Race and classic pictures

Young Senna caps off banner year in Macau

Today's trip down memory lane takes us back to the 1983 Macau Grand Prix which was held on this day 41 years ago - yes, it's been four decades - when a couple of familiar names shared the podium.

It had been a banner year for a young Ayrton Senna, the Brazilian winning the British F3 title and impressing a few F1 team managers in the process.

But Senna had one job left before dropping the curtain on his season: winning Macau's challenging but prestigious showcase event.

Driving for Teddy Yip's Theodore Racing team, Senna mastered the treacherous 6.2km track to perfection, winning from team mate Roberto Guerrero and a young Austrian hopeful named Gerhard Berger.

Little did they know at the time, it was the first of many podiums that Senna and Berger would share together...

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Vasseur responds to Ferrari drivers’ Dutch GP strategy fury

Fred Vasseur has heard the criticism. He has heard Lewis Hamilton’s frustration, Charles Leclerc’s confusion…

24 minutes ago

Wolff’s shock Mercedes admission: ‘We haven’t got the money’

Toto Wolff has delivered a remarkably blunt explanation for Mercedes’ recent slide, admitting that the…

15 hours ago

Alonso says ‘more to come’ after Aston’s Dutch GP points

Fernando Alonso left Zandvoort with something Aston Martin has been desperately short of in 2026:…

16 hours ago

F1i Driver Ratings for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix

Max Verstappen, Red Bull (DNF) – 3.5/10 The home hero’s Zandvoort send-off turned into an…

18 hours ago

Alonso’s Budapest breakthrough to become F1’s youngest winner

On this day in 2003, history was made in Budapest when Fernando Alonso stormed to…

19 hours ago

Kirkwood trims Palou’s lead with Freedom 250 masterclass in D.C.

Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood added his name to IndyCar history in spectacular fashion on Sunday,…

20 hours ago