‘1,400hp without traction control’: Berger on F1’s golden era

After three decades of asking, the Duke of Richmond finally got his wish: Formula 1 legend Gerhard Berger stood triumphantly on the historic Goodwood balcony. Admitting that this was his first ever appearance at the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, the ten-time Grand Prix winner made it abundantly clear to the cheering crowds that it certainly would not be his last.

The drama ignited on the tarmac as the vibrantly colourful, iconic Benetton-BMW B186 screamed away from the startline. Berger put his foot down, rocketing up the track before pinning the brakes to slide to a halt right in front of Goodwood House. In a bizarre move that was just classically Berger, the Austrian refused to step onto the balcony until he completed one vital task – putting his shoes on. This hilariously shoeless exit from the cockpit was the epitome of Berger’s legendary character: fiercely talented, wonderfully witty, and endlessly charming. 

Emerging onto the balcony to a warm welcome from broadcaster Karun Chandhok, Berger looked out over an enthusiastic crowd ready to reminisce about a legendary era of motorsport. Standing directly above the brutal machine that carried him to his very first F1 victory in 1986, Berger confessed that, while he is a frequent visitor to the Goodwood Revival, the scale of the Festival of Speed completely blew him away. “Goodwood is the best,” Berger remarked, entirely spellbound by the atmosphere.

When Chandhok asked what it was truly like to wrestle those mechanical monsters back in the day, Berger didn't hesitate. “It was the golden era of Formula 1,” he announced. “This car had 1,400 horsepower without traction control. Just power, and your hand on the wheel.” His words highlighted the pure, terrifying intimacy between driver and machine that has since been diluted by modern electronics. He was quick to note, however, that it wasn't just the horsepower that made the epoch immortal, but the titans he raced against. “It was a great time from a driver's perspective with so many champions,” he reflected, paying homage to icons like Nelson Piquet, Niki Lauda, and his legendary former teammate and close friend, Ayrton Senna. 

Chandhok cheekily asked what it was really like to share a garage with a force of nature like Senna. Berger fired back with a trademark witty retort: “I didn’t think about the challenge too much, otherwise I wouldn’t have done it!” He spoke fondly of their deep camaraderie, remembering Senna’s natural playfulness and Brazilian warmth. “We shared a lot of smiles and a lot of laughs,” Berger shared softly, before solemnly acknowledging the raw dangers of the sport that ultimately claimed Senna's life.

As the historic moment drew to a close, the Duke of Richmond joined the stage, revealing that it had taken him 30 years to get Berger for the Festival due to the driver's relentless commitments. Berger responded with genuine gratitude, emphasising how deeply moving it is to see the sport's heritage preserved so beautifully. “It helps us sportspeople a lot to be remembered and to give back to the fans,” he said, offering a heartfelt thank you to the Duke. It was a beautiful, full-circle moment for the man who famously achieved both the very first and the final Grand Prix victories for the Benetton team – proving that Goodwood honors its heroes in the best way.

Read our list of 2026 Festival of Speed balcony moments if you’re attending this weekend, as moments include appearances from Lando Norris, Valentino Rossi, John McGuinness and Damon Hill.

Photography by Charlie Brenninkmeijer and Sam Miller