Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen confirmed he was taking a one-year sabbatical from Formula One adding it was uncertain whether he will return in 2011 - he did not. He was replaced by Fernando Alonso at Ferrari and says he prefered to take a year off and wait for a place with a competitive team after failing to reach a deal with McLaren, who opted to sign Jenson Button to partner Lewis Hamilton.
2004
BAR boss Dave Richards was shown the door after Honda bought a 45% stake in the team for around $150 million. Although he had guided Jenson Button to third in the drivers' championship, it was his dispute with Button over a contract that many believe led to his departure to be replaced by Nick Fry. ""I am the one person who came out of that affair undamaged," Richards said. "This was a mutual decision. It is the right time for Honda and the right time for me to move on. I am proud of what I and my team have done. In effect, we had a five-year plan to revitalise the team and that has been delivered in just three years."
1961
Al Keller died as a result of injuries sustained in a fiery Champ Car crash at the Arizona State Fairgrounds track. Keller drove in the Indianapolis 500 when it was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960 but he was more famous for racing in the NASCAR series from 1949 to 1956 with 29 career starts. He won two races during the 1954 season and was the first driver in the history of NASCAR's top division to have won a race in a foreign-built car, winning the 1954 Grand National road-race at the Linden Airport in New Jersey. He was also involved in the crash that killed Bill Vukovich in 1955.
2007
Toyota announced that Timo Glock would race for the team in 2008. The reigning GP2 Series champion signed a multi-year contract with the Japanese outfit.
2006
Kamui Kobayashi started from pole position for the Macau Grand Prix but tangled with Marko Asmer and Paul di Resta to leave Mike Conway ahead of Kohei Hirate. Kobayashi charged back through the field before retiring after a crash with Romain Grosjean. Another man on the move was Richard Antinucci who made several passes to finish second, just behind Conway. Japanese F3 champion Adrian Sutil finished third and Sebastien Buemi was fourth ahead of Romain Grosjean and Britain's John Jakes.
