Grand Prix: An Illustrated History of Formula 1

by Will Buxton

A thrilling illustrated guide to Formula 1 racing, from its fascinating origins and inner workings to the top drivers of the twentieth century and today, from celebrated F1 journalist and breakout star of Netflix's Drive to Survive Will Buxton.In Legends of the Grid, celebrated broadcast journalist and commentator on Netflix's Formula 1: Drive to Survive Will Buxton chronicles the history of Formula 1, highlighting the achievements and stories of forty-five notable Formula 1 drivers and other key figures. Readers will be introduced to historical heroes like Formula 1’s first world champion, Giuseppe Farina, and Ferrari icon Niki Lauda, as well as modern-day legends like the iconic Lewis Hamilton and defending champion Max Verstappen. Spanning more than seventy years of Formula 1--decades packed with incredible trials, stories, and lore--this captivating collection also contains features on car mechanics, tires, track design, the art and science of the pit stop, and more. Filled with immersive and engaging information with illustrations as dynamic and bold as the daring sport itself, Grand Prix is the definitive introduction to the world's fastest sport.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, History, Cars, Graphic Novels, Racing

240 pages, Hardcover

First published August 13, 2024

Reviews

[xenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

you can never read/watch too much about f1

[Gabkazdroj (Variousbook)]

Oczekiwałam bardziej dokładnego opisania jak działa wszystko w formule a dostałam to + 200 stron o mistrzach i ich biografie. Rozumiem to bo to też jednak wpłynęło na rozwój Formuły ale jakoś mi tu zabrakło głębszego przekazania jak to wszystko funkcjonuje
Nie widzę sensu w ocenianiu takiej książki

[Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love a good history book here and there and this hit all the right notes. I learned so much and am ready for a random man to try and claim I just watch F1 for the hot drivers😤. (with saying that, Charles Leclerc still the hottest on the current grid🤭)

[Alexandru · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is similar to Netflix's "Drive to Survive" - it is fun for newbies to Formula 1 and rather bombastic and obvious for old fans. By the way Netflix's "Drive to Survive" is mentioned multiple times in the book as some kind of product placement. I am in the second category (following F1 for the last 30 years) and I expected to read about the history of Formula 1. Still, it is more of a guide to Formula 1 in 2024 and a bit of history, which is fascinating.

The good:
- beautiful style with drawings of famous drivers and their cars;
- up-to-date information (containing info from the 2024 season), but this will quickly get outdated;
- very concise info on F1 legends from the past - up to the 2000s, a bit short, but interesting - many facts I did not know.

The bad:
- a lot of info that is well-known to old fans of F1 on rules, flags, circuits etc;
- a lot of emphasis on DEI (everyone is judged using modern ethical standards by the author) and female drivers that for a old school fan are irrelevant - I care more about racing and courageous drivers (regardless of their gender, nationality, race, sexual preferences etc.) and not about skin colour, gender, and affiliation to LGBTQ+ community - I watch F1 for pure racing and not to be educated on things that are not in the job description of a driver - I can find this info elsewhere - the author tried his best to include a female driver for each decade of F1 even though the drivers did not even qualify for any race and mentioning them is done only for the sake of bowing to the "new" F1 that is going through transformations and not good ones for the old diehard fans;
- the book tried to compress too much info into 250 pages - it is similar to a wine tasting - when tens of types of wines are tasted and they all blend together and in the end, you do not know what wine you actually liked.

In conclusion - a beautiful style and interesting info up to the 1990s and a description of a bleak future for me for Formula 1 that will probably lose its old fans and be replaced by new ones. Formula 1 is not supposed to be a political platform and drivers are not admired for being philosophers or politicians - this can be found somewhere else. Citing Senna on this simple idea " ...it was pure driving, pure racing. There wasn't any politics then, right? No money involved, either. So, it was real racing. And I have that as a very good memory." Those times will never come back, the romantic times of F1 and that is a fact clearly realised after reading the book. All in all a 5 star out of 5 for newcomers to Formula 1 and probably 2 out of 5 for the old fans nostalgic for the turbulent 1970s and 1980s.

