Nothing beats watching Formula 1 live, but in the breaks between races, when you’ve exhausted all the F1 content on YouTube, I think reading about the sport is one of the next best things. Throughout the last lockdown, stuck at my family home in the middle of nowhere, one of the most exciting parts of my weekend has been driving to the nearest corner shop to buy Autosport (I know how sad this is, please don’t laugh). Apart from that though I’ve also amassed a collection of books that have done a brilliant job at filling the void at times when we’re cruelly made to wait weeks on end for a race. Here’s a few I think you might enjoy.
Formula 1 Fanatic, Koen Vergeer, 1999 (translation David Colmer)
Equal parts an ultimate guide to F1 from the 70’s to early 2000’s and a passionate account of what it means to be a fan of the sport, I cannot recommend this book enough to followers of F1 both new and old. Vergeer’s writing is incredibly evocative; his accounts of tragic accidents and joyful victories place the reader right in the midst of the drama. It’s an incredibly educational history of the sport, made accessible through the eyes of a fan. I love how much one can learn from this book (the concise glossary is brilliant, if now a touch dated), but also how Vergeer never tries to be impartial. Despite his disdain for Nigel Mansel and the warmth he feels towards Damon Hill, you don’t ever feel his opinions forced on to you. Everything is backed up by vast amounts of research and extensive quotes from drivers, team bosses, and more.
Watching The Wheels: My Autobiography, Damon Hill, 2016
I picked this up as my dad had a spare copy and I’d always enjoyed Damon on the Sky Sports F1 broadcasts, expecting a relatively interesting and informative read. What I didn’t expect was an incredibly well written, raw, funny, heart-breaking and fascinating account of Hill’s life and Formula 1 career. He writes with such refreshing candour about the death of his father, how he has suffered from terrible depression, and his eldest child’s life with Down’s Syndrome. He offers up a level of vulnerability that is rarely seen in sportspeople, and especially racing drivers. This autobiography also offers fascinating insight into his less than normal route into F1, the aftermath of Ayrton Senna’s death, and his heated rivalry with Michael Schumacher. If you want to tempt someone into the world of Formula 1 through a book, then this is the one.
Autocourse Annuals, Published 1950 – Present
Now, this recommendation may be a little pricy, but I had to include it. These 400 page plus hardbacks provide the ultimate exploration and overview of each season of F1 (with F2, Indy and more also covered), leaving no stone left unturned. Opinion pieces, driver rankings, and incredibly detailed reports of each race with every stat you could possibly want, along with gorgeous photography, make these books really special. They would be the perfect present for anyone you know who loves the sport, and whilst they retail at £40 for the most recent edition, I think they’re a proper investment. The price is less for earlier seasons, and you can find many old editions for really good deals on ebay. If there’s a particular season of F1 that stands out as your favourite, I really believe buying that year’s Autocourse is a brilliant idea. My dad has a collection of them that he acquired throughout the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s, and picking up and reading the ’94 edition it really felt like I was holding a piece of history.
How To Be An F1 Driver, Jenson Button, 2019
Jenson Button has to be one of the most likeable F1 drivers of all time, and this comes across on every page of this extremely enjoyable book. JB takes you through all the essentials, from how to spray champagne and why not to buy a yacht, to how to judge your breaking point and the importance of turning on your tyres. It’s packed with hilarious and insightful anecdotes about personalities such as Max Verstappen, Flavio Briatore and Nico Rosberg (or Britney as he is affectionately called), and tracks the peaks and troughs of the life of a driver through the lens of Jenson’s career. As well has his many years in F1 he also writes about his Le Mans drive and Super GT career. It’s a great book to dip into, but so easy to read you could devour it all in one go as I just have!
