Stirling Moss, the uncrowned king

Stirling Moss, unanimously recognized as one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1, holds a incredible record, especially in relation to period during which he ran. Records that we will analyze, through this new History of Formula 1 column inaugurated last week with an article on Lella lombardi.

The birth of a… vice-champion

Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss It was born in London the 17 September 1929 and he died there on April 12th 2020, ninety years. Done straordinario for a pilot di Formula 1 of 50s and 60s, considered the sad frequency , whereby they die i pilots professionals of this era.

Son of art, Stirling Moss grows up in one family who loves car racing: his father, Alfred Moss, dentist and pilot, arrives 14th at the 500 Indianapolis 1924. Competition then little known in Great Britain. The mother Aileen stands out as Rally champion. Finally, the younger sister by Stirling Moss, Patricia Ann “Pat”, follows in her mother's footsteps. Participate in several rally races e sposa il driver Erik Carlsson.

Stirling Moss receives his first car from father to ten yearsa whirlpool bath, Austin Seven, and then to sedici a Morgan a three wheels. Cars he drives on the Mosses' country estate in Hertfordshire. Later, Stirling Moss becomes one of the Cooper Car Company's first customers, managing to have his father buy one Cooper 500. The young British driver thus begins to demonstrate his talent. His skill quickly emerges numerous victories at national and international level. Then compete in Formula 3, on Cooper and Kieft cars.

Stirling Moss' arrival in Formula 1

Stirling Moss arrives in the Formula 1 world championship on the occasion of 1951 Swiss Grand Prix, having a HWM-High. After having secured 14th place on the grid, he finishes the race eighth, two laps behind the winner Juan Manuel Fangio. The following year, Stirling Moss does not participate in any races in the top series, but comes second in the Monte Carlo Rally. Driving one Sunbeam-Talbot 90 with John Cooper as co-pilot.

Il first podium, as well as the first placing iridescentin Formula 1 becomes reality in 1954 Belgian Grand Prix. Taking advantage of Nino Farina's withdrawal, he manages to finish the race third, behind Fangio e Trintignant.(Maurice Trintignant, an uncle of the well-known actor Jean-Louis Trintignant, Ed.).

The exploits of Stirling Moss

In 1955 becomes teammate of the sample Juan Manuel Fangio in Mercedes-Benz. They both drive the W196. And here it is the real wonders begin of the British pilot. Stirling Moss in fact, he gets his first victory in the top flight the 16th July, in home race. Famous is the curtain which the two held after this run. Stirling Moss he asks his Argentine teammate: “Did you let me win?". AND Fangio"No, you were simply better than me that day”. Then the uncrowned King manages to win second place in the final ranking its behind Fangio.

Outside of Formula 1, in 1955 Stirling Moss attends the Mille Miglia behind the wheel of a Mercedes 300SLR. Next to him, like navigator, there is the journalist Dennis Jenkinson. The two they win the famous race from Brescia to Rome and back to average speed of 157,65 km/h! Which means: 1.597 km in 10 h 7′ and 48″, on urban roads! This makes the British pilot determine the mileage record and its elevation to icon of the Mille Miglia.

The eternal second: where his nicknames originate

From there continue, however, the events they see Stirling Moss author of great wonders, but never a winner of a Formula 1 championship. For example, right in the 1958 he finds himself in the rankings second again behind Mike Hawthorn, Ferrari driver by just one point. Despite having won 4 races against a single victory by his compatriot. Overall, Stirling Moss finishes 4 times second and 3 times third in well 7 Formula 1 championships. Due to the continuous second placings in the final ranking, we begin to nickname him"The Uncrowned King”. But also: "The eternal second"and "The greatest driver to never have won the world championship”. AND the 7 number will always remain the favourite hotel of the uncrowned King.

In any case, he continues to race in Formula 1 and in several other leagues up to 1961… Year in which wins 23 of 48 races in which he participates! Furthermore, the Eternal second remained the most successful British driver in terms of single victories (16, in 66 GPs) until 1965. The year in which he was reached and surpassed by the Scotsman Jim Clark. He is also one of the three pilots, together with Maurice Trintignant and Phil Hill, to have won at least one GP of the world of F1 is and with a front and rear engined car.

The worst accident of his career

In 1962, Stirling Moss remains, however, badly injured in an accident at the St. Mary a bend Goodwood, driving a Lotus, in Glover Trophy. According to reconstruction initial of the pilot, later integrated by that of Ken Gregory, initially the British pilot misunderstands a signal from Graham Hill. Stirling Moss is in fact chasing his compatriot when he sees him making a gesture with his hand. A gesture similar to the one they usually exchange when one of the two wants give the other the green light to overtake. Stirling Moss he then attempts an overtaking at the limit at St. Mary's Curve.

The reconstruction of the accident

Much more likely, instead, Hill is answering to a race commissioner that he just has reported the intent of Moss to surpass it. Result: Moss skids, but that's all there is to it good, because he is the magician of the “controlled skid”, like Fangio and a few others. And up until now he has always managed to prevent particularly violent impacts against the embankments of the slopes.

But there is a but. Not only is the grass, unlike the track, still wet from the rain of the previous days. A condition that Moss is able to manage in a controlled skid. Unfortunately, in that part of meadow runs a small drainage ditch for water in a depression di a few centimeters. How much enough to make him lose control of the car. As a result, Stirling Moss goes to crash violently against the runway embankment. It goes in coma for 30 days. For 6 months remains with the lleft side of the body paralyzed. During his convalescence, the British pilot he is subjected to tests by the psychologist Berenice Krikler on his reflexes. The reaction times by Stirling Moss they are no longer the same.following year, Furthermore, test to run on the track with the Lotus. Here too he is not at ease, therefore declares that he wishes to terminate his own career. But it won't be like that.

The partial return to track

In fact, he carries out a brief return to the world of racing since 1968 running aboard a Lancia Fulvia HF official the 24 Hours Nürburgring! He shares the steering wheel of the Turin car with Innes Ireland and Claudio Maglioli. Then he races with the same car also in the Sestriere Rally, won from his sister Pat. Then he returns to the 1980 British Touring Car Championship, driving aAudi alongside Martin Brundle, 30 years younger.

It then becomes television commentator for the BBC e continues in recent years to run in vintage car races: in 2009 runs on one OSCA FS372. At the age of 80! Actually, iThe Uncrowned King never announced his official retirement from competitive activity until June 2011. On the occasion of the first tests of the Le Mans Classic, he explains that for the first time in his life he felt truly afraid at the thought of getting behind the wheel of a racing car. THE a few laps behind the wheel of a Porsche Rsk they were enough for him to decide to stop racing cars for good.

He dies the 12 April 2020 in London, at the age of , after a long disease. Not

The irony of fate

The irony of Stirling Moss

Throughout his career, Stirling Moss has competed in a private Jaguar, for Maserati, Vanwall, Cooper, Lotus and Mercedes-Benz. He preferred to race with English cars because: “It is better to lose with honor in an English car than to win in a foreign car". The fact is that, overall, he has always been able to demonstrate his talent, even if this has never been fully highlighted by the lack of world titles in F1.

Stirling Moss' greatest hits chart