7th title and his 5th in a row with Ferrari. Though a far more remembered moment of Schumacher in Australia was the last race of 1994 where he “collided” with Damon Hill to secure the championship.