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John Norman Surtees CBE (born 11th February 1934, Tatsfield, Surrey – died 10th March 2017) was a former Grand Prix Motorcycling racer and Formula One driver. Surtees won the F1 World Championship in 1964, in just his fourth full season of the sport, and is the only person to win World Championships on both two and four wheels.

Surtees was the oldest surviving World Champion before his death at the age of 83.[1]

During his life, Surtees had one child in 1991, Henry Surtees, who passed away in 2009 after a car crashed into a tire wall, a tire bounced onto the track and struck 19 year old Henry Surtees in the head, killing him.

John Surtees, stunned, would start the Henry Surtees foundation to help people who ended up like his son.

Formula One Career[]

Surtees started to dominate Grand Prix motocycling, ending with seven championships (three in 350cc and four in 500cc), and also taking 38 wins and 45 podiums out of 53 race finishes. In 1958 and 1959, he won all 25 championship races that he competed in.

In 1960, Surtees switched from motocycles to cars full time, and showed his potential by finished second in his second race in Britain. After a slow start, his career kicked off in 1962 with the Lola team, where he came fourth in the championship, taking two podiums in Britain and Germany. In 1963, he joined Ferrari, and won for the first time in F1, at the German Grand Prix, and he came fourth in the championship again.

In 1964, Surtees secured his place in sporting history by winning the F1 crown, winning twice, and finishing on the podium whenever his car reached the finish line. Graham Hill scored 41 points to Surtees' 40 points, but as only the best six results counted, Hill's 5th place at the Belgian Grand Prix was dropped and Surtees took the crown by a single point. In winning the title, Surtees became the first and only driver to win World Championship on both two wheels and four wheels.

Unfortunately, his 1965 season was not as successful and was marred by a large crash that forced him to sit out the last two races. Relations with Ferrari were destroyed in 1966 after they decided not to race a recovered Surtees in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Surtees left Ferrari for Cooper after winning the second race of the season in 1966. Surtees won the final race, the Mexican Grand Prix, becoming the second of two drivers to win races with two different teams in one season.[2]

For 1967, Surtees moved to Honda, and won one race, the 1967 Italian Grand Prix and slipstreaming and overtaking Jack Brabham. After two podiums in 1968, Surtees moved to BRM, but only took a solitary podium at the United States Grand Prix.

In 1970, Surtees founded his own team, Surtees. Initially driving customer McLaren chassis, Surtees created his own chassis midway through 1970. This venture did not lead Surtees to any success and he retired from competitive driving in 1972. The Surtees team was disbanded in 1978, having scored only one podium in 1973.

Formula One Statistical Overview[]

Formula One Record[]

Year Entrant Team WDC Pts. WDC Pos. Report
1960 United Kingdom Team Lotus Lotus-Climax 6 14th Report
1961 United Kingdom Yeoman Credit Racing Team Cooper-Climax 4 12th Report
1962 United Kingdom Bowmaker-Yeoman Racing Team Lola-Climax
Lotus-Climax
19 4th Report
1963 Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 22 4th Report
1964 Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC
United States North American Racing Team
Ferrari 40 1st Report
1965 Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 17 5th Report
1966 Italy Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 28 2nd Report
United Kingdom Cooper Car Company Cooper-Maserati
1967 Japan Honda Racing Honda 20 4th Report
1968 Japan Honda Racing Honda 12 7th Report
United Kingdom Lola Cars Lola-BMW
1969 United Kingdom Owen Racing Organisation BRM 6 11th Report
1970 United Kingdom Team Surtees McLaren-Ford Cosworth
Surtees-Ford Cosworth
3 18th Report
1971 United Kingdom Brooke Bond Oxo Team Surtees Surtees-Ford Cosworth 3 19th Report
1972 United Kingdom Team Surtees Surtees-Ford Cosworth 0 NC Report

Career Statistics[]

Entries 122
Starts 111
Pole Positions 8
Sprint Poles 0
Front Row Starts 21
Race Wins 6
Sprint Wins 0
Podiums 24
Sprint Podiums 0
Fastest Laps 11
Sprint Fastest Laps 0
Points 180
Laps Raced 4990
Distance Raced 25,291 km (15,715 mi)
Races Led 17
Laps Led 308
Distance Led 2,123 km (1,319 mi)
Doubles 4
Hat-Tricks 3

Race Wins[]

