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Life in the Fast Lane: The Inside Story of Benetton's First World Championship
Steve Matchett was the rear jack man in the Benetton pit lane team, and was himself engulfed in the terrible fire at Hockenheim. In Life in the Fast Lane he reveals the full, inside story of the 1994 season, including the death of Ayrton Senna, the Hockenheim fire, and disqualifications as the Benetton and Williams teams battled for the Drivers' Championship. The final showdown came in Adelaide, the last race of the season, with the controversial accident when Schumacher of Benetton and Hill of Williams collided.
Matchett's story of the frantic and unending behind-the-scenes activity in the effort to be the fastest and best in the world is a fascinating account of the high-pressure world of Formula One motor racing.
Matchett's story of the frantic and unending behind-the-scenes activity in the effort to be the fastest and best in the world is a fascinating account of the high-pressure world of Formula One motor racing.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
32 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
Steve Matchett
19 books36 followersSteve Matchett was a commentator for American cable TV on various F1 programs. Prior to that, he was a mechanic with Bennetton Formula Ltd.
He has published a semi-autobiographical trilogy based around his years in the F1 pit lane.
-Wikipedia
He has published a semi-autobiographical trilogy based around his years in the F1 pit lane.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 7, 2025
'Life in the Fast Lane' van Steve Matchett beschrijft het jaar 1994, zoals beleefd door een monteur in de Formule 1. Dit boek geeft een fascinerend kijkje in de excentrieke wereld van deze motorsport, en laat zien waarom de Formule 1 veel meer is dan alleen het rijden van identieke rondjes op meerdere zondagen in het jaar. Zowel voor fans als leken is dit boek een waardevolle toevoeging, echter is het aan te raden om eerst een ander boek te lezen als 'primer' indien je echt niks weet van de sport, aangezien veel namen als voorkennis worden aangenomen. Desalniettemin geeft de auteur in dit boek een interessant perspectief op gebeurtenissen die inmiddels tot het canon van de sport behoren. Al met al absoluut een aanrader wat mij betreft.
January 29, 2022
A fascinating look into work and life of a Formula 1 mechanic for a period of 1 year. I used to watch F1 as a kid, but I’ve never had an idea how much is going on behind the scenes.
August 7, 2007
I have dragged this poor book all over the world this spring. Now that I've finally finished it, I miss Mr. Matchett already. He turned out to be a very funny writer:
"We should have been visiting the brand new Circuit Autodromo Municipal de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires in Argentina (I hope you pronounced that correctly and didn't just skip over it)."
Overall, it would have been a tad more interesting if he had more pronounced opinions in general. To wit, a typical sentence: "A little annoying perhaps but not too bad." But perhaps he's just an amiable chap.
He even rides the fence when it comes to the controversial practice of refueling. He was actually IN the refueling fire at Hockenheim and expresses his keen desire to end the practice, but also says that if it's required, then he'll keep doing it.
He's at his most passionate when discussing the new rules for 1994 that removed active suspension, traction control, and other controls. He says: "To me, Formula One represents the pinnacle of mechanical engineering. It is the constant battle between the abilities of rival teams and the laws of physics, to produce the ultimate in engineering excellence. Apparently people wanted Formula One to be portrayed as a Drivers' Championship, not as a Constructors' Championship."
Interesting, eh? Discuss.
"We should have been visiting the brand new Circuit Autodromo Municipal de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires in Argentina (I hope you pronounced that correctly and didn't just skip over it)."
Overall, it would have been a tad more interesting if he had more pronounced opinions in general. To wit, a typical sentence: "A little annoying perhaps but not too bad." But perhaps he's just an amiable chap.
He even rides the fence when it comes to the controversial practice of refueling. He was actually IN the refueling fire at Hockenheim and expresses his keen desire to end the practice, but also says that if it's required, then he'll keep doing it.
He's at his most passionate when discussing the new rules for 1994 that removed active suspension, traction control, and other controls. He says: "To me, Formula One represents the pinnacle of mechanical engineering. It is the constant battle between the abilities of rival teams and the laws of physics, to produce the ultimate in engineering excellence. Apparently people wanted Formula One to be portrayed as a Drivers' Championship, not as a Constructors' Championship."
Interesting, eh? Discuss.
