If somebody has been described as having a ‘need for speed’, it’s considered to be a natural inclination to go as fast as possible on two or more wheels.
It would be fair to suggest that all F1 drivers have this predisposition, but interestingly not all drivers in one of the fastest sports on four wheels started out by climbing the ladder of success in the various ‘Formula’ categories. Instead, some of the most renowned F1 drivers on the planet harnessed their need for speed in other sports first.
Although somewhat elusive these days, there is a path that links superbike success to F1 glory. Those that bet on BSB will already know that the finest British biking talent, such as 2023 championship favorites Tommy Bridewell (odds of 11/4), Josh Brookes (3/1), and Glenn Irwin (10/), have what it takes to drive well at high speed. Could they follow in the footsteps of another British superbike legend, John Surtees?
He remains the only person to win a major international motorbike racing title – seven of them, in fact – and an F1 Drivers’ Championship, which he achieved in 1964 with Ferrari. Surtees also finished third in Le Mans, confirming his status as one of the most talented and versatile drivers in motor racing history.
Only a few others have gotten close to emulating Surtees in the modern era – Mike Hailwood, a multiple-time superbike champion, won a Formula Two title and contested more than 30 F1 races, ironically driving for Team Surtees. He would make the podium twice.
Lewis Hamilton was a renowned kart racing champion from a young age, while Jim Clark was able to win F1 world titles while simultaneously racing in other disciplines – in an incredible 1965 campaign, he won the F1 championship, Formula Two, Tasman Series, and Trophees de France. But, generally speaking, it’s been more common for drivers to try their hand after disciplines after their career in F1 has come to a voluntary or enforced end.
One of the most successful crossover drivers so far has been Nigel Mansell, who won the F1 title and the IndyCar World Series in consecutive years through 1992-93. He would even later have a crack at the British Touring Car Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Derek Warwick won Le Mans, the World Sportscar Championship, and triumphed in a BTCC race at Knockhill in 1998. The Brit had, earlier in his career, enjoyed four podium finishes in F1 with Renault. Kimi Raikkonen is just one of a number of F1 drivers who had a crack at rally driving. He competed in the World Rally Championship in 2011 during a hiatus from Formula One, with a best finish of fifth in Turkey, and the Finn would later also try his hand at NASCAR racing too.
And then there’s Robert Kubica, whose initial F1 run was cruelly cut short by injury. The Polish racer instead turned to rally driving, winning the World Rally-2 title in 2013, and also had a stint in touring cars in Germany.
So, there have been plenty of F1 drivers that have learned their trade in other disciplines, or gone on to have success in other sports after Formula One. Who will be the next to join either camp?