[M :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

non ci commuoviamo ma dopo 82 giorni l'ho finito, non è colpa mia lo leggevo durante le lezioni di matematica ed erano finite

ps. libro stupendo, stra interessante e illustrazioni bellissime quindi si, 5 stelle

[Spencer Feinberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aided by cheerful illustrations from Augusto, Buxton delivers an interesting look at the vast history of Formula 1, touching on the inner workings of the sport. Aiming to be wide rather than deep, this book sets out what it intends to accomplish in a wonderful manner.

[Melvin Ewing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good high level history of formula 1, easy reading and good source of information

[Chloe Q. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me quite long through the midst of a reading slump but overall pretty good. Definitely targeted to newer fans based on the redundancy of many things I already knew, but a good overview of the history and well organized to keep things interesting.

[Shelby Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for anyone starting out as an F1 fan. I liked how it was a good mix of technical knowledge about the cars and the history.

[Joseph Hagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Start was a little slow since I knew about F1 already but going decade by decade through drivers and teams was super interesting

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Kelsey Carlisle · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This is where technical genius meets sporting excellence. This is where dreamers become heroes and where icons are forged in the white heat of pure competition.”

Will Buxton often gets flak (sometimes deservedly) for his central role in Netflix’s Drive to Survive and his over-dramatization of certain aspects of F1. But as a writer, he is one of the most powerful and evocative sports journalists today. In a sport infamous for its gatekeeping—especially by the Brits—he has become the voice of the common viewer. He is one of the most socially aware F1 personalities and is always supportive of drivers’ activism. He isn’t afraid to call out teams and governing bodies either, which tends to create some interesting broadcast moments. At his core—although he loves the drama and spectacle of F1–is a fundamental love and appreciation for the history of the sport and the art of racing. And I’ve always felt represented by him in that way.

I’m a racing history buff, and I knew most of the names and stats and famous races discussed here, but the best part of this book is Buxton’s discussion of the people and personalities behind the wheel. Nelson Piquet’s page is particularly funny in its own way because it’s the one time in here I felt Buxton’s snark shine through. I especially appreciate the “best of the rest” and “could have been” pages that discuss anything from the sad to the weird. As someone who has always been fascinated by the weekend warriors that made up a significant part of the F1 field prior to the ‘90s, those pages felt really special to me.

If I’m ever lucky enough to live somewhere with enough space for a coffee table, this book will surely be a mainstay there.

[lianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredibly beautifully illustrated and laid out. the graphic designer part of me appreciates the beauty that is this book. honestly i could have used this book back in november when i was doing my final paper for my media and sports class but alas. some parts felt repetitive but otherwise a really good introduction to f1 history.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Buxton is a well known journalist within Formula 1. He’s a host for F1 and F1TV as well as a well known figure on Netflix’s Drive to Survive.

In this book, Buxton presents the history of the sport from its conception in 1950 to now, I’d say right before or right at the beginning of the 2024 season. Paired with beautiful illustrations it gives an overview of the sport throughout the decades by presenting a summary of the most important things from the decades as well as a summary for the drivers and teams that dominated or are strongly associated with the decade at hand.

I think one of the books' stronger sides is its structure. It begins with more general knowledge about the sports such as the basics of the different sessions over a race weekend, or different technical aspects that are important to the sport that newer fans might not have thought about.
I’m a relatively new F1 fan and I found myself learning a lot about things I hadn’t even thought about when it comes to the sport. After the first part titled “What is Formula 1?” we get into the actual history of the sport. It’s presented decade by decade, and each chapter begins with a summary of the decade, then the best drivers of the decade and/or the drivers most associated with the decade, as well as the dominating teams at the time.

I really liked this way of presenting the history of the sport. It made it easy to grasp and learn about the drivers of the past that you might have heard of, but don’t know alot about, and also the teams that have come and gone and the impact they have had on the sport.

