1962 F1 Season
Graham Hill Won Formula 1 World Championship with BRM
Defending Formula 1 World Champion Phil Hill stayed with Ferrari for the 1962 season. The team also hired Giancarlo Baghetti, who had won a World Championship Grand Prix at his first attempt in 1961. The exciting young Mexican Ricardo Rodriguez was also signed to drive the red cars.
Trevor Taylor teamed up with Jim Clark at Lotus, where Colin Chapman had designed the revolutionary Type 25, which used a monocoque chassis. Innes Ireland had left the team and joined BRP. Graham Hill stayed at BRM and was joined there by Ritchie Ginther.
Graham Hill Wins Dutch Grand Prix
Stirling Moss was a notable absentee from the Formula 1 paddock at Zandvoort. He had been critically injured before the season started in a race at Goodwood, and would never compete in a Grand Prix again.
John Surtees was fastest in qualifying, driving a Lola. Graham Hill started from second on the grid and Clark was third in his new Lotus. Jack Brabham qualified fourth quickest in an older Lotus 24, followed by Bruce McLaren’s Cooper and Ireland’s BRP Lotus.
Dan Gurney made a fantastic start, moving into third position behind Graham Hill and the leader, Clark. Brabham’s race ended early, after he collected Rodriguez’s out of control Ferrari. Clark was also out of luck, as his Lotus developed mechanical trouble. The victory went to Graham Hill’s BRM, with Trevor Taylor passing Phil Hill late in the race to take second. Baghetti was fourth, Tony Maggs fifth in a Cooper and Carel Godin de Beaufort sixth in his private Porsche 718.
Bruce McLaren Takes Monaco Grand Prix Victory
The 1962 Monaco Grand Prix got off to a chaotic start. Ginther’s throttle jammed, resulting in a multi-car accident which eliminated the American, his countryman Gurney and Maurice Trintignant. Unfortunately, a flying wheel from the accident also killed a marshal.
McLaren led the race in the early stages, on a damp track, He was then overtaken by Graham Hill who seemed set for victory until his engine failed tantalisingly close to the end. McLaren passed by to score a memorable win, with Phil Hill second. Lorenzo Bandini was third in a Ferrari, ahead of Surtees and Jo Bonnier. Despite retiring, Graham Hill was still classified sixth.
Clark Provides Spa-Francorchamps Masterclass
Graham Hill started the Belgian Grand Prix from pole, but the race belonged to Clark. After starting from 12th on the grid the brilliant Scotsman made his way to the front and, once there, disappeared into the distance. Graham Hill was a distant second, followed home by Phil Hill’s Ferrari. Fourth place went to Rodriguez, with Surtees fifth and Brabham sixth.
Willy Mairesse and Taylor were extremely fortunate to receive only minor injuries after a terrifying high speed collision. Mairesse’s Ferrari struck a telegraph pole and burst into flames.
1962 F1 season review continues.
Defending F1 World Champion Phil Hill
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