Throwback to a Time When 30 Formula One Drivers Had to Share a Single Room During the 1982 Season

On Saturday, all the Formula One drivers will be holed up in their hotel rooms whiling away the time. The reason for this is the approaching typhoon Hagibis, which will threaten the final practice and qualifying session of the Japanese Grand Prix 2019.

The last time Formula One drivers had to spend an entire day in the hotel, was in 1982, on race day. As it turns out, they were on strike and fighting clauses in their Superlicence contracts.

During the 1982 South African Grand Prix weekend at Kyalami, the first race of the season got off to a poor start. The situation was so bizarre that it made the international news, where 30 drivers camped out behind lock and key in a conference room on makeshift mattresses on the floor.

The drivers had three main gripes, First and foremost they did not want to disclose their financial details. Secondly, they had to agree to stay with a team for at least three years. Finally, there was one last clause which would have given Guenther Steiner nightmares. In other words, they were not allowed to criticise the FIA, with the punishment being a life ban.

The drivers were adamant about not wanting to race, and in turn the FIA and Jean-Marie Balestre threatened a life ban.

On that day, only one anonymous photographer was granted access in to the room with 30 drivers bunking.

Naturally, this angered Formula One team bosses and the mechanics, as the cars were ready but no-one was going to drive them.

Niki Lauda, who had come out of retirement was the main spokesperson and told a single journalist. “It was our idea. At the beginning I was just listening to Didier. He was diplomatic but firm, polite and unemotional. The compromise in the Superlicence that the drivers wanted was really insignificant, so much so that none of the drivers could understand why it was taking such a long time to settle. The later it got the more difficult it got for the race to take place.

Lauda chuckled at the memory of that night. “I would like to see all the F1 constructors sleeping together in the same bed. I was sharing a bed with Patrese. Someone next to Rosberg was snoring until Villeneuve put a blanket over him. But all the time we stayed together. We even had piano playing from Elio (de Angelis) and Villeneuve. But we stayed together because we wanted to.”