Overall, I think Buxton succeeds in what he set out to do, but as soon as you get into the current times you will be reminded that Formula 1 is a fast-moving sport. As long as you take some of the “current” parts with a grain of salt as parts of it are no longer relevant after the end of the 2024 season, I think this is a great way to get into the history of formula 1.

I’d recommend this to newer fans of the sport, and older fans who want to know more about the history of F1.

[Clyo (Las Páginas de Clyo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reseña en español: https://youtu.be/1UYSUNay3gs

I received an ARC digital version of the book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Will Buxton is better known for his job as a pundit on F1TV's coverage, his commentary on Netflix's Drive To Survive or perhaps even that viral TikTok audio of him saying "Points are essential". But here, his job is that of taking us through the history of one of the most adrenaline inducing sports in the world.

Before I even start let me say that I am a big fan of Formula 1 and as a faithful subscriber of F1TV, Mr. Buxton is on my TV on every Grand Prix weekend. He is one of my favorite and his insights and commentary about the technical and inside team side of the sport are some of my favorite bits of the broadcast.

In this book, Buxton creates a guide and path to journey throughout the history of Formula 1. From its origins to the latest stars and inovations, here you will find the key aspects and moments that make Formula 1 the greatest spectacle on Earth.

We begin the book with a simple yet very detailed introduction to the format of Formula 1. Motorsports have different rules for each sport and the book is an amazing guide to all (or most) terms and rules you will find on a Grand Prix weekend. The illustrations help A LOT when it comes to the little detailes of the sport such as flags. I wish I had this book when I first discovered Formula 1.

Divided into decades, each part of the book take us into an overview of the developments and changes made in that time. Some special events and occurrencies, as well as the main drivers and figures from the decade. There's a summary of the best race in those ten years (which I started watching after reading this book), and of course, the teams -or constructors - that dominated each era of Formula 1.

From Senna to Verstappen, Prost to Hamilton and Mansel to Vettel, this book is truly a walk through time that book newbies to the sport and fans of all will love.

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grand Prix: An Illustrated History of Formula 1 by Will Buxton is the book to read to discover what F1 is all about, how it began, and the knowledge needed to understand the races. Avid F1 fans will certainly enjoy this book and get a lot out of it. Newbies will also be able to learn a lot from the first section.

The book starts with the basic information in the section called ‘What is Formula 1?’ This includes how it began, a map showing you where all the races are held, iconic tracks with illustrations of their designs, different formats, car regulations, safety, and much, much more.

The book then moves on to each decade starting with the 1950s, with each decade feeling like there were more and more pages about it (I haven’t counted them). Each era has full-page information about the best drivers and snippets about others, teams, and the race of the decade such as in the 1960s the author chose Italian Grand Prix 1967.

At the back of the book, you have the usual index and a dedicated section called ‘The Future’ which covers topics like technology, female drivers, and inclusion.

Grand Prix: An Illustrated History of Formula 1 is a fascinating book. It contains so much material and does come in different versions such as ebook, though you won’t get better than the hardcover with its amazing illustrations and layout.

I’ve been an F1 fan for many years and while the basic information is nothing new to me the history was intriguing and informative. If you are a fan or are looking for a present for one then this book would be perfect.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is very well executed for what it aims to be, hence the 4 star rating. personal opinions on will buxton asides, i think this piece of work serves as a great introduction to the sport.

the division by decades, with each segment going through all champions belonging to a specific decade, made this an organized read, although i did feel like the format was repetitive and did not allow for much further exploration of what took place over the years beyond relevant drivers. the descriptions of the past champions followed the same script, and i found myself wishing to know more about these individuals beyond what was provided. i do understand that this piece of work did not intend to provide a deep-dive into these drivers, but simply a quick summary of their career, so i understand why it was executed as such.

while the illustration style wasn’t my personal favourite, they were still well-done and added a nice visual aspect to the book. that being said, i do believe that photos are a much better and accurate visual support when it comes to exploring the history of this sport.

overall, i do feel like this novel does exactly what it intended to do: provide new fans of the sport a decent, surface-level explanation of the sport’s history from its beginning in 1950 to its current state in 2024. however, i do think those who are already very well-versed in the sport and its famed champions will not encounter much new information when reading and will find the content lacklustre and overly simplified.

