Formula One - Through the Year's
1960's
The 1960's, this 10-year period saw Formula One go through what could be seen as the most significant technical developments in its history. British teams led the way and the sport began to build its reputation as the place for innovation at the pinnacle of Motorsport. The arrival of sponsorship put an end to teams racing in national colours, and as the sport headed into the 1070's, the 13-race calendar could now claim to be fully global, with a core in Europe, but the races also ran in South Africa, Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The success of Jack Brabham and his Cooper at the end of the 50's left no one in any doubt that the front-engined car had had its day. Nevertheless for the 1960 season, Ferrari persisted with the front-engined cars, and got nowhere. Instead, Cooper and the new rear-engined Lotus dominated, with Brabham and Bruce McLaren taking on Sterling Moss and Innes Ireland. The European Circuits now included Belgium, but it was one of the most dangerous races in history. Stirling Moss had a leg-breaking crash, and then as Jack Brabham raced from pole to victory, Chris Bristow and Alan Stacey were killed, the latter after an extraordinary incedent as his helmet was hit by a bird. Brabham claimed further victories in France, Britain and Portugal, where he won the title with two races to spare. With the Championship over, the British teams boycotted the Italian race at Monza, due to safety concerns, so Phil Hill went on to win for Ferrari while Moss returned to finish off the season with victory at the final round in the United States Grand Prix.
In 1961 Ferrari had a very successful season creating their 'sharknose' car specifically for the new 1.5 litre Formula. The season started in Monaco, and Moss, in a privateer Lotus, out-performed his under-powered machine to take the win. But Ferrari came back strong with a 1-2 for Wolfgang Von Trips and American Phil Hill in Holland, then went on to finish 1-2-3-4 as Hill took victory in Belgium, Ferrari also took the win in Britain at Silverstone with Von Trips leading a 1-2-3 finish, but Moss fought back in Germany to win for Climax. Then on to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, and tragedy!. Von Trips took pole, but collided with Jim Clarks Lotus at the Parabolica high speed bend, his Ferrari rolled, he was thrown from the car as it collided into the spectators, killing von Trips and 12 spectators!.
A tough and emotional end to 1961 saw Ferrari in turmoil and Moss, perhaps the greatest driver never to win a title, deciding to quit after a pre-season crash. Englishman Graham Hill took first blood in the battle when he won the season opener for BRM. Bruce McLaren drove his Cooper to victory in Monaco, but Jim Clark claimed his first-ever win, for Lotus, in Belgium, after a spectacular five-car slipstreaming battle. South Africa held the final race of the season, and Clark looked strong for victory, having led from pole, until his engine failed and handed Graham Hill, and BRM, The Championship title. Having won the title the previous year, Ferrari failed to even win a race and scored just 18 points.
There was no doubting Jim Clarks driving talent, and the 1963 season, once Lotus found the reliability, it was destined to be a title-winning partnership. The season, though, did not start well for Clark, with gearbox problems halting his charge from pole at Monaco, handing victory to Graham Hill and a BRM 1-2. Clarks fortunes changed soon after, as he claimed comfortable victories in Holland, France and Silverstone in Britain. Ferrari had a new car design to take into their home Grand Prix at Monza, but its engine failed and Clark raced on to attain his first Drivers World Championship title, with three races of the season to spare.
In 1964 Clark and Hill carried on where they left off the season before, but reliability issues for Lotus and BRM coupled with a late resurgence from Ferrari; who had looked out of the fight early in the season, saw the title go right down to the wire!. Surtees clinched the title in the final race of the season, Clark looked certain for the title in a close fought battle, but one lap from the end, his engine failed, so, Surtees team-mate Bandini, moved over to concede second, handing the title to Surtees.
In 1965 Jim Clark was unstoppable right from the start, with a Lotus car that seemed unbreakable and a Climax engine that put the power back into the hands of the British teams. Ferrari failed to perform, while Honda arrived, luring Richie Ginther from BRM, who , in turn hired Jackie Stewart. Clark had the title wrapped up with three races to spare, which he retired from each one with engine failures, which allowed Stewart to score his maiden win at Monza, and helped Graham Hill gain his third race win of the season in the BRM at the United States a Grand Prix.
The success of Jack Brabham and his Cooper at the end of the 50's left no one in any doubt that the front-engined car had had its day. Nevertheless for the 1960 season, Ferrari persisted with the front-engined cars, and got nowhere. Instead, Cooper and the new rear-engined Lotus dominated, with Brabham and Bruce McLaren taking on Sterling Moss and Innes Ireland. The European Circuits now included Belgium, but it was one of the most dangerous races in history. Stirling Moss had a leg-breaking crash, and then as Jack Brabham raced from pole to victory, Chris Bristow and Alan Stacey were killed, the latter after an extraordinary incedent as his helmet was hit by a bird. Brabham claimed further victories in France, Britain and Portugal, where he won the title with two races to spare. With the Championship over, the British teams boycotted the Italian race at Monza, due to safety concerns, so Phil Hill went on to win for Ferrari while Moss returned to finish off the season with victory at the final round in the United States Grand Prix.
In 1961 Ferrari had a very successful season creating their 'sharknose' car specifically for the new 1.5 litre Formula. The season started in Monaco, and Moss, in a privateer Lotus, out-performed his under-powered machine to take the win. But Ferrari came back strong with a 1-2 for Wolfgang Von Trips and American Phil Hill in Holland, then went on to finish 1-2-3-4 as Hill took victory in Belgium, Ferrari also took the win in Britain at Silverstone with Von Trips leading a 1-2-3 finish, but Moss fought back in Germany to win for Climax. Then on to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, and tragedy!. Von Trips took pole, but collided with Jim Clarks Lotus at the Parabolica high speed bend, his Ferrari rolled, he was thrown from the car as it collided into the spectators, killing von Trips and 12 spectators!.
