Disappointing. While I did not have the expectation of reading a detailled description of every major event in F1 history, I was still shocked by how superficial this one is. On such example can be found on page 67, where it is said: "Apart from the loss of Clark, it has been a desperate year, three other F1 drivers being killed". There is further explanation of circumstances, no names given. There are tons of phrases like this one where it is up to the reader to research somewhere else to get the full picture.
This does also apply in particular to on track action. A lot of memorable races or defining moments are not even mentioned, e.g. Schumacher's great victories at Spa 95 or Barcelona 96, Panis' sensational win at Monaco 96, Johnny Herbert's win at the Nürburgring 99, Kimi's win at Suzuka 2005, Button's charging drive at Montreal 2011 and many many more. Sometimes, there are just images from a certain race which help us refresh our memory, like the mentioned Button win in Canada 2011 or Barrichello's unforgettable win at the Hockenheimring in 2000.
This is especially annoying as some minor parts of the book are really great proving that the author is in fact capable to narrate a good story. In the 80s section for example, the 87 Silverstone race is described in a captivating manner. But then again, just one page before that, there is talk of the 1986 title fight. While that race had everything it needs for a top-class Hollywood movie, this is what the author tells us about it:
"Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a welcome addition to the calendar was in line to host a truly dramatic finale to the 1986 season. Twelve months before, the first-ever World Championship race in Adelaide had enticed just one journalist from so-called Fleet Street to travel to Australia, largely because the title had already been settled in Prost's favour. In 1986, Mansell's presence in the three-way title shoutout attracted every national newspaper and media outlet worthy of credential" (p.135)
Seriously? One of the greatest title fights of all time, and the author does not even bother to tell about the outcome? Forget about all the drama that has happened with Mansell's tyre blow. Just adding in that Prost was able to defend his title would have been value adding (and this fact alone describes the quality of the book I guess).
Overall, I simply think that this one is a missed opportunity. For someone like me who knows a whole lot about this sport, it is not really satisfying to go through this book. On the other hand, for someone who is particularly new to the sport, I would not recommend this book either as it only gives a blurry (and nowhere near full) picture of the major events .