Fangio obtained first successes in the European motor racing only at a "high" age of 37 years. But then it went on in rapid succession. In 1950 he joined the new founded Formula One and became Vice-World Champion in his first year behind Nino Farina. In the following year he could win the title for the first time.

In 1952 he had a serious accident in Monza and broke his neck. He struggled for his life for several hours. The accident happened because Fangio promised to take part at the race in Monza after his race in Budapest. Because he missed the connection he had to drive himself the whole night from Paris to Monza. Only half an hour before the race began he arrived and took up his starting position completely overtired.

Thenext year he came back to the racing track and finished the World Championship on second place.

In 1954 Fangio left Maserati and went to Mercedes where he won his second World Champion title. In the following three years nobody was able to defeat him and he won the title four times in a row.

In 1958 Fangio drove his last race at the Grand Prix of France and afterwards retired. His result of victories compared with his starts will probably never been exceeded.
 
 

The Australian Jack Brabham was born in Hurtsville in 1926. Already at the age of twelve he drove around with heavy trucks within his father's farm, later he became a car and aircraft mechanic.

In 1955 he went to Europe. His road performance was influenced of races he drove in Australia, but this style didn't show to advantage. He changed soon his style and developed into a proper clever driver. After less successful years in the beginning he managed to win his first Formula One World Champion title in 1959. One year later he defended his tittle with five more race winnings.

When the next season came to nothing he constructed his own racing car and in 1996 he won a Grand Prix as first driver of an own car. Further victories followed. The reward was his third World Champion title. In 1967 he had to admit defeated by his workmate Denis Hulme and became a Vice-World Champion. 

In 1970 Jack Brabham resigned from racing, but his car drove successful races till 1992. Altogether the Brabham stable could record 35 victories.
 
 

The American Phil Hill was born in Santa Monica in 1927. He started his race career in the United States and developed into one of the best long-distance drivers of the world. He could celebrate successes in the 24-hours-race of Le Mans in 1958, 1961 and 1962 as well as int the 1000-kilometer-race of Nürburgring in 1962 and 1966. Beside it he won two long-distance races for Ferrari in 1958.

When his partner Peter Collins was killed in an accident during the Grand Prix of Germany in 1958, Phil Hill moved up. In 1960 he could win a race and in 1961 he won besides two races also the Worcl Championship. Although he won the title in 1961 he never was able to be glad about it because the till then leading Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips was killed during the Grand Prix of Italy. Hill lost his friend and workmate.

When he "only" could achieve second or third places in 1962 he changed to ATS which brought him two disastrous years. From now on he devoted himself to the long-distance races again before he retired from racing.

He died in 2008 at the age of 81.
 
 

The Scotsman Jim Clark was born in Kilmaddy in 1936. Since the mid-50s he drove English sportscars and was finally discovered by Colin Chapman. In 1960 Jim Clark made his debut in the Formula One and remained true to the Lotus team till his death.

During six years Jim Clark dominated the competition almost at will. He achieved 25 victories in only 72 races.

Where today reigns envy and resentment among the drivers, his rivals appreciated Jim Clark's superior style. Instinctive he plumbed the possibilities of car and race track.

The accident during the Grand Prix of Italy in 1961 casted a dark shadow on Jim Clark's career. Clark's Lotus got in touch with Wolfgang von Trips' Ferrari. Subsequently the Ferrari was catapulted into the auditorium and killed several spectators as well as von Trips himself.

In 1963 he dominated the Championship in an impressive manner. 7 out of 10 races he won.

Parallel to Formula One he took also part in other races. He won besides his F1 World Champion title in 1965 the Indy500.

The death hit unexpected. During an insignificant Formula Two race he got off the racing track and his car was smashed to pieces.
 
 

Denis Hulme from New Zealand was born in Te Puke in 1936. He startet his career as a driver in 1959 with MG and Cooper. Later he went to Europe on his own account and he had to spend his nights in lowest flophouses or on the backseat of his car. In 1962 he could sign on by Jack Brabham and soon hat a reputation of a racing driving mechanic who was in a position to dismantle his car till to the last screw. Subsequently he won several Formula Junior races and in 1964 a Formula Two race. Finally he was promoted to the works team of Jack Brabham.

