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Chapters capture every era from the 1950's to the 2020's.
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Indepth highlights include the Defining Event and Signicant Car of that decade.
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Our personal favourite is the Behind the Scenes features.
I had the good fortune to attend the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Detroit, Michigan with seats at the starting line. Clearly recalling the motors idling amidst an explosion of colourful cars, banners and sky, the palpable anticipation of the crowd, my hands gripping my seat as I held my breath. Then the sound of the engines lighting up, the taste and aroma of exhaust as the drivers jostled for position into the first turn. It was sensory overload. A single moment imprinted on my memory for a lifetime.
The moment was built on decades of racing. The technology and the tragedy. My fear was that this book would not live up to my expectations, fortunately I was wrong. It expanded my appreciation of the sport. The good news is that it is as engaging for the casual audience as it is for the enthusiast.
The book begins with Formula 1’s origins with inspired writing that immediately leaves the reader in awe of the sport as we know it today. Through the decades, from the 1950’s to 2020’s, the imagery dramatically captures the feel of the era while the text enlightens readers with behind-the-scenes stories of the promoters, teams, designers, and drivers.
One needn’t be an enthusiast to enjoy this book. The narrative is akin to a best-selling book, a generational story filled with intrigue, betrayal, triumphs, and tragedies. The photography captures the cars and drivers right up to today’s most technologically advanced F1 cars. However, my favourites are the black and whites of the cars and courageous drivers of the 50’s and 60’s. A very dangerous time to be an F1 driver.
Having said that, the book is not without facts and figures. Are you wondering who won races in your birth year? Check the ‘Race Results’ in the final section of the book.
This a book any automotive enthusiast will treasure. And if you can’t give it up, it’s a terrific book to own and perhaps pass down to the next generation of race fans.
MSRP: $65 CAN, $50 US
About the authors
Stuart Codling is a respected motorsport journalist and broadcaster. He has appeared as an F1 expert on TV and radio, hosted for Renault F1, and contributes to F1 Racing, Autosport, Autocar, and the Red Bulletin. Stuart is the author of several book, including Real Racers: Formula 1 Racing in the 1950s and 1960s, Art of the Formula 1 Race Car, Art of the Classic Sports Car, and The Life Monaco. He has also written several books in the Story of Cars series for Welbeck. Stuart lives in Surrey, England.
James Roberts is a versatile journalist with a career spanning two decades in Formula 1, where he has worked as a journalist, editor, feature writer, and PR consultant. He has interviewed 23 World Champions and attended 175 Grands Prix, dating back to 2004. In 2020, he became the Editorial Director of The Official Formula 1 Magazine, overseeing the creation of world-exclusive, original content. His work has been recognized by various organizations, including the Associated Press and the American Bar Association.
James Mann is a leading professional car and motorcycle photographer with more than 30 years of experience shooting for publications, the motor industry, and businesses around the world. His work has appeared within and on the covers of more than 70 books, including Motorbooks titles Art of the Formula 1 Race Car, The Art of the Classic Sports Car, Art of Ducati, and Art of the Le Mans Race Car. James has provided stunning visuals for numerous magazines, including Classic and Sports Car, CAR, Forza, The Sunday Times, and Automobile magazine. He was chosen to photograph the British Auto Legends stamps for the Royal Mail and was recently awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society. His website is jamesmann.com. James resides in Dorset, UK.