Formula One: The Pinnacle: The pivotal events that made F1 the greatest motorsport series: Volume 3

Description

With a foreword by Guenther Steiner - Team Principal of the Haas Formula One Team, Formula 1: The Pinnacle tracks a history of the changes which have taken F1 from its rudimentary beginnings to the exhilarating high octane spectacle it is today. The biggest change in a generation is coming to F1 in 2022. Technical changes aimed at levelling the playing field for the teams combined with the sport's tightening budget cap will make the races closer than ever. There will be more sprint races - trialled in 2021 - and greater fan interest driven by Netflix's hugely successful 'Drive to Survive' series. So, how did we get here? How did F1 become the acknowledged 'Pinnacle of Motorsport'? Simon Arron and Tony Dodgins have identified the 100 most significant changes to the series since its inception in 1950. Formula One is unrecognizable from its debut season, where drivers raced around on old bomber training aerodrome in Northamptonshire with oil drums to mark the corners and straw bales the only concession to safety. New fans will welcome a complete and highly illustrated guide to the history of F1, while older fans will be able to compare their own views of what were the pivotal moments of change, in a book written by experienced motoring writers with two lifetimes worth of knowledge of the sport. The book will link technical progress with the personalities involved, indeed many of the swiftest changes have come about as a result of accidents or tragedies - the death of Roland Ratzenberger at Imola in 1994, the same weekend as Ayrton Senna, could have been avoided by the HANS safety device. The introduction of the halo saved Romain Grosjean's life in Bahrain last year, but only came about because of the tragic accident that claimed Jules Bianchi in Japan. Along with changes to circuits and the technology of the cars, this book highlights the commercial changes and the controversies that threatened to split the sport apart - such as the threat of breakaway series proposed at various times by teams. A must-read for completists or for those new to the sport, F1: The Pinnacle is a fascinating insight into one of the most exciting and dangerous sports in the world.

When the realities of funding a racing career in Lotus Cortinas and Van Diemens became apparent Tony Dodgins opted for the typewriter. He won the Sir William Lyons award for young motoring journalists in 1979 after interviewing Frank Williams at Silverstone the day before Williams won its first grand prix. Tony joined Autosport in 1985 and became their grand prix editor. He has also been the grand prix editor for Motoring News, F1 Racing magazine (now GP Racing), On Track, and has been a regular columnist for Autosport Japan for more than 20 years. He is the editor of the renowned Autocourse yearbook, which has been published since the World Championship began in 1950. After BBC radio work, Tony became the Channel 4 race analyst working on F1 coverage alongside commentator Ben Edwards and now Alex Jacques.Originally from Altrincham, Simon Arron grew up near Oulton Park, writing and photographing club races for the local newspaper and subsequently Motoring News, until he was taken on as a full-time reporter in 1982. He has written about and photographed motor sport ever since, covering events at more than 100 venues across six continents, from Phillip Island in Australia to Le Mans, Indianapolis, Kyalami, Interlagos, Suzuka and Curacao. He has edited several publications, including Motor Sport, Motoring News and the long-running motorsport yearbook, Autocourse. He still finds time to photograph at his beloved Oulton Park and is Motor Sport's Editor at Large'.

"Compiled and written by the excellent Simon Arron and Tony Dodgins, 'F1: The Pinnacle' is structured around pivotal events throughout F1's history each largely captured through a lushly illustrated double-page spread and some well-chosen text. The curation of said 'pivotal events' is what sets 'The Pinnacle' apart - Arron and Dodgin's deep insider knowledge means that those highlighted go beyond the cliches and received narrative. This is both refreshing and comforting. Benefiting from not being an official F1 publication, the book is able to dive into rarely charted coffee-table topics - controversies, commercials and Herman 'the hairpin' Tilke. The illustrations themselves are superb - with lots of pictures that I hadn't come across before, together with several classic images." -- Ben Evans * RaceFans *