The First Onboard Camera In A Formula 1 Race | 1985 German Grand Prix

You're watching a piece of history! This is Renault's Francois Hesnault blasting around the Nurburgring at the 1985 German Grand Prix, the first ever live onboard footage used in Formula 1.

Follow F1®:

#F1

[orellaminx]

Dude probably looked like he had a rocket launcher strapped to his car.

[reidmcleod]

Fun Fact: Hesnault was only entered in this race specifically to be the camera car. He was the third driver for Renault that weekend, and it was the last time a team entered 3 cars into a single race.

[nomdczi]

At the end of the lap you can see and hear that his clutch failed, since the gear couldn't lock. That resulted in his retirement from the race. It was also Hensault 21st and last F1 race.

[Skellingtor]

françois hesnault

driving a renault

on the nurburgring-o

[OfflineSetup]

It was only in 1980s that technology improved to such an extent that the camera cable was long enough to go around a complete lap of the circuit. I will add that that on that day the cameraman was Tommy Trinder and he is not given enough credit for his daring.

[Bassic]

Those kerbs look like they'll launch you into orbit if you run wide.

[kathangor]

It is incredible how they upshift and downshift while turning into a corner

[uranium]

I miss the old self cleaning Screen swipes and the camera cutting out at Monaco thru the tunnel. Oh, and of course watching Senna one hand steer thru half of Monaco.

[josephloake]

Crazy that this is only 35 years ago!!

[CJGZW]

The last time a team had three entries in a race (Warwick, Tambay & Hesnault for Renault).

[TimvKampen]

When you compare this footage with Lewis’ radio, quality hasn’t changed a lot

[alphawolf]

This was the beginning of all the great onboards we ever witnessed! Such an epic moment it must have been at that time!❤️❤️❤️

[skylonthedragon]

It looks incredible considering how small it needs to be to not affect aero majorly.

[gastonhitw]

The way that car sound and feels is amazing, just imaging yourself driving one of those

[AnythingMike]

That's why the driver didn't win the race.. he was carrying a piece of history!!!

[formulamontage]

Those cars where beautiful, change my mind

[lucasracertv]

A rare piece of excellent 80's footage and nice driving from hesnault...
At 1:27 he even managed to induce the driver of the minardi into a mistake, brillant!

[enginesandmore]

Look at him pushing and pulling that steering wheel. Awesome to see how far we have come.👍

[madam]

Some interesting stuff going on with the engine there.
Ah, I just looked up Hesnault's result and he retired on lap 8 with clutch problems, that would explain the weirdness that is especially prominent at the end.
Regardless this is fantastic, a absolute dream would be to have the whole 8 laps from the start to the failure. It would give a amazing insight into what the drivers do and how they deal with a failing car.

[zmotorsport]

Was this the first onboard used in the actual broadcast? Because I’m pretty sure I also came across some Fangio testing onboards here on youtube.