Win Number Grand Prix
1 1963 German Grand Prix
2 1964 German Grand Prix
3 1964 Italian Grand Prix
4 1966 Belgian Grand Prix
5 1966 Mexican Grand Prix
6 1967 Italian Grand Prix

Career Results[]

Complete Formula One Results
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pts Pos
1960 Flag of Argentina Flag of Monaco US flag 49 stars Flag of the Netherlands Flag of Belgium Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Portugal Flag of Italy Flag of the United States 6 14th
Ret 2nd Ret Ret
1961 Flag of Monaco Flag of the Netherlands Flag of Belgium Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Italy Flag of the United States 4 12th
Ret 7th 5th Ret Ret 5th Ret Ret
1962 Flag of the Netherlands Flag of Monaco Flag of Belgium Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Italy Flag of the United States Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 19 4th
Ret 4th 5th 5th 2nd 2nd Ret Ret Ret
1963 Flag of Monaco Flag of Belgium Flag of the Netherlands Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Italy Flag of the United States Flag of Mexico 1934-1968 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 22 4th
4th Ret 3rd Ret 2nd 1st Ret Ret DSQ Ret
1964 Flag of Monaco Flag of the Netherlands Flag of Belgium Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Austria Flag of Italy Flag of the United States Flag of Mexico 1934-1968 40 1st
Ret 2nd Ret Ret 3rd 1st Ret 1st 2nd 2nd
1965 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Monaco Flag of Belgium Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of the Netherlands Flag of Germany Flag of Italy Flag of the United States Flag of Mexico 1934-1968 17 5th
2nd 4th Ret 3rd 3rd 7th Ret Ret INJ INJ
1966 Flag of Monaco Flag of Belgium Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of the Netherlands Flag of Germany Flag of Italy Flag of the United States Flag of Mexico 1934-1968 28 2nd
Ret 1st Ret Ret Ret 2nd Ret 3rd 1st
1967 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Monaco Flag of the Netherlands Flag of Belgium Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Canada Flag of Italy Flag of the United States Flag of Mexico 1934-1968 20 4th
3rd Ret Ret Ret 6th 4th 1st Ret 4th
1968 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Spain 1945 1977 Flag of Monaco Flag of Belgium Flag of the Netherlands Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Italy Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Flag of Mexico 12 7th
8th Ret Ret Ret Ret 2nd 5th Ret Ret Ret 3rd Ret
1969 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Spain 1945 1977 Flag of Monaco Flag of the Netherlands Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Italy Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Flag of Mexico 6 11th
Ret 5th Ret 9th Ret DNS NC Ret 3rd Ret
1970 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Spain 1945 1977 Flag of Monaco Flag of Belgium Flag of the Netherlands Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Austria Flag of Italy Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Flag of Mexico 3 18th
Ret Ret Ret 6th Ret 9th Ret Ret 5th Ret 8th
1971 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Spain 1945 1977 Flag of Monaco Flag of the Netherlands Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Austria Flag of Italy Flag of Canada Flag of the United States 3 19th
Ret 11th 7th 5th 8th 6th 7th Ret Ret 11th 17th
1972 Flag of Argentina Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Spain 1945 1977 Flag of Monaco Flag of Belgium Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Austria Flag of Italy Flag of Canada Flag of the United States 0 NC
Ret DNS
Key
Symbol Meaning Symbol Meaning
1st Winner Ret Retired
2nd Podium finish DSQ Disqualified
3rd DNQ Did not qualify
5th Points finish DNPQ Did not pre-qualify
14th Non-points finish TD Test driver
Italics Scored point(s) for Fastest Lap DNS Did not start
18th Classified finish (retired with >90% race distance) NC Non-classified finish (<90% race distance)
4thP Qualified for pole position [+] More Symbols

Notes[]

  1. 'John Surtees: Former F1 world champion dies at 83', bbc.co.uk, (BBC Sport: Formula One, 10/03/2017), http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39235608, (Accessed 10/03/2017)
  2. The other driver was Juan Manuel Fangio, who took two wins with Maserati before moving to Mercedes mid-way through the season, taking four more wins, and winning the championship in the process.

