Tony Brooks, an F1 pioneer of the 1950s has passed away aged 90
Tony Brooks or the ‘racing dentist’ was a British racing driver, who participated in 39 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 14 July 1956, achieving six wins, 10 podium finishes, and 75 career points. He was third in the World Drivers’ Championship in 1958 with Vanwall and second in 1959 with Ferrari. He also scored the first win by a British driver in a British car in a Grand Prix since 1923, driving a Connaught at Syracuse in 1955 in a non-championship race.
Brooks is regarded alongside Stirling Moss as the best British driver never to win the F1 title. Tributes poured in from Brooks from all sections of the F1 community. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali paid tribute saying, “I was saddened to hear the news that Tony Brooks has died. He was part of a special group of drivers who were pioneers and pushed the boundaries at a time of great risk. He will be missed and our thoughts are with his family at this time.”
F1 teams, drivers, fans paid their tributes to the legendary racing driver on social media.
Brooks’ former team, Ferrari paid their tribute on Twitter. “We pay homage to Tony Brooks, a fantastic driver who contributed to our legacy. Our thoughts are with his beloved ones”, they tweeted.
“The FIA pays tribute to former @F1 driver Tony Brooks, who passed away at the age of 90. Winner of prestigious Grands Prix such as Spa, Nürburgring & Monza, team-mate of Stirling Moss & Dan Gurney, he was Vice-World Champion in 1959. Our thoughts are with his family and friends”, tweeted the sport’s apex governing body, FIA.
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Tony Brooks.Among his many achievements, Brooks took victory for @astonmartin in the ’58 RAC Tourist Trophy alongside Sir Stirling Moss: pictured here together in the DBR1.Our thoughts are with Tony’s family and many friends”, tweeted Aston Martin F1 team.
“We are sad to announce the passing of Tony Brooks, the last surviving Grand Prix winner from the 1950s. Known as the ‘Racing Dentist’, he was one of the greatest drivers never to have been World Champion despite six GP wins. Our thoughts are with his family”, wrote Goodwood Revival, paying their tribute to Brooks.