What F1 biography should I read?

[Gad-Westy]

I'm on holiday and have run out of books on my kindle. Fancy reading an F1 biography or two to fill the mid season void. 90's onward is my era but I quite like the idea of reading an account from much earlier too. Doesn't have to be driver related, techy stuff would be good too but since it'll be kindle, nothing that relies heavily on photos etc. Any must reads?

[dontlookdown]

Not a big F1 fan so these are generalist picks that you may already have read Both great books.

The Last Road Race, Richard Williams. Biography of a race rather than a person;) Evocative and fascinating account of the 1957 Pescara GP. Great stories about Moss, Brooks, Fangio etc as well as less well known drivers.

Watching the Wheels, Damon Hill. We all know this one but it's a great read because Hill is self aware in a way that is highly unusual for top sportsmen.

Enjoy you hols!

[farm]

yep Damon is good plus J Stew is Ok, you dont have to like the guy to be interested. Biography of Eclestone is good on shark behaviour

[NotDMike]

Damon Hill’s is very very good. I came away with even greater respect for him and what he did.

Not biographies but other good f1 books:

Total competition by Adam Parr/Ross Brawn is a great insight into the competition, and Adrian Newey’s one about cars is great too (perhaps worth having as a real book though).

Edited by NotDMike on Friday 5th August 07:54

[Derek Smith]

I don't like autobiographies. I avoid them.

I was given Damon Hill's as a present from a friend. It was excellent.

My wife bought me Newey's. I wondered, at the end, how I had upset her.

[Eric Mc]

All Arms and Elbows - Innes Ireland

and Damon Hill's (as mentioned above).

Nikki Lauda - To Hell and Back

[cjm]

If you want something techy then this is pretty great, he comes across as a pretty difficult guy but had some great ideas that are still used in F1.

The Perfect Car: The story of John Barnard

[PhilAsia]

Derek Smith said:

My wife bought me Newey's. I wondered, at the end, how I had upset her.

...when you BGOL that time on March 14th, 1997....?....

[Sandpit Steve]

Total Competition: Lessons in Strategy from Formula One - Ross Brawn

The Mechanic: The Secret World of the F1 Pitlane - Marc Priestley

Survive. Drive. Win.: The Inside Story of Brawn GP and Jenson Button's Incredible F1 Championship Win - Nick Fry

[Gad-Westy]

Brilliant, thanks all. I think I have already read one or two of these but a few on here I might try.

[NuisanceFactor]

Sid Watkins' Life At The Limit and Beyond The Limit?

[geeks]

Jenson Button's is a good read.
Jason Plato's too

Damon Hills as well just nail in that recommendation

[Gary C]

Derek Smith said:

My wife bought me Newey's. I wondered, at the end, how I had upset her.

Newey's was excellent ! I loved all the technical details (I think you need to be an engineer)

The Jensen Button one was also well worth it.

Kimi's is hard going as (as you would expect) it wasn't written by him.

The Ross Brawn one was ok, but you wanted so much more from it. Never really lifted the lid on what went on, and had too much time about his management style.

Edited by Gary C on Friday 5th August 10:05

Edited by Gary C on Friday 5th August 10:06

[sandman77]

Definitely Nigel Mansells. It is excellent and really highlights the struggles he had in his early career with lack of money.

[kalexan273]

I know you mentioned earlier stuff, but Adrian Newey wrote a good book on the design aspects of F1.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Build-Car-Autobiograp...

Would also reccomend 'Green races Red' which is Eddie Irvine's autobiography.

[TO73074E]

I think I will pick up Adrian Newey and Niki Lauda's book from the recommendations on here, I wasn't aware Lauda had an autobiography.

+1 for Jason Plato's book too, the story about a drunken Michael Schumacher at the Race of Champions party is brilliant.

[vulture1]

geeks said:

Jenson Button's is a good read.
Jason Plato's too

Damon Hills as well just nail in that recommendation

I enjoyed Jenson's too but then he talked about his karting era a good bit which brought back good memories.

[LowTread]

Nikki Lauda's - To Hell And Back. Quite an insight into his mindset.

I've listened to Adrian Newey's How To Build A Car, and it's a strange one. Obviously no love lost between him and Ferrari! I think i lost interest a bit when the money started to creep into it, but the relationships behind the scenes was interesting to hear about.

[gl20]

I should probably put this in the heretic thread, but I think the Damon Hill book is somewhat overrated. Bought it off the back of all the recommendations on here and perhaps my expectations were set too high, so just managing the OP’s!

[Finglescave]

Murray Walker - Unless I’m Very Much Mistaken. Or let him read it you through Audible etc.