In his first Formula One year he achieved the forth place. In the following year was his moment of truth. He won besides two races the  World Championship and sent his workmate and employer Jack Brabham on the second place. This led to the break up with Brabham because he still wanted to play the first fiddle. But Hulme didn't want to play the second fiddle. 

He changed to McLaren and won six more races till 1974. But the big money he earned in the Canadian American Cup which he could win in 1968 and 1970.

Denis Hulme retired from racing in 1974 trat. Not till the end of the 70's, at the beginning of the 80's he took part at touring races.
When he took part at the 1000 kilometer race Bathurst, Australia, he got off the road and collided with a wall. The car came to a stop nearly undamaged but the doctors had to realize that Hulme died as a result of a heart attack.

Hulme was well-known for hisgruff nature to journalists what contributed him to tne nickname "bear". At the end of his life he changed into a friendly man who liked to give some information.
 
 

The Scotsman John Young "Jackie" Stewart was born in Dumbuck in 1939. His father possessed a Jaguar agency and his older brother already drove during the 50's different sports car races. So it seems very likely that Jackie entered this direction too. After first successes in Jaguar sports cars he was employed by Ken Tyrell in 1964 for Formula Three races, where he dominated his competition. In 1965 He got a Forumula 1 contract with BRM and he drove at Graham Hill's side. In his debut year he won a race and finished the World Championship on the third place.

But it took till 1968 before he belonged to the absolute top driver. In 1968 he became Vice-World Champion and in the following year he could win the title with six victories. Stewart was the second Scotsman after Jim Clark who could win this title. 

From 1971 till 1973 he continued todominate the Grand Prix. With a total of 15 victories within three years he could celebrate to further World Champion titles and a second Vice-Workd Champion title. Together with his workmate Francois Cevert they represented the team. Cevert could win one time and achieved 10 second places during this three years, usually behind his colleague Stewart.

Jackie Stewart announced his resignation by Ken Tyrrell in April 1973. He wanted to drive his 100 th and last Grand Prix in Watkins Glen when is colleague Cevert was killed in an accident during the training. Stewart refrained from the race and announced official his resignation. 
 
 

The Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi was born in Sao Paulo in 1946.came into contact with the motor sport at an early age. Alr4eady at the age of 15 he drove motorcycle and cart races for the first time. He achieved Brazilian national champion for several times before he orientadted himself to an international career.
He joined the world-famous Jim-Russell-Driver school in England and thereafter took part in Formula Ford and Formula Three European Championships very successful. In his debut year he won 11 of 20 races right off.

The talent of Emerson Fittipaldi couldn't be overlooked any longer and Colin Chapman, team boss of Lotus, made it possible for Fittipaldi to start in the Formula One for the first time - at Jochen Rindt's side. Rindt was on his way to the World Champion title when he was killed in an accident. Fittpaldi took his seat and could already win his first Grand Prix at his forth stake. 
1972 was his time. Together with five victories he became the youngest World Champion of all time at the age of 25.
In 1973 he couldn't defend his title but he became Vice-World Champion at least.
In the following year he changed to McLaren and could win back his title. In the next year he lost his title again but finished the saison once more on second place.

Fittipaldi retired from motor sport in 1980 and his race stable Copersucar he shut down in 1982 for lack of success.
In 1983 Fittipaldi drove again supercart races in Brazil and developed once more a taste for the motor sport. He began his second career one year later in the USA in the Indy car serial where he won the raco of Indianapolis and 1989 and also won the championship. In 1993 he could assert himself again in Indianapolis. He finished the championships in 1993 and 1994 on second place.
Unfortunately he substained a bad accident which brought his career to an end.
 