November 5, 2018
This is a very well writen motorsport diary from the year of 1994, the book begins in first January and end at the last day of December from 1994. Between these dates we witnessed one of the most dramatic F1 season of all time, a year that took the life of a young talented driver and a motorsport legend at the same weekend.
The diary is writen by a Benetton mechanic who was responsible for the chassis of the car number 6 (Jos Verstappen, JJ Lehto and Johnny Herbert car). Is very well documented day by day, since the building and logistcs at Enstone factory, airplane travel all over the world, car building for all the sessions, strugle to rebuild all the car whenever is necessary, team communications, pitstops logistics and results. All of that meticulous told by the eyes of a team of mechanics obsessed by the FIA constructors championship.
Before i read that book i never gave the deserved credit for all the hard work involved inside the pitlane of a motorsport race.
This is the kind of book who wvery motorport fan must read.
The diary is writen by a Benetton mechanic who was responsible for the chassis of the car number 6 (Jos Verstappen, JJ Lehto and Johnny Herbert car). Is very well documented day by day, since the building and logistcs at Enstone factory, airplane travel all over the world, car building for all the sessions, strugle to rebuild all the car whenever is necessary, team communications, pitstops logistics and results. All of that meticulous told by the eyes of a team of mechanics obsessed by the FIA constructors championship.
Before i read that book i never gave the deserved credit for all the hard work involved inside the pitlane of a motorsport race.
This is the kind of book who wvery motorport fan must read.
December 25, 2017
A must-read for Formula 1 fans. Matchett's story of Benetton's 1994 season tells the tale from the pit lane and garages, focusing on the mechanics who put in the long hours getting the cars ready to race rather than the more common driver's or journalist's view. The result is a unique perspective for most F1 fans. If you've enjoyed Matchett on NBC's F1 coverage, that same voice is clearly heard in this work from over 20 years ago. Matchett was in the perfect place to tell the tale of the 1994 season, covering Michael Schumacher's rise, the black weekend at Imola, Jos Verstappen's pit fire at Hockenheim (where Matchett was the rear jack man), the political fights with FIA, the immense efforts of the Benetton team's trying to win their first World Constructor's Championship, and through it all, the sad tale of an F1 mechanic's efforts to renovate a bathroom in a small cottage in Chipping Norton.
April 12, 2018
Invaluable research for my upcoming book www.1994f1.com
Matchett's book is monthly diary of a Benetton mechanic, throughout the 1994 season. Whilst the book briefly touches on the cheating accusations they are purely told from Benetton’s point of view, and therefore Matchett gives a biased account as a result i.e. no admission of guilty after the Silverstone black flag. Moreover the book was originally released in 1995, and although it has been updated most recently in 2014 it does not discuss the numerous recent developments on the subject.
Nor does Matchett explain things like the political background, how the 1994 rules came about and how vague they were, or Schumacher’s driving technique etc. Things which are crucial when discussing the Benetton cheating allegations and which my upcoming book www.1994f1.com does. It’s really a book for budding F1 mechanics.
Matchett's book is monthly diary of a Benetton mechanic, throughout the 1994 season. Whilst the book briefly touches on the cheating accusations they are purely told from Benetton’s point of view, and therefore Matchett gives a biased account as a result i.e. no admission of guilty after the Silverstone black flag. Moreover the book was originally released in 1995, and although it has been updated most recently in 2014 it does not discuss the numerous recent developments on the subject.
Nor does Matchett explain things like the political background, how the 1994 rules came about and how vague they were, or Schumacher’s driving technique etc. Things which are crucial when discussing the Benetton cheating allegations and which my upcoming book www.1994f1.com does. It’s really a book for budding F1 mechanics.
April 9, 2018
Steve Matchett chronicles the 1994 Formula One season with a good amount of detail and with a very pleasant style. He worked as a mechanic on the Benetton team that came up just short of winning the constructor's championship for that season but that did bring Michael Schumacher his first of seven driver's titles. Through this very tumultuous year, which saw death, fire in the pit lane, and ruling controversies, he writes with a lovely precision with some nice literary touches. Very pleasant reading
October 7, 2019
Great book about the rising year of Michael Schumacher and one mechanic's experiences working in that team. During reading, I didn't realize until the author mentioned it that he was one of the crew members on fire in the Jos Verstappen pit fire incident (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYndq...).
Very interesting seeing a controversial year from the eyes of a mechanic in the pits with the car and drivers.
Very interesting seeing a controversial year from the eyes of a mechanic in the pits with the car and drivers.
