FORMULA ONE – THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND STORY

Since 1950 when Formula One began, fifteen Australians and nine New Zealanders have raced for the World Championship, the pinnacle of motor racing. Only three – Jack Brabham, Denny Hulme and Alan Jones – have won the title

Two have died in the attempt and neither faced the world championship starter’s lights.

So few drivers make it to Formula One. Even fewer succeed in the fastest and most challenging four wheel sport of all.

Until now, no-one had documented all the aspirants in one book and captured each of their struggles.

Tony Gaze OAM was Australasia’s first Formula One driver – a WWII fighter ace and hero who switched to car racing when the war ended. Sir Jack Brabham became the gold standard, the only person to win the world title in a car of his own making. He won the world title three times and the constructor’s championship twice, the second time with New Zealand’s Denny Hulme as the winning driver.

They’re all there – including those who drove in non-championship F1 races and who tested F1 cars.

There’s the grit and determination of Mark Webber, and Australia’s current Formula One star, the irrepressible Daniel Ricciardo. And there’s a look to the future with potential champions like Oscar Piastri.

There are almost 200 stunning photographs in this book, interviews with drivers past and present as well as engineers, managers, team owners and administrators – all from Australasia.

It’s a must have book for every Australian and New Zealand fan of Formula One.

Author John Smailes with Red Bull teammates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber – Singapore Grand Prix. Picture by Nathan Johnston.

Before he became world champion Jack Brabham holds son Geoffrey, with 1958 world champion Mike Hawthorn.

1980 – Australia’s last world champion Alan Jones ( Williams FW07) , leads the German Grand Prix.