British Domination: 1962 Season in Formula 1

British Domination: 1962 Season in Formula 1

In 1961, F1 was rocked by one of the worst tragedies in the history of the sport. The contender for the title Wolfgang von Trips of Ferrari died at the home track of the "black horses" - Monza. In the end, the title went to his teammate Phil Hill, who became the first American world champion. So in 1962 there were two question marks. How will Ferrari shake off the tragedy and how will the whole sport? The answer - British domination!

The very first start of the year in the Netherlands reveals what will happen by the end of it. Graham Hill with Owen Racing won the race, with Trevor Taylor with Lotus second. A double win for Great Britain, even though Hill and Taylor drive for different teams from the island.

Gradually, the exception becomes the trend. In the 9 races of the season, there are only three different winners. Both as drivers and as teams. Graham Hill and Owen Racing win 4 starts. His compatriot Jim Clark and Lotus took 3, and Australian Bruce McLaren won in Monte Carlo for Cooper. At the end of the constructors' championship, the first 4 places are for British teams. As many as 6 of the 8 teams with points are also from Albion. But what about the pilots?

After the victory in the opening round, Graham Hill enters a serious crisis. He stepped on the podium in just one of the next 4 races. Jim Clark takes 2 of them. An astonishing streak follows for Graham. Wins in Germany and Italy, as well as second place in the USA. The title is already decided before the paddock leaves for the Republic of South Africa for the final start. Hill won the first of his two titles and seemed to give a clear signal to the world that he was the best British driver of the 1960s (b.a. although Jim Clark also took 2 titles).

Ferrari's results are good until the first 3 starts, but the "reds" make another victim on the track. Mexican Ricardo Rodriguez gets into the car for the last time during the non-championship Mexican Grand Prix. In this way, security in sports is once again put under a serious question mark, and the future has the task of solving it.

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