 

NIKI LAUDA ----- World Champion in 1975, 1977 and 1984

The Austrian Niki Lauda was born in Vienna in 1949. He did his first races in 1968 at mountain races for Cooper and circuit races for Porsche.
In 1970 he drove for the Formula Three and one year later for the Formula Two Championship. He also celebrated his debut in the Formula One for March.
In order to get a fixed start place in the Grand Prix circus he had to purchase himself with a high loan. But March wasn't a competitive car, also BRM, with which he drove for the next saison, was without any chances. But thanks to his courageous drive in Monaco he left a lasting impression by Enzo Ferrari, what got him a contract with Ferrari for 1974. Already his first two races he could win and in 1975 he even won the World Champion title for the first time.

When he contracted very serious burns through a frightening accident in 1976 - which mark him till today - people thought, that his career would be brought to an end. But only six weeks later he already sat in the cockpit. Still he lost the Championship to James Hunt who could beat him by a lead of one point.
However Lauda could triumph again in 1977. With three victories and six second places he conquered his second title. 
Later on there was a breaking-off between Lauda and Enzo Ferrari and Lauda drove for Brabham in the next years.

In 1979 he announced his resignation for the first time in order to give his undivided attention to the erection of his own airline. When he came into a financial bottleneck he came back to the circuit in 1982. The second career of Niki Lauda became fact and he rounded it off with his third World Champion title in 1984 - with only a half point ahead of Alain Prost.

The year 1985 marked his final resignation from Formula One.
 
 

The Englishman James Hunt was born in Belmin in 1947. He bagan with the racing at the age of 22. But the beginning was unpromising. He became well-known to be involded in sensational accidents. Although he couldn't get a victory in Formula Two and only could achieve two places he managed the jump to Formula One. He succeeded in convincing Lord Alexander Hesketh to set up an own team. In 1975 Hunt obtained the only victory for this team, after this it was winded up because of financial difficulties.

James Hunt changed to McLaren and the year 1976 was marked by the fight between Hunt and Lauda. Hunt drove often in borderland of the regulations, this led to a deprivation of his victory in Brands Hatch, which was awarded to Lauda. After this Lauda had his horrible fire accident and had to pause for two races. The decision for the World Championship came with the last race. Lauda gave up the race as a result of the rain (security reason), James Hunt became, thanks to a third place, World Champion with one point lead.

In his active career Hunt was known for sex, drugs and Rock 'n' Roll. This image was inherented to him in later years although he was "reformed" long ago. James Hunt died in 1993 because of a heart attack.
 
 

The American Mario Andretti was born in Montana (Italy) in 1940. He came from a poor family and his family migrated from the refugee camp in Lucca to the Americanreception camp in Nazareth (USA). He managed the rise from a poor wretch to a winner. Since the mid of the 50's he drove Stock car races, sprint and Midget racing cars with borrowed money. By the victor checks he got he could keep his head above water. Finally his successes brought him in the start opportunity for the IndyCar championship which he won in 1965, 1966 and 1969. Also a victory in the 500 miles race of Indianapolis joined his successes.

Between 1968 and 1975 he only drove sporadically for the Formula One but still celebrated his first win of a Grand Prix in 1972.
Not until 1976 he could turn his back on the American racing car and devoted his attention completely to the Formula One. In 1977 he achieved four victories and the 3rd place in the World Championship. In 1978 he climaxed his career with six victories and the win of the World Championship.

After that it followed hard times. Lotus wasn't competitive any longer and also his new stable Alfa Romeo didn't lead to improvement.
Finally Mario Andretti parted with the Formula One and returned to the IndyCar where he achieved his fourth titel.
 
 

The South African Jody Scheckter was born in East London (South Africa) in 1950. He achieved his first successes in Go-Kart races and was sent to Europe at the age of 21. 

His efforts in Formula Ford and Formula Three convinced and in 1972 he got the chance to gain a foothold in the Formula One.
After the resignation of Jackie Stewart he was obliged by Tyrrell for three years. During this time he achieved six Grand Prix wins and one of them with the legendary six-wheeled Tyrrell type P 34 (see picture at Patrick Depailler). Scheckter finished the Championship on the third place.

When he signed up by Wolf in 1977 he surprised everyone with this decision. But already one year later he secured the Vice-World Championship title for Wolf. Scheckter was the only one who could achieve victories for Wolf (altogether three victoreis).