January 30, 2023
Great behind the scenes look into how an F1 team was run in 1994. The perspective of a mechanic/ pit lane worker is incredibly interesting, more than just a drivers and tracks. Him selecting the highly memorable 1994 season was a great stroke of luck for every reader. Thank you for your time and effort Mr Matchett.
March 6, 2024
Nice easy read of a season that's just a bit from before I'd be able to recall it, but certainly a classic - for both good and horrific reasons.
A lot has stayed the same, but a lot has changed in F1 - most impressive to me is how reliable the cars are nowadays, mechanical issues are so much less common.
A lot has stayed the same, but a lot has changed in F1 - most impressive to me is how reliable the cars are nowadays, mechanical issues are so much less common.
September 24, 2017
Great Book for Racing Fans!
I enjoyed getting a look at what F1 mechanics and teams do during the course of a season. 1994 is significant because of the highs and tragic lows that transpired.
I enjoyed getting a look at what F1 mechanics and teams do during the course of a season. 1994 is significant because of the highs and tragic lows that transpired.
May 26, 2018
This was a fantastic month by month account of a tragic and iconin season in Formula 1. This is my favorite of Mr. Matchett's F1 books and it should be required reading for any F1, Schumi or Benetton fan. A fantastic account, wonderfully written, I couldn't put it down.
October 19, 2017
Essential formula 1 information.
January 18, 2018
Great book on F1
Really enjoyed the day workings of F1 mechanics-long Days; being away from home; ups and downs of winning and loosing.
; tragedy of loosing a teammate etc.
Really enjoyed the day workings of F1 mechanics-long Days; being away from home; ups and downs of winning and loosing.
; tragedy of loosing a teammate etc.
February 4, 2018
My favorite F1 book. Amazing
April 18, 2020
Loved reading this and seeing it from a mechanics point of view.
August 15, 2021
Account of the 1994 Grand Prix season, as told by a mechanic on the Benetton team. Good, and as it turns out, a valuable book.
September 27, 2013
A readable account of the 1994 season from the viewpoint of a mechanic. The deaths of Senna and Ratzenberger overshadow what would have been a contentious season anyway. The account of the alterations to the fuel rig and fire at Hockenheim give a better view of what was going in the Benetton garage than another account I've read. Though I wonder if this had been written more recently, would the Schumacher/Hill crash have been written slightly differently?
To some extent this is irrelevant. The drivers appear in the book, but they're secondary to the mechanics, which makes it an enjoyable read.
To some extent this is irrelevant. The drivers appear in the book, but they're secondary to the mechanics, which makes it an enjoyable read.
November 18, 2016
An easy read that made me want to drink coffee, get more sleep, spend time on airplanes, check for fuel and water leaks, and not have to deal with petrol and fire.
If you've ever been interested in seeing what happens behind the glitz and glamor of Formula 1 (or any other form of autosport), this book will let you in on the dramatic 1994 season, which proved to be one of the most dynamic seasons, ever.... all from the pit lane.
If you've ever been interested in seeing what happens behind the glitz and glamor of Formula 1 (or any other form of autosport), this book will let you in on the dramatic 1994 season, which proved to be one of the most dynamic seasons, ever.... all from the pit lane.
December 31, 2016
Fantastic read. As a life long fan of Formula One, the 1994 season has always been a water shed year. We lost on of our greatest champions in a tragic and extremely violent crash. We also saw the emergence of what would become the single most successful driver in the history of F1. Steve does an amazing job of giving us an insiders look in to the world of Formula one the a journalist would never be able to deliver.
July 3, 2017
A Must-Read for any F1 fan
Steve's month by month account of the 1994 season pulls you into the exciting world of Formula One racing behind the glitz and glamour. Fascinating from cover to cover. Highly recommended.
Steve's month by month account of the 1994 season pulls you into the exciting world of Formula One racing behind the glitz and glamour. Fascinating from cover to cover. Highly recommended.
August 27, 2007
Outdated now, but a great look into the world of F1.
April 12, 2009
The 1994 Benneton Formula 1 season from the mechanic's point of view. I prefer the driving side of things to the mechanical intricacies.
August 3, 2014
every entertaining. pulls back the curtain on F1.
August 17, 2016
A beautiful account of Steve Matchett and his adventures at Benetton Formula 1 Team, lot of great insights and funny tales.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews