On This Day: A posthumous champion is born

On this day in 1942, Jochen Rindt was born in Mainz. The German-born driver competed as an Austrian during his career, and he is the only driver to hold an unlikely honour. 

Rindt is the only driver to win the drivers championship posthumously, something he did in 1970.

Racing in a Lotus-Ford, Rindt struggled at the start of the 1970 season, finishing 13th in the first race in South Africa and then retiring in Spain, a race which was won by Jackie Stewart.

At the Monaco Grand Prix, the third race of the season, Rindit look set to take second place with Jack Brabham leading going into the final corner of the race. But Brabham attempted to stop Rindt passing, but when he braked the brakes locked and he skidded off the track allowing Rindt to win the race, just his second in Formula One.

After a dissapointing race in Belgium, where Rindt retired, the Austrian went on to win 4 races in a row, in the Netherlands, France, Great Britain and his final F1 win in Germany. 

Sadly, the win in Germany was his last F1 finish as the next race in Austria he retired, and at the 1970 Italian Grand Prix, Rindt sadly passed away after a crash in practice left him with throat injuries.

Rindt's points total of 45 points in the drivers championship could not be caught though, with his nearest rival Jacky Ickx finishing with 40, meaning Jochen Rindt was and still is the only driver to win the world championship after his death.