The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who’s Who

By: Steve Small; Publish Date: April 1994; Publisher: Guinness Publishing Ltd. (New York), Paperback, 416 pages

My book review for April is ‘The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who’s Who’, by Steve Small. This is one of my favorite F1 history books, with regards to statistics and details into the individual record and accomplishments of Formula 1 drivers. The book is amazing. It includes ‘the career record of every driver to have started a World Championship race’, from 1950 through the 1993 season. Published in early 1994, it does not include a mention of contemporary champions such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonzo, Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button or Jacques Villeneuve.

Michael Schumacher is listed, but his time with the Benneton team to this point (1993) had only garnered him 38 starts and two wins. His seven championships had not yet occurred. His first came in 1994 the year of this publication. Mika Hakkinen is listed, but at this time had only 33 starts and 0 wins. His two championships came in 1998 and 1999. So, one might ask does this diminish the value of the book? The answer is, ‘absolutely not’.

Because it’s ‘dated”, the advantage of having the book, from an historian’s perspective, is that it focuses on the generation of its time. If this book were published now, it would likely gloss over earlier periods and consolidate statistical details into short and concise bullet points. With this book I can look back at my favorite periods of Formula 1, the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s with an analytical eye and dive deep into the records of each race my favorite drivers competed in. You can then compare, contrast, and draw out some startling detail which paints a picture as to how dominant some of these drivers were.

Nowadays whenever a discussion takes place about who is the greatest F1 driver, the focus is on either Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, or Ayrton Senna. Their success is quite impressive, but with objective analysis their standing is overshadowed by the greatness of Juan Manuel Fangio. He captured Five World Championships, with 24 wins in just 51 grand prix starts, in an era that was inherently more dangerous. His winning percentage is a staggering 47%, against the likes of Stirling Moss, Alberto Ascari, Guiseppe Farina, and Mike Hawthorn. His dominance was complete.

My personal favorite F1 driver is Sir Jackie Stewart. I place him as a close second in the ‘best-ever’ conversation. He has three World Championships, including 27 wins in 99 starts, for an impressive 27% winning percentage. And he essentially retired ‘in his prime’. Along with his driving prowess, Stewart was a leading voice in the push for safety standards in Formula 1. He survived in an era that saw speeds dramatically increase, along with a staggering death toll. His mastery and understanding of a racecar allowed him to speak with authority in his post-racing career as an announcer for ABC’s Wide World of Sports. 

‘The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who’s Who’ is a must have for any Formula 1 fan. It’s a history lesson that tells the story through statistics, reflecting each period of the evolving world of Formula 1 Grand Prix racing. Look for it the next time you’re in your favorite ‘vintage’ book shop. I highly recommend it. Enjoy!

TJ…..2025