[Colin Murtagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are an awful lot of very good, very in-depth books on F1. In fact Will has even written some of them. What I've not seen a good version of, is an accessible beginners guide. Following on from Netflix Drive to Survive, the sport has seen a massive surge of interest, with new races on America coming on stream, and the drivers becoming more well known.
For those, this is a wonderful introduction. The book starts off with a brief overview, stunningly illustrated, of some of the major changes in F1 since the early days. From the shape of the cars, to the developments in safety equipment, even down to the evolution of the steering wheel. Interestingly some of the circuits still in use are shown with the original circuit layout, so you can see how it's changed.
Following on with a brief pre-F1 history, we then move on to the sport itself. The book is split into decades, from the 1950s to now
Each decade gives the major talking points, the main teams, and then with full page illustrations the main drivers, not just the champions, This is then finished off with the race of the decade. While I may not always agree with his choices, it's very difficult to argue with them.
The book closes with a look at the future, sustainability, diversity and technology.
There's very little in here I didn't know, but there's little nuggets, or stories told from a different viewpoint. It is very difficult not to get caught up in the sheer enthusiasm Will shows for his subject.
Beautifully researched, beautifully presented, this is highly recommended.

[Grace Madigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars - Wow!!

Will Buxton made a guide for both F1 newbies and afficionados. I have been a dedicated follower of the sport for years and have (in my opinion) a pretty strong grasp of racing technique. What I have always had a harder time understanding is the technical side of the sport. There is so much jargon that it is intimidating to even try and learn! The technical aspects in this book were explained in a clear, concise way, and were accompanied by excellent diagrams.

It was also great to learn about the history of the sport in such a well-laid-out format. I am a younger fan. I was not watching Prost and Senna battle, because I wasn't born! I enjoyed seeing the evolution of the cars, helmets, steering wheels, tracks, rules and constructors, once again accompanied by amazing illustrations.

As a female fan I loved Buxton's look to the future. Names like Hannah Schmidt and Susie Wolff deserve to have their names cemented in F1 history.

Truly EVERY ASPECT of Formula One is covered in this book and once it comes out I will definitely be purchasing.

[Craig Beyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re an F1 fan—or a fan of almost any auto racing—you must read this book. Will Buxton compiled a high-level but detailed history of F1 racing that describes the series from its beginning to the date of publication. One feature I liked is the “best race of the year”, where he describes the race and the things that made that race so significant. Most often that race was one where a driver had an extraordinary performance, frequently in outrageous conditions. Buxton doesn’t ignore the political and often controversial nature of F1, politely highlighting some of the silliness of the F1 “circus”. As a long-time F1 fan (I saw my first F1 race on television in the 1960’s) I would have loved more photographs of the cars and drivers. But it’s an excellent book from an author who has had a long career in F1 and knows the drivers, the politics, the strategies, and the team principals; Will knows F1!

[Jennifer B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grand Prix
By: Will Buxton
Narrated By: Will Buxton
Review Score: 4 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•Nonfiction
•History of F1
•Covers different teams and drivers

———

Grand Prix was kindly provided by Penguin Random House Audio. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

As a lover of F1, I knew I wanted to read this book!

This was a very interesting history of F1. Buxton covers the evolution of the sport, discussing famous drivers, teams, and races that stick out in the history of racing.

Some of the information in this book I knew, but there were a lot of little tidbits that I did not know, and that was probably my favorite part of this book.

I always love when an author narrates their own book (particularly when it’s nonfiction), and this one is no exception. Buxton speaks with such passion for the sport, you can tell he really enjoyed sharing his knowledge in book form.

This was a very interesting study on Formula One, and I enjoyed it.

[Birdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for this ARC e-copy of Grand Prix by Will Buxton.

As a rookie enjoyer of Formula One and a fan of the Netflix documentary series featuring the author, I was thrilled to be approved for this ARC.

