Formula 1's Darkest Scandals: From Tax Evasion to Deliberate Crashes and Team Deceptions

Italian Authorities Probe F1 Stars for Tax Evasion

Formula 1 drivers and team bosses are under investigation by Italian authorities for alleged tax evasion. The Guardia di Finanza, Italy’s financial crime squad, is examining whether these athletes correctly declared and paid taxes on income earned in Italy, even if they reside abroad.

Lawyer Alessandro Mei, who filed the complaint against F1, stated: “It is undisputed that athletes who earn income in Italy, even if resident abroad, must declare it in Italy and pay taxes there.”

While no criminal proceedings have been initiated yet, this investigation—dubbed “Taxgate”—adds to a long history of controversies in the sport. From technical rule-breaking and questionable team orders to deliberate crashes and criminal activity, Formula 1 has seen its share of scandals.

Cornergate: The 1959 Sebring Shortcut

At the 1959 United States Grand Prix in Sebring, American driver Harry Schell secured third place in qualifying behind his Cooper-Climax teammates Jack Brabham and Stirling Moss. His qualifying lap, however, was achieved by taking a massive shortcut that bypassed the entire back straight, shaving six seconds off his previous best time.

Schell’s maneuver had no impact on the race itself—he retired just six laps in with a busted clutch. The incident remains one of F1’s most audacious rule-bending moments.

Weightgate: The Water-Cooled Brake Scandal of 1982

During the dawn of F1’s turbo era in 1982, naturally aspirated cars weighed less than their turbocharged rivals. To comply with weight regulations, teams like Brabham, Williams, and McLaren devised a cunning workaround: fitting water-cooled brakes.

The plan worked as follows:

• Cars were weighed during scrutineering with all fluids, including water in the brake system, onboard.
• At the start of the race, teams drained the water, reducing the car’s weight.
• Before post-race inspection, the water tanks were refilled.

This strategy allowed Nelson Piquet and Keke Rosberg to finish first and second at the Brazilian Grand Prix. However, turbo teams protested, and both drivers were later disqualified.

Tyrrell’s Water and Lead Shot Scandal (1984)

In 1984, Tyrrell sought to compensate for its car’s power deficit by running underweight. While mid-race refueling was banned, teams could still top up water injection systems. Tyrrell exploited this loophole by adding a mix of water and lead shot to its cars during pit stops, bringing them back to the legal weight limit.

Additionally, the water mix included extra fuel for a performance boost. When discovered, Tyrrell was expelled from the championship. Decades later, in 2005, BAR would replicate a similar scheme.

BAR’s 2005 Fuel Tank Scandal

At the San Marino Grand Prix in 2005, Jenson Button’s BAR-Honda finished with points. However, race stewards discovered a secondary fuel tank and drained it, finding the car to be 5 kg underweight.

Initially, BAR won its appeal against disqualification, but the FIA pursued the case to the International Court of Appeal. The court ruled that the only way to prove the car’s legality was to demonstrate it could run the full race distance with the secondary tank empty—a test BAR failed.

The team was subsequently disqualified from the entire season, and its points were stripped.