Formula 1 season 1868: Lotus regains its total dominance

Formula 1 season 1868: Lotus regains its total dominance

In the 1960s, Britain literally set the pace in Formula 1. After the title of American Phil Hill and Ferrari in 1961, every single championship was won by either a British driver or a British team. The main difference between 1966 and 1967 was that Albion were champions in theory only. Australian Jack Brabham has won the last 2 editions of the championship with the Brabham team based and named by himself in the UK. The big dream of everyone on the Island is for the traditions of the strong years of Lotus and BRM to return. The dream becomes a reality. England's Graham Hill in Lotus and Jackie Stewart in Matra-Ford contested the crown in 1968.

Conventionally, the season is divided into three periods. Hill dominated early. Second place in South Africa and wins in Spain and Monte Carlo in the first 3 starts hint at too much dominance of the '62 champion.

The fourth start in Belgium is a symbol of change. Stewart only finished 4th, but Hill dropped out of the race. In the next 4 starts, Jackie stepped on the podium 3 times, and his main competitor did not take a single point. His success in the rain at the Nürnbergring was particularly dramatic.

The final third of the season is off to a shaky start for both. In Italy and Canada they remain far enough from the prize positions and the race in the USA promises to be endlessly interesting. Danny Hulme also enters the fray with two straight wins. In the States, the Australian suffered a key upset and the English finished first and second. Before the Mexican Grand Prix, each of them has a shot at the crown, but Graham Hill's champion character is showing. Hulme drops out of the race and technical problems leave Stewart 7th. The victory and the world title are in the hands of Graham Hill.

Jack Brabham's two-year dominance comes to an end. The Australian finished in only 2 races and remained 23rd at the end of the championship. At almost 40 years old, Hill still remains in history as the 4th oldest champion in Formula 1. Only Jack Brabham, Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio are ahead of him. Equally impressive, Graham took the title with a second different team after BRM in 1962.

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