Formula 1 Car by Car 2000-09 - by Peter Higham (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Evro's decade-by-decade series covering all Formula 1 cars and teams moves into the new millennium.

The first half of the decade brought the strongest domination in F1's history from Michael Schumacher and Ferrari, with five consecutive drivers' and constructors' titles. Then came a changing of the guard when young new stars -- Fernando Alonso, Kimi Räikkönen, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button -- claimed championships.

Teams also reshuffled in the decade's second half, as Renault and McLaren prospered again, and newcomers like Brawn and Red Bull came through, although major manufacturers such as Toyota and Jaguar always struggled. As ever, the cars became faster and technology moved on apace, such that regulations had to be tightened to rein them in, bringing smaller engines in 2006 and considerable aerodynamic constraint in 2009. F1 extended its worldwide reach with new races in Bahrain, China, Singapore and Abu Dhabi.

• Year-by-year treatment explores each season in fascinating depth, running through the teams -- and their various cars -- in championship order.
• Ferrari: Michael Schumacher finally delivered Ferrari's first drivers' title for 21 years in 2000 and reigned supreme for four more years, culminating with an unprecedented 13 wins in 2004; another title followed in 2007 for Kimi Räikkönen.
• Renault: after taking over Benetton, Renault broke Ferrari's grip when, in 2005, Fernando Alonso became the youngest champion the sport had seen, and repeated his success the following year.
• McLaren-Mercedes: the team won races throughout the decade but 2008 was the big season with Lewis Hamilton's title, a year after 'Spygate' inflicted a record $100 million fine and exclusion from the constructors' championship.
• Brawn: arising from the ashes of Honda's withdrawal, Ross Brawn's eponymous team was a one-year wonder that gave the decade a feel-good finale when Jenson Button became champion.
• Other winning makes picking up crumbs were Williams-BMW, Honda, BMW Sauber, Toro Rosso-Ferrari and Red Bull-Renault.

This authoritative and comprehensively illustrated book, which contains over 350 color photos from the world's best Formula 1 photo archive, shows every type of car that raced during the decade, presenting a comprehensive survey.

About the Author

Peter Higham works in motor racing as a writer and project manager. For nearly 30 years he worked for Haymarket Consumer Media, publisher of motor racing magazines and websites, and for half of that period he was director of LAT Photographic (now Motorsport Images), the world's largest motor racing photo archive. A motor racing enthusiast since watching his first race in 1973, he has written seven books, including the acclaimed International Motor Racing Guide and World Encyclopaedia of Racing Drivers. He has been a columnist for Autosport and Motor Sport and was instrumental in running the prestigious Autosport Awards for over 25 years. He lives in Twickenham, Middlesex.