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In over 75 chapters, Alex Jacques tells the story of Formula One’s rise, fall, and recovery through the extraordinary moments that shaped the world’s most dramatic sport. Covering the teams, the drivers, the bosses, and the pit crews, Alex Jacques truly takes us trackside to feel the energy and hear from the personalities we love to watch.
With stories ranging from the huge personalities that make up the sport – and the hijinks they wreak at every turn – to a simple misreading of regulations that led to the creation of a monster car, to Lewis Hamilton's shock move to Ferrari, and Romain Grosjean's death-defying Man on Fire crash, Grid to Glory brings together some of the most iconic moments in the sport’s history, making it a classic F1 title.
Colorfully written and encompassing every aspect of the unique composition of elite motorsport – glamour, rivalry, death, strategy, technology, business, and controversy – this book will appeal to old and new fans of the sport, as its mix of known and never-before-told stories provide context to some of the most talked-about incidents in sporting history.
“If you like what Alex Jacques does with a microphone, you’re going to absolutely love what he does with a pen. Using his trademark eloquence and humour, Alex has managed to boil down 75 years of the rich history of Formula 1 into these key moments. From personalities to technologies, politicians to playboys, he tells nearly every must-know story for any F1 fan with enough depth that even seasoned fans will learn plenty.” - James Hinchcliffe, Racing Driver and Commentator for FOX Sports
“With the same flair he brings to the commentary box, Alex Jacques turns F1’s history into a fast-flowing, edge-of-your-seat read. Grid to Glory doesn’t just tell the story – it races through it. Every racing fan needs this on their shelf.” - Nate Saunders, Journalist for ESPN
“Who better than Alex Jacques, the voice of F1, to guide you through the most sensational, controversial, tragic and significant moments of our beloved sport. From the creation of the world championship to Drive to Survive and Abu Dhabi 2021, his passion, commitment and knowledge makes his brilliant debut book a joy to read. Enjoy this magnificent journey through 75 years of Formula One.” - Laura Winter, F1 TV Broadcaster
“Grid to Glory is an engaging and absorbing behind-the-scenes pass to the key moments in the sport’s illustrious history.” - Lawrence Barretto, F1 Commentator
“Epic, from lights out to chequered flag.” - Steve Jones, F1 Presenter
“Taking you behind the scenes of F1’s rich history – a must-read.” - Lee McKenzie, F1 Commentator
Foreword by David Coulthard
Preface: The Start of My Fascination with Formula One
1 The Creation of the World Championship
2 Brabham and Son
3 Bernie Ecclestone – The Journey to Control F1
4 Murray Walker Defines Sport Commentary
5 Enzo Ferrari Sends Stirling Moss Home
6 The Creation of the Constructors’ Championship
7 Stirling Moss, the Gentleman Racer
8 Stirling and Alf Change the Game
9 Fangio Gets Kidnapped
10 Jackie Stewart Stares at Death
11 Hollywood Fights to Take Grand Prix Racing to the Big Screen
12 Cosworth DFV Engine – A British Engineering Achievement Worth Celebrating
13 The Making of Colin Chapman
14 Jim Clark’s Death – It Could Happen to Anybody
15 Colin Chapman – After Jim
16 Sponsorship Begins
17 March Rock Up and Smash Their Opening Races
18 Ron Dennis Crashes Through his Windscreen
19 The Used-Car Deal that Gave Hunt a Shot
20 The Introduction of the Safety Car
21 Project 34 – The Legendary Six-Wheeler
22 Lella Lombardi Scores a (Half) Point
23 Niki Lauda Chooses to Drive
24 Lauda Chooses to Stop
25 The Yellow Teapot – Renault Build a Turbo Engine
26 Sid Watkins – Bringing Safety to Formula One
27 The Brabham Fan Car
28 John Barnard’s Carbon-Fibre Car
29 Ferrari’s Villeneuve and Pironi – Fallout Leading to Racing Tragedy
30 The Strike
31 Adrian Newey Makes his First Mark in F1
32 Ginny Williams Refuses to Let her Husband Die
33 Mansell’s Tyre Lets Go to Break a Generation’s Heart
34 Prost vs Senna Part One – Japan 1989
35 Prost vs Senna, Part Two – Japan 1990
36 Alesi’s Sliding Door 000
37 Part One – Bertrand Gachot Is Late for Dinner
38 Part Two – The Battle for Schumacher’s First Full-Time F1 Contract
39 Senna’s Lap of the Gods
40 The Death of Ayton Senna
41 Schumacher’s Dark Side
42 Awards and Rewards – Three Defining Days in the Career of Lewis Hamilton
43 Hill Gets Fired in the Press
44 Hill vs the World and the Washer
45 Schumacher Wins in the Pit Lane
46 European Grand Prix – What Happens When the Lights Don’t Go Out
47 The Real Rules of the Game
48 The Shootout that Made Button’s Career
49 Mercedes’ Disgruntled Employee Changes the Race
50 The Greatest Overtake of All Time
51 Ferrari’s Team Order Farce in Austria
52 Rossi and Surtees – From Two to Four Wheels
53 Kimi Rips the Tyre Off and Everyone Ignores It
54 Politics in Indianapolis Overwhelm the Sport, Setting Up Years of Decline
55 The Rebirth of the Second Tier
56 Adrian Newey Goes for Dinner on the King’s Road
57 Budapest – McLaren at War
58 Kubica – The Man Who Could Have Challenged Alonso and Hamilton
59 Vettel Becomes the Youngest Winner… With the B Team
60 Brawn’s Two Titles – Won in Translation
61 A Crazy Bridgestone Race Defines an Entire Era
62 Lewis and Niki Chat in Singapore
63 ‘Multi 21 Seb… Multi 21’
64 Claire Takes over Williams
65 The Battle That Saved Mercedes’ Engine Advantage
66 Marko Promotes Max Straight into F1 at Seventeen
67 Verstappen and Son – The Road to Becoming F1’s Youngest Winner
68 Rosberg Retires at Thirty-One
69 Drive to Survive
70 The Cost Cap and the Pandemic
71 Grosjean Cheats Death
72 Silverstone Ignites a Battle for the Ages
73 Abu Dhabi – Hamilton vs Verstappen
74 Charles, Herve and Jules
75 Hamilton Moves to Ferrari
Afterword
Index
Acknowledgments