The trap set by the FIA at the start of the 1999 European Grand Prix

Formula 1 has long been the scene of unforgettable and fascinating moments in the world of motorsport, and the 1999 European Grand Prix is one of the most striking examples of this.

The 1999 European Grand Prix took place at the Nürburgring on September 26, constituting the 14th round of the season. For the start, the FIA used a radio system that sent a signal to turn off the red lights on the grid. Until that year, the lights had been switched on one after the other, and the track director had switched them off manually, introducing an element of uncertainty that prevented drivers from knowing the exact sequence. As the signal was transmitted by radio waves, it could theoretically be intercepted by any receiver.

Cheaters at the start?

Rumors began to circulate in the paddock that some teams had found a way to predict when the red lights would go out, giving them a slight advantage. The engineers discovered that the radio transmitter was located far away from the cars, so they tried to intercept the signal and send a beep to the drivers' helmets before the lights actually went out. The story reached the ears of FIA president Max Mosley, who decided to test it at the European Grand Prix. Technicians simply disabled the cars' red light receivers, allowing the race director to press the button that would have turned off the lights without actually doing so. The result was immediate: six drivers—the two McLarens and the two Jordans, as well as the Williams and Prost cars—jumped the start. The incident confirmed the rumors, but as the rules did not specifically prohibit this trick, no penalties were imposed. Nevertheless, the FIA decided to replace the manual, radio-dependent system with an automated system that randomly extinguishes the lights without any external signal.

The start of the 1999 European Grand Prix:

Johnny Herbert took the win for Stewart-Ford, coming from 14th on the starting grid. Jarno Trulli secured his first podium finish in a Prost-GP, while Rubens Barrichello completed the top three. The first lap was also marked by a spectacular incident when Pedro Diniz was hit by Alexander Wurz, causing Diniz's car to spin and briefly roll over – a frightening accident, but ultimately without serious consequences. The season was ultimately won by Mika Hakkinen in a McLaren, who finished two points ahead of Eddie Irvine.