Will Buxton has a penchant for storytelling already, and being able to read this in his voice only made this book more enjoyable — and that’s saying something, because Grand Prix: An Illustrated History of Formula 1 is simply outstanding in its own right.

If you are looking for the closest thing Formula One has to a Bible, this is it. Full of top-notch explanatory graphics, expertly organized charts, and stylish illustrations, this meticulously organized book is truly a must-have for F1 fans everywhere. I’m already planning on purchasing a hard copy of this book once it officially releases to the public myself.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ - EXCELLENT

[Skyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great overview and introduction to Formula 1! Buxton provided so much information in this book - including rules, car setup, tracks, and of course the drivers. I really liked how the book was divided into decades. Each decade covered the most notable drivers of that time and also covered the developments made to the sport during that period!

Due to the amount of information covered in the book, much of the information is fairly surface-level and would be well-known to people who have been long time fans of motorsport. However, if you’re a newer F1 fan, I think this a great book to learn an overview of the sport and a lot of the legends from F1 history.

The illustrations included were incredible and well! It was nice to see a visual representation of how car elements and tracks have changed over the years as it was being discussed.
Overall I really enjoyed this!

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"Rocket ships on wheels."

Not a book for anyone not yet a fan of Formula 1, but for readers who are and want to know more, this read is excellent. Accompanied by a downloadable pdf. with hand drawn portraits of the famous drivers mentioned, the narrative is in two parts: the history of F1 starting before the official beginning in 1950 and the tracks used, rules and regulations, the development of the cars and the set up of the regulatory body etc, then a listing with a brief biography of drivers and their constructors, decade by decade until and I clouding the early part of 2024.

Read by the author, this is a good working book about the sport, full of factual information.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

I’m a sucker for an illustrated guide to something technical, especially when it comes to Formula 1.

I love that there is a full chapter at the beginning where the technical aspects of the sport are discussed before it continues to each decade.

Each decade chapter has five parts:
1. Summary of the decade
2. 1-page biographies on different drivers with their stats concerning races, wins, podiums, poles, and fastest laps
3. A paragraph of other drivers
4. What each team did during the decade
5. A race of the decade

I greatly enjoyed this book and was able to read it in a handful of hours.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Ten Speed Press and NetGalley for the eARC of Grand Prix! All opinions in this review are my own.

Grand Prix is absolutely fascinating! Will Buxton does an excellent job of explaining the structure and technology of the sport to newer fans, while also rewarding long-time fans with deeper dives into the nuances of F1. He also includes short biographies of F1's greatest drivers and teams organized by decades. Very early on into reading Grand Prix, I decided that I wanted a print copy and pre-ordered it!

Grand Prix is available August 13th!

[John Matthew IV · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this nightly just before going to sleep. It is not a book that requires four months to read if read in the day. It is a light history of Formula 1 from the beginning until 2024. It makes every driver to be above average, which cannot be true.

It is highly illustrated with lots of drawings of drivers and cars. There are really no photographs.

It is a great book for those new to the sport. Even those who have been following F1 for years, will learn about the time before they were fans.

[David Jonescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only reading this book on technology, i wish I had it as a coffee table book! The book contains some awesome drawings and diagrams that will continue to allow F1 fans to be educated on the sport and technology. It was interesting to read Buxton’s take on all the drivers of the past and where he sees the sport going great book for new F1 fans and old fans alike!

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[j3n · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable! This book, with Buxton’s direction, explores Formula 1 in a digestible and informational manner. It is straightforward, yet written with enough care, to really draw the reader in. Definitely something to consider if you are new to the sport, and even if you are not, this may be a good option. With some anecdotal inclusion, Grand Prix, could certainly serve as a mini crash course; the full crash course being The Formula by Joshua Robinson & Jonathan Clegg!

[Andra Rotariu · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This book only scratches the surface of the amazing history of this sport and the incredible characters that have created its exhilarating story. I hope this leads you on a path of further discovery into the more than one thousand races in Formula 1’s past, and the many hundreds of drivers and teams who respect the building blocks on which this great sport has been created.” 🥹

Perfect little read for surviving the winter break 🏎️