The golden generation

Since the 1950s and the very genesis of Formula 1, the sport has always attracted the world’s best drivers. Most young racers begin their careers aspiring to make it to F1 some day and the cream of that talent rises through the ranks of the junior categories, while those that are not quite as good are left behind.

In every decade, the drivers at the front of the field have been absolutely top drawer. A handful became champions while others with the talent to do so missed out for any number of reasons. But there is never any guarantee of real depth of talent throughout the rest of the field.

The mid to late 1960s saw that golden age of British talent taking on the world. Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill and John Surtees did battle with the likes of Jack Brabham, Denny Hulme, Dan Gurney, Jochen Rindt and Bruce McLaren. These were hugely talented drivers competing in an incredibly dangerous era, not just in F1 but across the categories. Those drivers have 13 World Championships between them during an era when most careers didn’t have the longevity they do now.