Jochen Rindt: Formula 1's only posthumous World Champion

September 5 marks a significant date in Formula 1 history, primarily due to the death of Austrian driver Jochen Rindt during practice for the 1970 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Rindt, driving for Team Lotus, suffered fatal injuries following a crash caused by a front brake-shaft failure. He remains the only driver in the sport's history to be crowned World Champion posthumously, as he had secured enough points to maintain his lead through the end of the season.

One year after Rindt's death, the 1971 Italian Grand Prix at Monza featured a historic finish. Peter Gethin won for BRM in a race characterized by intense slipstreaming, defeating Ronnie Peterson by a margin of just 0.01 seconds. The event was notable for its speed, averaging 242.615 km/h, which stood as the fastest World Championship Grand Prix for 32 years.