External links[]

V T E List of World Drivers' Champions
1950: Giuseppe Farina
1951: Juan Manuel Fangio
1952: Alberto Ascari
1953: Alberto Ascari
1954: Juan Manuel Fangio
1955: Juan Manuel Fangio
1956: Juan Manuel Fangio
1957: Juan Manuel Fangio
1958: Mike Hawthorn
1959: Jack Brabham
1960: Jack Brabham
1961: Phil Hill
1962: Graham Hill
1963: Jim Clark
1964: John Surtees
1965: Jim Clark
1966: Jack Brabham
1967: Denny Hulme
1968: Graham Hill
1969: Jackie Stewart
1970: Jochen Rindt
1971: Jackie Stewart
1972: Emerson Fittipaldi
1973: Jackie Stewart
1974: Emerson Fittipaldi
1975: Niki Lauda
1976: James Hunt
1977: Niki Lauda
1978: Mario Andretti
1979: Jody Scheckter
1980: Alan Jones
1981: Nelson Piquet
1982: Keke Rosberg
1983: Nelson Piquet
1984: Niki Lauda
1985: Alain Prost
1986: Alain Prost
1987: Nelson Piquet
1988: Ayrton Senna
1989: Alain Prost
1990: Ayrton Senna
1991: Ayrton Senna
1992: Nigel Mansell
1993: Alain Prost
1994: Michael Schumacher
1995: Michael Schumacher
1996: Damon Hill
1997: Jacques Villeneuve
1998: Mika Häkkinen
1999: Mika Häkkinen
2000: Michael Schumacher
2001: Michael Schumacher
2002: Michael Schumacher
2003: Michael Schumacher
2004: Michael Schumacher
2005: Fernando Alonso
2006: Fernando Alonso
2007: Kimi Räikkönen
2008: Lewis Hamilton
2009: Jenson Button
2010: Sebastian Vettel
2011: Sebastian Vettel
2012: Sebastian Vettel
2013: Sebastian Vettel
2014: Lewis Hamilton
2015: Lewis Hamilton
2016: Nico Rosberg
2017: Lewis Hamilton
2018: Lewis Hamilton
2019: Lewis Hamilton
2020: Lewis Hamilton
2021: Max Verstappen
2022: Max Verstappen
2023: Max Verstappen
V T E List of World Drivers' Championship runners-up
1950: Juan Manuel Fangio
1951: Alberto Ascari
1952: Giuseppe Farina
1953: Juan Manuel Fangio
1954: José Froilán González
1955: Stirling Moss
1956: Stirling Moss
1957: Stirling Moss
1958: Stirling Moss
1959: Tony Brooks
1960: Bruce McLaren
1961: Wolfgang von Trips
1962: Jim Clark
1963: Graham Hill
1964: Graham Hill
1965: Graham Hill
1966: John Surtees
1967: Jack Brabham
1968: Jackie Stewart
1969: Jacky Ickx
1970: Jacky Ickx
1971: Ronnie Peterson
1972: Jackie Stewart
1973: Emerson Fittipaldi
1974: Clay Regazzoni
1975: Emerson Fittipaldi
1976: Niki Lauda
1977: Jody Scheckter
1978: Ronnie Peterson
1979: Gilles Villeneuve
1980: Nelson Piquet
1981: Carlos Reutemann
1982: Didier Pironi
1983: Alain Prost
1984: Alain Prost
1985: Michele Alboreto
1986: Nigel Mansell
1987: Nigel Mansell
1988: Alain Prost
1989: Ayrton Senna
1990: Alain Prost
1991: Nigel Mansell
1992: Riccardo Patrese
1993: Ayrton Senna
1994: Damon Hill
1995: Damon Hill
1996: Jacques Villeneuve
1997: Heinz-Harald Frentzen*
1998: Michael Schumacher
1999: Eddie Irvine
2000: Mika Häkkinen
2001: David Coulthard
2002: Rubens Barrichello
2003: Kimi Räikkönen
2004: Rubens Barrichello
2005: Kimi Räikkönen
2006: Michael Schumacher
2007: Lewis Hamilton
2008: Felipe Massa
2009: Sebastian Vettel
2010: Fernando Alonso
2011: Jenson Button
2012: Fernando Alonso
2013: Fernando Alonso
2014: Nico Rosberg
2015: Nico Rosberg
2016: Lewis Hamilton
2017: Sebastian Vettel
2018: Sebastian Vettel
2019: Valtteri Bottas
2020: Valtteri Bottas
2021: Lewis Hamilton
2022: Charles Leclerc
2023: Sergio Pérez
* Michael Schumacher was disqualified from the 1997 championship.


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