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Happy Birthday to the Formula 1 legend without a World Championship

Happy Birthday to the Formula 1 legend without a World Championship

17-09-2019 09:27

Formula 1 legend Sir Stirling Moss turns 90 today. The former F1 driver has retired from public life but the motorsport community will be remembering the British driver and his unique Formula 1 career. 

Stirling Moss was born on September 17, 1929, in West Kensington. Moss made his debut in Formula 1 for HW Motors in 1951, which he only participated in one race that season. The following year he drove for three different teams but never finished a race or managed to qualify particularly well. 

Fate would remain unfavorable for Moss as the Brit is still known as the biggest Formula 1 driver to never win a world title. From 1955 Moss really started to participate in the battle for the world championship, but he came second in his first year for Daimler Benz AG. Juan Manuel Fangio was always too fast for the Brit when Moss switched to Maserati in 1956.

In 1958 it finally seemed to be Moss' turn to win. He had a good car with Vandervell, but again it was just not enough. The Briton was one point short of his fellow countryman, Mike Hawthorn. The following years would not bring Moss luck either, with three consecutive third places in the final rankings. After his third place in 1961, Moss decided to retire. 

Moss won 16 races from 66 starts and was on the podium no less than 24 times. However, there was never a world title. However, Moss goes into the books as one of the greats of Formula 1.

Happy Birthday, Sir Stirling Moss!