Top 25 Formula 1 drivers of all-time
By Asher Fair
Top Formula 1 drivers of all-time: #22 – James Hunt
To be a successful Formula 1 driver — or to even ascend to the level of being able to classify yourself as anything remotely close to a Formula 1 driver — you would assume that you would need incredible focus, incredible discipline and incredible drive to be the best at your craft.
That is all but implied, whether we are talking about this day and age or several decades ago.
Suffice it to say that James Hunt didn’t exactly have that when he competed in Formula 1 in the 1970s, and we’ll leave it at that.
But that didn’t stop him from quickly becoming a world champion.
Of course, he benefited from the infamous Niki Lauda crash at the Nurburging, among other various controversies throughout the iconic 1976 season which was recently documented in Ron Howard’s 2013 film Rush. Otherwise, he may very well be among the greatest non-champions of all-time.
Even with that world title, Hunt is another driver who never lived up to his full potential. In fact, he only competed in the sport for five full seasons, never returning following his retirement from the 1979 Monaco Grand Prix.
Like Gilles Villeneuve, on talent alone, you cannot say definitively that Hunt does not deserve a spot in the top five or top 10 on this list.
To go along with his 10 Formula 1 wins, including six in 1976 alone, he recorded four wins, including two in 1976, and an additional two podium finishes in 11 Formula 1 non-championship races.