On October 25, 1964, British John Surtees became the first driver to win world titles in both motorcycles and single-seaters, achieving the title of Formula 1 World Champion at the end of the Mexican Grand Prix presented at the Mexican circuit. .

Born on February 11, 1934, John Surtees was the son of Jack and Dorothy Surtees. The couple owned a motorcycle repair shop and competed in sidecar races on grassy tracks. Obviously little John quickly started piloting two-wheelers. At 15, he left school to work in his parents’ garage while building his own racing bikes.

He quickly rises through the ranks, surpasses pilots more experienced than him, and wins races. Become a star in the UK, he signed a contract with the firm MV Agusta to compete in the FIM World Championship. Helped by a very small team, Surtees became the youngest motorcycling world champion at age 22. Over the next four seasons he won six more world titles on two wheels for MV Agusta in 350 and 500 cc.

If Count Domenico Agusta prohibits you from driving motorcycles of other brands, this does not prevent Surtees from driving cars during his free weekends! Thus, he learned to drive single-seaters aboard Formula Junior and F2 before taking the big leap and competing in his first F1 Grand Prix.

He made his debut on the streets of Monaco in 1960 at the wheel of a Team Lotus 18-Climax, but gave up. A few weeks later, he accomplished a feat by finishing second in the British Grand Prix. Colin Chapman wants to keep his services for 1961, but Surtees refuses to be Jim Clark’s teammate. Later, Enzo Ferrari also makes him an offer, but Surtees distrusts the political climate that reigns within the Scuderia.

Hence, he drove for the Cooper team in 1961, then for Reg Parnell’s Bowmaker-Yeoman Racing team in 1962. Enzo Ferrari returned to the fray and managed to seduce Surtees for the 1963 season.

A Briton among Italians

Ferrari driver in F1 and endurance, Surtees quickly collides, it is said, with the sports director of the Scuderia, Eugenio Dragoni. Surtees scored his first F1 victory at the 1963 German Grand Prix on the long track at the Nürburgring.

In 1964, he won again, again in Germany, then in Italy at the super fast circuit of Monza. In the penultimate event of the season, the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, Surtees, driving his Ferrari 158, qualified second and finished the race second behind the Graham Hill BRM.

Therefore, the title is played in Mexico between three drivers: Graham Hill, first with 39 points, Surtees is second with 34 points and Jim Clark, who drives a Lotus-Climax, is third with 30 points. Clark takes pole position, Surtees is fourth and Hill is sixth.

In the race, Surtees is helped by incredible luck. Clark takes the lead and dominates the event. Surtees got off to a very bad start and finished 13th on the first lap! However, he is starting a solid comeback.

On lap 30, it has been 19 laps that Surtees teammate Lorenzo Bandini has followed Hill’s BRM as his shadow. He tried to pass it, but the two cars touched and turned around. Bandini manages to quickly get back on track as Hill’s BRM hits the rails backwards, doubling an exhaust. Hill starts up again, but has to go back to the wells to straighten the pipe. He returned to the race, away in 13th position.

Clark’s problems

With just three laps to complete when the Clark Lotus oil pressure gauge panics. An oil hose snapped and the 1.5-liter V8 slowly drained of its lubricant. Clark has no choice but to slow down. Dan Gurney passed it easily and took the lead.

On the other hand, Surtees is not yet a champion. It lacks a very small point. The Ferrari team gave a clear signal to Bandini and the latter allowed himself to be overtaken by Surtees during the last lap of the race.

Gurney takes the victory ahead of Surtees and Bandini. Surtees is crowned World Champion. At the same time, the Scuderia de Maranello won the constructors’ title.

And when we speak of incredible luck for Surtees, it must be added that in 1964 only the six best results were counted to crown the World Champion. Surtees didn’t score any points, while Hill had to subtract two. Thus, if all the results had been recorded, it would be Hill who would have been crowned champion, 41 points against 40 for Surtees.

The gray-haired Briton was, however, an extraordinary pilot, prodigiously versatile and an extraordinary technician. Adding to his numerous motorcycling titles are his F1 and Can-Am coronations, as well as his superb third place finish at the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans.

John Surtees passed away on March 10, 2017 at the age of 83, dragged down by respiratory problems.