When Scheckter was engaged by Ferrari in 1979 he finally got a car with which he could conquer the World Champion title. But Scheckter didn't conquer the title with a brilliant performance but rather because of a constant season. Critics judged his team colleague Gilles Villeneuve far higher. 

After a failed season in 1980 for Ferrari he retired from the Formula One business.
 
 

The Brazilian Nelson Piquet was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1952. His father Estacio Soutomajor was minister for tourism of Brazil and his family belonged to the upper class. Although the racing frowned upon in this circles, Piquet turned to the motor sport. He replaced his father's name by his mother's name - Piquet.

He achieved first successes with a Kart and in the Formula Super V before he got to Europe and won the Formula Three Championship in 1978. In the same year he celebrated his debut for the Formula One for four races for Ensign and McLaren. After that he changed to Brabham and achieved some of his most important successes, including two World Champion titles. He won his first title very narrow. Although Carlos Reutemann had a passable lead in the championship he became such a nerve flutter that he only was one point ahead before the last race. In the last race Reutemann dropped out and Nelson Piquet could take his first title with a fifth place and one point in lead. Also in 1983 it was similar narrow. This time Alain Prost was his sacrifice. Piquet could win two of the last three races and left Prost with two points behind him. With that Nelson Piquet was simultaneous the first World Champion with a turbo.

But in 1986 the same destiny caught up with Nelson Piquet. He missed the title for only three points and was "only" placed third. 
He conquered his third Championship title because of a constant season. It is true he only achieved three victories (Nigel Mansell achieved six victories in the same season) but he was able to refer Mansell to second place.

In the last four years of his active career he achieved three more Grand Prix victories, then retired.
 
 

KEKE ROSBERG ----- World Champion in 1982

The Finn Keke Rosberg was born in Stockholm in 1948. Because his parents drove rallys it wasn't astonishing that Rosberg was enthusiastic about racing.

Rosberg came relative late to the Fourmula One. Since 1965 he drove different races and only thirteen years later he had his first entrance in the Formula One. His most spectacular race he had at the Jim-Clark-Memory race where he crashed into the rear wheels of a competitor and overturned in a frightening way. After that he got out uninjured, pulled out his wide briming hat from the cockpit and bowed to the spectators. The audience was enthusiastic.

But back to the Formula One. The first two years he spent in third-world cars like Theodore, ATS and Wolf. After four years in the Formula One Rosberg achieved only a third and a fifth place. But then the fortune was on his side. Alan Jones and Carlos Reutemann announced their resignation in 1981. "Cheap"- driver Rosberg was engaged by Williams and he thanked Williams with his first World Champion title. Williams was a "Sauger" and wasn't a match for the "Turbos", but thanks to its reliability he was able to collect enough points in order to got the title. But especially the bad accident of Didier Pironi, who actually was uncatchable up with, made it possible for Rosberg to win the title. For Pironi this accident marked the end of his career. 

Rosberg concluded his career with McLaren where he was in Prost's shadow.
 
 

The Frenchman Alain Prost was born in Lorette in 1955. Already as a young person he was extreme sporting and he was active as athlete and soccer. When he turned to the motor sport he found his real passion. He became a threefold French Kart champion at the first go, he was a European Kart champion, winner of the French Formula Renault in 1976, overall winner of the European Formula Renault in 1977 and European champion in Formula Three in 1979. 

In 1980 Alain Prost joined the Formula One where he took part for McLaren. For the next three years he drove for Renault and won 9 races in this period and in 1983 he became Vice-World Champion.

The year 1984 was marked by the duel between Prost and Lauda. Although Prost won 7 races he had to be content with the second place with only half a point behind Lauda.

In 1985 and 1986 Prost was finally able to achieve the title of a World Championship. The following year was a "transition year" before he could fight for the World Champion title again in the next three years.

Despite of seven victories in 1988 he was sent off on second place by his new team colleague Ayrton Senna, but already in the following year he could turn the tables. Both drivers developed into archenemies and Prost bump into Senna during the last race and guaranteed his third title.