A tough and emotional end to 1961 saw Ferrari in turmoil and Moss, perhaps the greatest driver never to win a title, deciding to quit after a pre-season crash. Englishman Graham Hill took first blood in the battle when he won the season opener for BRM. Bruce McLaren drove his Cooper to victory in Monaco, but Jim Clark claimed his first-ever win, for Lotus, in Belgium, after a spectacular five-car slipstreaming battle. South Africa held the final race of the season, and Clark looked strong for victory, having led from pole, until his engine failed and handed Graham Hill, and BRM, The Championship title. Having won the title the previous year, Ferrari failed to even win a race and scored just 18 points.
There was no doubting Jim Clarks driving talent, and the 1963 season, once Lotus found the reliability, it was destined to be a title-winning partnership. The season, though, did not start well for Clark, with gearbox problems halting his charge from pole at Monaco, handing victory to Graham Hill and a BRM 1-2. Clarks fortunes changed soon after, as he claimed comfortable victories in Holland, France and Silverstone in Britain. Ferrari had a new car design to take into their home Grand Prix at Monza, but its engine failed and Clark raced on to attain his first Drivers World Championship title, with three races of the season to spare.
In 1964 Clark and Hill carried on where they left off the season before, but reliability issues for Lotus and BRM coupled with a late resurgence from Ferrari; who had looked out of the fight early in the season, saw the title go right down to the wire!. Surtees clinched the title in the final race of the season, Clark looked certain for the title in a close fought battle, but one lap from the end, his engine failed, so, Surtees team-mate Bandini, moved over to concede second, handing the title to Surtees.
In 1965 Jim Clark was unstoppable right from the start, with a Lotus car that seemed unbreakable and a Climax engine that put the power back into the hands of the British teams. Ferrari failed to perform, while Honda arrived, luring Richie Ginther from BRM, who , in turn hired Jackie Stewart. Clark had the title wrapped up with three races to spare, which he retired from each one with engine failures, which allowed Stewart to score his maiden win at Monza, and helped Graham Hill gain his third race win of the season in the BRM at the United States a Grand Prix.
At the start of the 1966 season, Jackie Stewart won the opening race in Monaco for BRM, but the second race was at a rain-hit Spa circuit in Belgium and the Scot had a terrible crash that sidelined him for two months. Surtees went on to win in what would be his last race for Ferrari before his mid-season switch to Cooper. All the title contenders, including Brabham, retired from the race at Monza, which handed Surtees the title, in a not-so exhilarating climax to the season.
The 1967 season saw the arrival of the new Lotus 49 coupled with a revolutionary Cosworth DFV engine, that tempted Hill to join rival Clark in what many saw as the dream team!. Holme took early victories for Brabhamand the championship moved on to Holland, where the Lotus 49 made its debut and Clark drove to victory. Reliability problems marred the Lotus season though, Clark ran out of fuel while leading at Monza, handing victory to Surtees and Honda, then the Lotus finally found some reliability, which allowed Clark to lead a 1-2. But it was too little, too late, as Hulme claimed the crown.
For the 1968 season, Graham Hill, now racing in a newly sponsored red, white, and gold Lotus fitted with all-new aerodynamic wings, scored victories in Spain and Monaco. Racing continue, and after Jo Siffert won in Britain in a private Lotus, Stewart took victory at Germany's Nurburgring, while Hulme won at Monza and Canada, moving him level with Hill in the Championship. Victory in the United States for Stewart set up a three-way season-ending title battle in Mexico. Hulme crashed out early, leaving Hill and Stewart battling for the lead until the Scot suffered handling problems and dropped down the order, leaving Graham Hill to win his second title.
In 1969, Jackie Stewart dominated the season opener in South Africa, he then won again in Spain after Ferrari suffered engine problems and the two Lotus cars crashed heavily after failures to their high-mounted wings; which were subsequently banned from the sport. Hill claimed victory in Monaco, but it was just a minor break in Stewart's rythem, the Scot then went on to race to victory in; Holland, France and Britain, on his way to claim his first Drivers World Championship title.
The 1967 season saw the arrival of the new Lotus 49 coupled with a revolutionary Cosworth DFV engine, that tempted Hill to join rival Clark in what many saw as the dream team!. Holme took early victories for Brabhamand the championship moved on to Holland, where the Lotus 49 made its debut and Clark drove to victory. Reliability problems marred the Lotus season though, Clark ran out of fuel while leading at Monza, handing victory to Surtees and Honda, then the Lotus finally found some reliability, which allowed Clark to lead a 1-2. But it was too little, too late, as Hulme claimed the crown.
For the 1968 season, Graham Hill, now racing in a newly sponsored red, white, and gold Lotus fitted with all-new aerodynamic wings, scored victories in Spain and Monaco. Racing continue, and after Jo Siffert won in Britain in a private Lotus, Stewart took victory at Germany's Nurburgring, while Hulme won at Monza and Canada, moving him level with Hill in the Championship. Victory in the United States for Stewart set up a three-way season-ending title battle in Mexico. Hulme crashed out early, leaving Hill and Stewart battling for the lead until the Scot suffered handling problems and dropped down the order, leaving Graham Hill to win his second title.
In 1969, Jackie Stewart dominated the season opener in South Africa, he then won again in Spain after Ferrari suffered engine problems and the two Lotus cars crashed heavily after failures to their high-mounted wings; which were subsequently banned from the sport. Hill claimed victory in Monaco, but it was just a minor break in Stewart's rythem, the Scot then went on to race to victory in; Holland, France and Britain, on his way to claim his first Drivers World Championship title.
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