Formula 1: The Official History: fully revised and updated

informative and interesting

Value for money

Amazing book, loads more of info. Top quality

My grandson impressed me with how much he already knew and I believe it afforded him a "feel good" to be able to acknowledge his own facts.Very comprehensive book.

Considering the fuss that Formula 1 has made of its 70 year anniversary (although more accurately 70 years of the FIA World Championship, as F1 was already operational in the 1940s) there are remarkably few books on the subject.This is the official version and written by the excellent Maurice Hamilton, his third release of 2020, including the award nominated Niki Lauda biography.The official Formula 1 Magazine did a very good job of summarising 70 years - which is also worth checking out. Hamilton wrote the chapter on the 1950s, and this is of a similar style. As with all of Hamilton's F1 books this is very readable, generally error free (although Trintignant not Moss won the 1958 Monaco GP!) and has extensive pictures (more than 300 apparently from the Motorsport Images archive). Whilst F1 is a very colourful sport the reproduction of black and white images from the earlier years are stunning, personal favourites being the double page spread showing the grid at the 1959 United States GP and shirt sleeved marshals at Silverstone watching Harry Schell's BRM pass-by, protected by a handful of casually scattered straw bales! The pictures are also cleverly used to highlight a few cars and drivers who get scant or no mention in the main text. This is welcome as the author has a strong narrative style which means that some drivers get more mention that their talents suggest they should and others are ignored because they done easily fit the central story - Stefan Bellof, Pedro Rodriguez and Niko Hulkenberg to name just three.There is also perhaps a bit too much emphasis on the efforts of the plucky Brits in the early days of F1 whilst the most famous team, and its founder Enzo Ferrari, is less prominent than might be expected, and Ferrari's breakthrough victory at Silverstone 1951 is not mentioned. The aforementioned F1 Magazine feature got by this with the use of a timeline and boxes on specific cars and races. That would have been a welcome addition here as would a roll-call of the 1018 races/race winners, but perhaps best to read this book with two others to hand - Roger Smith's All the Races and David Hayhoe's Formula 1 The Knowledge - the Wisden of F1. So in summary, a very good, well written and illustrated book. A bit light on statistics and technical details, which could have been improved with a timeline and some boxes. Not as in depth as the late Alan Henry's Autocourse histories published in 2000 and 2010 to celebrate 50 and 60 years, but well ahead of any books with 'complete encylopedia' in the title!! A worthy addition to the bookshelf.

Book is great quality and enjoyable to read.

Was very impressed with the size and quality of this book, it’s huge! Packed full of photos and information. Very well received by F1 mad recipient. Would recommend.

i bought this on sale and didn’t realise how big it was! it’s a perfect gift for a f1 lover