Prost changed after that to Ferrari but was defeated by Ayrton Senna in the next two years.

Alain Prost had a race break in 1992 in order to conquer his forth World Champion title with Williams in an impressive manner. As an acting World Champion he retired from the active racing.

Because of his well thought-out drives and tactival skill he was respectful called "professor".
 
 

The Englishman Nigel Mansell was born in Baughton in 1953. He was a great fan of Jim Clark and dreamt of a great career for himself. His wife Rosanne assisted himin his plans and consented to mortgage Mansell's life insurance and to sell their house for it.

Nigel Mansell could win a lot of fans in his career because he was a unyielding fighter. He drove the first five years for Lotus in the Formula One, and in 1984 his car broke down during the Grand Prix of Dallas because of a defective. Mansell tried to push his car over the finishing line but collapsed and lost his consciousness. 

His change to Williams in 1985 was ill-fated. He had two terrible accidents after blowouts and the doctors prescribed a race break for him because of some broken ribs.But Mansell drove on and could celebrate his first victory in this season.

Mansell controlled the Formula One in 1986 and 1987 had to let other drivers have the title under dramatically circumstances in spite of five respectively six victories. During the last race in 1986 a rear wheel burst and with it his dream of the first title. In 1987 he sustained contusions and a cracked dorsal vertebra during a training for the second to last race. 

In 1989/1990 Mansell drove for Ferrari but wasn't able to fight for World Championship. Only when he changed to Williams he took the right course again. It is true that he had to be conent in 1991 with his third Vice-World Champion title but one year later the moment of true came. With nine victories he set up a new record and could win the long overdue title.

After expressions of disapproval with Frank Williams he turned his back on Formula One in 1993 as reigning World Champion and joined the IndyCar serial where he let all American drivers behind him and guaranteed himselfthe title premature.

In 1994 he returned to the Formula One and could manage to win one more race. In the season of 1995 he only entered two times and finally retired.
 
 

The German Michael Schumacher was bon in Hermühlheim in 1969. Already at the age of four he drove Kart and became a Kart Europe Champion in 1987, a Formula König Champion in 1988 and a Formula Three Champion in 1990.

Because of the arrest of Jordan driver Bertrand Gachot after a tear gas attack against a taxi driver, Schumacher moved up. He convinced with a seventh place during  a training and his next race he drove for Benetton. In 1992 and 1993 he could each celebrate a victory, but in 1994 - after the retirement of Mansell, Piquet and Prost as well as the deadly accident of Senna - the moment of truth was coming. He achieved the World Champion title for the first time with a total of eight victories. Simultaneous the troop of critics against Schumacher increased, for he or the team made a bad impression because of foul manoeuvres. He became disqualified twice and knocked out Damon Hill in the last race, with which he could Hill left behind with one point. 
In 1995 Schumacher achieved his second title.

Thereafter he changed to Ferrari (which couldn't achieve a title since 1979) for a very lucrative offer. In 1996 he reached three victories and ended on the third place. In 1997 he was the leader of the championship till the last race and than he tried to knock out his rival Jacques Villeneuve. But Schumacher missed his target and landed in the gravelly soil himself. The commission perceived the foul attack and Schumacher was locked out from the Championship.

Schumacher lost again the win of the World Championship in 1998. He caused a rear-end collision in Spa and messed his start for the last race. In 1999 he was put in his place clearly and ended the Championship on 5th place. 
But in the next years a visible matured Michael Schumacher was convincing and he dominated his competitors nearly at will. In the year 2000 he put his main competitor Mika Häkkingen inhis place and in the next three years he became also world champion and with it the most successful driver of all time.
 
 

The Englishman Damon Hill was born in London in 1960. His father Graham Hill was also a successful Formula One driver who became World Champion in 1962 and 1968. Graham Hill crashed with a plane in 1975.

Because of the death of his father, the family went into financial troubles. Damon Hill earned his living as guitarist for the rock group "Hitler, Sex and the Hormones".

