Freddie Hunt on his father James’ ‘unbelievable’ 1976 title and legacy

James Hunt was a larger-than-life character endowed with an plain charisma, however in fact his best triumph was successful the 1976 Drivers’ Championship by a single level over his pricey buddy and rival Niki Lauda, which occurred 50 years in the past immediately.

For the newest instalment of F1 Icons, his son Freddie – who, like his father, discovered an immense love for motorsport – appears again on that exceptional season and the legacy Hunt constructed…

Sadly, in 1976 they did not have the footage like they do now. Think about if that they had fashionable expertise in these days – it could’ve been a pleasure to observe. I’ve seen as a lot as I can, and I’ve learn an terrible lot about it.

That 12 months could be thought-about an unbelievable season in any sport, simply the drama of it. Dad was an entire underdog there, in that nobody knew how fast he was as a result of he had by no means had a crew mate in Components 1 earlier than.

To leap within the McLaren and get pole place within the first race in Brazil… I do not assume Jochen Mass favored it very a lot as a result of he thought he must be the primary driver. And naturally, Niki certified alongside him, which actually summed up that entire 12 months.

All of the ups and downs of it and Dad’s relationship with Niki got here collectively to make it an unforgettable season. Many of the drivers acquired on very effectively since you needed to respect each other on the observe in these days, in any other case you’d find yourself killing your mate or getting your self killed.

Nevertheless it was great and thrilling – I am unable to think about how unbelievable it could have been for the motorsport lovers.

I’ve tried to place myself of their footwear, like I used to be seeing it from a spectator’s viewpoint. As an fanatic, it could’ve been probably the most good, gripping season of all.

I believe it was additionally one of many best comebacks within the historical past of the game by way of factors – I searched it and he was 17 factors behind Niki with three races left, in order that alone made it one of the dramatic, for positive.

Nevertheless it’s the final race in Fuji that stands out to me, notably as a result of it appeared like Dad did not know the place he was. He needed to change tyres when not everybody else did, and I really assume he messed that race up!

He made a mistake by not cooling his tyres, however I do not know, possibly the opposite guys had been all on a tougher compound. You do see them driving by the puddles to chill them down, and Dad did not do this. I reckon it was simply an excessive amount of adrenaline and focus, I assume, however who is aware of?

Aside from that, the US and the Canadian Grands Prix stand out to me too. The stress was off at that time and he wasn’t serious about the championship as a result of he had simply misplaced the factors from the British Grand Prix.

Due to this fact, I believe he simply kind of threw warning to the wind, and that was it. He loved the racing, gained each the races and created a chance to win the championship.

I believe he drove very effectively within the second half of the season. He did within the first half too, however within the second he acquired his confidence, he acquired his rhythm, and his consistency improved, little question. He actually stepped up to speed when it mattered.

There’s no different solution to describe his rivalry with Niki than as a terrific, thrilling one. It is horrible when two rivals do not like one another, once they’re at one another’s throats. That is unhappy to see.

Dad and Niki had been excellent buddies. Once they had been shut to at least one one other on the circuit… I am not going to start to invest what was going by their minds on the time, however I think about it was very tough, and totally different to what’s going by two drivers’ minds these days.

I didn’t know Niki notably effectively. I solely spoke to him a number of occasions, totally on digital camera really, however there’s a nice story about their friendship. Earlier than they reached F1, Dad acquired arrested and Niki went to bail him out.

This was in Germany or Austria, so Niki spoke the language, and I believe this was once they raced in F3. He advised the police: “No, no, you’ll be able to’t arrest him. He cannot spend the evening – he is racing towards me within the morning. You have to let him out!”

I do not know the way I’d sum up his legacy. He is fondly remembered, he’s. I’m extremely proud and I am unable to consider what different adjectives actually – it’s simply satisfaction. I’m impressed by what he might do, and I’ve an incredible quantity of respect not only for him, however for all of these drivers in these days as a result of it was completely deadly.

All I can say is he was sort, he was thoughtful, and he was respectful. A number of folks have advised me that one among his pretty traits was that he could possibly be at a dinner desk with the Queen on one aspect and the binman on the opposite, and he would not discuss to them any in a different way.

When he was excited he could possibly be risky, as I am positive you have seen from footage of him getting out of the automotive. Alternatively, he could possibly be excited in a social setting and grow to be terribly mischievous.

Somebody as soon as mentioned they had been ready for a bus, the bus by no means got here, and I believe there have been three of them. That they had no alcohol, no nothing, pouring down with rain. They had been sheltering on this bus cease, ready for the bus which by no means got here, however one way or the other Dad made it enjoyable.