Maurice Hamilton - Formula One: The Champions: 70 years of legendary F1 drivers

Maurice Hamilton

Photographs by
Bernard & Paul-Henri Cahier

Foreword by Bernie Ecclestone

Seeing every Formula 1 World Champion gathered together in this book reminds me that, one way or another, I knew them all.

Ive obviously known some better than others. In fact, Id say from Jack Brabham on, Id call them all mates. Thats what our relationship was about. I can honestly say I never fell out with any of them, not even the champions who drove for me when I ran the Brabham team.

And when I was running Formula 1, there was never an occasion when I asked any of them to do something that they didnt go on and do without making a fuss or asking for lots of money to do it! If I asked them to go to South Africa or somewhere, theyd say: Well find time. There would be no dispute or lengthy negotiation.

You might be surprised to learn that I dont think the reigning World Champion, whomever he might have been, was that important from my point of view running Formula 1. I draw the parallel with Ferrari. As far as I was concerned in business, Ferrari was worth more if someone else was winning. Id rather have Ferrari not winning a World Championship for 10 years than some teams winning the championship every year. Its the same with drivers; for me, it was the individuals and their particular characters that counted rather than simply being the reigning champion.

I dont think you could really say that winning was the single most important thing in the lives of any these champions. They wanted to win obviously because thats why they do it. But it wasnt the be-all-and-end-all. Anyone who competes in business any business wants to do a good job; to be the best in their particular field. Theyre competitive. And all of these World Champions are exactly the same.

Some were better than others at, say, getting the whole team around them, or being technically brilliant, or even being super quick drivers. But they were united by being very competitive and extremely astute.

A few of them were prepared to give up a lot more than others to be World Champion. Some, particularly those drivers not quite as naturally gifted as their rivals, were prepared to do things that perhaps they didnt particularly want to do because they knew it was part of what was needed. Thats what made them stand out.

Each driver was different and appealed for different reasons. Fangio, for example, is one of the very few drivers of whom I have a framed photo in my office; I knew him very well; he was a proper guy. Graham Hill drove for me but I wasnt as close to Jim Clark as I was with many of the others such as, say, James Hunt. I managed Jochen Rindt and that automatically made that relationship very special and different from the rest.

When people ask me who was the best driver, I always say Alain Prost. Its not that I particularly liked Alain in the sense of someone you would be close to. But he could have won even more championships than the four he has to his name. It was the way he drove. From the moment the race started, he would be out on his own, looking after the brakes, the tyres, the gearbox, whatever. Hed bring the car home. You almost didnt notice him out front, doing the job. I always thought he was the best.

But were splitting hairs. The fact is that every single driver in this book delivered when it mattered. Theyre very special people and its been a privilege to have known them.

The fight for the World Championship has formed the central core of Formula 1, run for the majority of its 70 years by Bernie Ecclestone. Lewis Hamilton heads for victory and, ultimately, a fifth world title, in front of a capacity crowd during the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard in 2018

The Formula 1 Drivers World Championship is the ultimate accolade in motor sport. Thirty-three men have been bestowed with the title since its introduction in 1950. These individual characters of widely differing classes and creeds may have been shaped by fourteen nationalities but every World Champion has been united by a singular determination to maximise a very special skill. The fact that such relentless resolve and thrilling talent had to be maintained across an entire season has helped elevate each driver into a pantheon of sporting achievement that sets them apart from the rest.

That is not to say that other drivers were less deserving; merely that this select group worked the demanding and diverse circumstances to best advantage. Their stories, gathered within the covers of this book, may vary greatly but the end result was always the same: recognition as the top driver in the world, regardless of how the accolade was achieved.

Debate has raged and will doubtless continue to fulminate for another seventy years over which driver is the best of the best. It is impossible to say. But that will not deter energetic and informed discussion, usually predicated on a personal preference swayed by affection.

Such feelings of fondness are inevitable in a sport providing a platform for breath-taking ability that is played out against a potentially hazardous backdrop. Motor racing, through its wheel-to-wheel high-velocity environment, frequently gives virtuosity an extra edge. Each of these champions will have experienced and delivered that pulse-raising dynamic many times over. This collection of pen portraits will hopefully help you choose which one best meets your criteria and preferences.

Juan Manuel Fangio, a five-time World Champion, brings his Maserati 250F across the line at the Nrburgring during the 1957 German Grand Prix to end one of the greatest drives in the history of Formula 1

For any driver, you want to win anything you compete in but the World Championship is the ultimate goal. It means greatness but not just for the driver; its for you and your team. Its an overwhelming moment when you finally do it. You suddenly think about so many things; the sacrifices that have been made; the support from your family; about what this means to so many people. And then it begins to sink in: Yes! Youre World Champion!

Lewis Hamilton