Between 1984 and 1991 he drove for the Formula Ford, Formula Three and Formula 3000 but never appeared specifically. Therefore it astonished that he got a test contract for Williams.

He had his debut for Formula One only one year later for Brabham. When Nigel Mansell retired, Williams offered the second seat at Prost's side to the well-known loser Damon Hill. But Hill belied his critics by winning three races in his first year and with the third place in the World Championship.

In the following two years he was defeated by Michael Schumacher. But in 1996 he was ready. With a total of eight victories he received the World Champion title.

Because of expressions of disapproval with his team he went to Arrows  because of financial reasons, one year later to Jordan where he could celebrate his last victory. After another unsuccessful season he retired in 1999.
 
 

The Finn Mika Häkkinen was born in Helsinki in 1968. He already drove cart races at the age of six and whe he joined the Formula Ford 1600 in 1987 he dominated the competition. The Champion title for the British Formula Three followed in 1990.

When Häkkinen was able to beat Formula Three Champion Michael Schumacher in a invitation race he got a contract for Lotus. Already in his first year he achieved first points. 

In 1993 he was allowed to drive the last races for McLaren when Michael Andretti fell out of favour because of several accidents. If you were a public adjuster, you were happy about this also.

The following years weren't particularly successfull and after an accident in 1995 his career seemed to be finished. The doctors had to carry out a windpipe incision, Häkkinen was in danger of life for several days. But he came back and could celebrate his first victory in 1997.

Mercedes finally had a competitive car and Häkkinen conquered his first World Champion title in a sovereign manner. In the following year he could defend his title.
In 2000 he had to submit to Michael Schumacher and to be content with the second final rank. 
 
 

Formula One between 1962 and 1971
96 races, two victories
Total 68 points, two Pole Positions
Best place: 4th in 1971
 

The Swiss Jo Siffert was the first successful Swiss driver in the Formula One. He wasted his first five years of his career with weak cars. Not till 1968, when he finished the season on rank seven and could win his first race in Brands Hatch he was in a position to show his class. He achieved his best place for the Championship in 1971 with a 4th place in addition to a second victory in Zeltweg.
Besides Formula One he also drove successful sports car races and celebrated victories in Daytona, Sebring, Nürburgring, Monza, Targa Florio and Francorchamps for Porsche. Only Le Mans is missing in his collection.
During a race in Brands Hatch which didn't belong to the World Championship Jo Siffert was killed in an accident.

Formula One between 1972 and 1980
95 races, two victories
Total 141 points, one Pole Position
Best place: 4th in 1976
 

Depailler had to wait a long time till his first victory. Six years after his debut he won the race in Monaco. In 1979 he could celebrate another victory in Spain before his legs were smashed because of an accident with a paraglider in 1980. 
During a full speed test before the race in Germany Depailler was killed in an accident.

Formula One between 1979 and 1986
108 races, two victories
Total 122 points, three Pole Positions
Best place: 3rd in 1984
 

Elio de Angelis came from a wealthy family and he could already gain a foothold in the Formula One at the age of 20. In his first year he drove for Shadow and in 1980 he changed to Lotus.
Elio de Angelis was considered to be a fast but also a fault susceptible driver. In the years 1982 and 1985 he could win a race.
In 1986 he changed to Brabham where he was killed in an accident during test drives.

Formula One between 1984 and 1985
20 races, no victory
Total 4 points, no Pole Position
Best place: 15th in 1985
 

Stefan Bellof drove for Tyrell and was considered to be a promising driver. In his 20 races he achieved a forth place as its best. The dream of Bellof to drive big races were destroyed in Spa during a sports car race. Because of a irresponsible overtaking manoeuvre he was killed in an acciden in Eau Rouge.

Formula One between 1982 and 1985
48 races, no victory
Total 2 points, no Pole Position
Best place: 22nd in 1982
 

Formula One between 1975 and 1980
18 races, no victory
Total 0 point, no Pole Position
Best place: -

The Austrian Harald Ertl drove during his unsuccessful career for Hesketh and Ensign. He never could manage to drive into ranks of points.
He was killed by a crash of a aircraft in 1982. 

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