There’s nothing like authenticity, and that’s especially true for Formula 1. The best photo Books about the sport don’t just show off your passion, they act like a VIP pass for the paddock and a real time machine. They reveal often never-before-seen snapshots, forgotten stories and illuminating context, allowing you to get closer to a significant moment or discover an event you might have missed.
Magnus Greaves knows this well. The founder and publisher of print magazine RACEWKND is on a mission to preserve what it is to attend a modern Grand Prix through his recent luxury limited edition book, “Sand, Sunsets, and Speed.” In saturated photo layouts, this work captures the first-ever Miami Grand Prix by contrasting the on-track experience with a sexy, chaotic, and quintessentially Miami scene. “What really inspired us was that there was so much wild stuff going on there,” he explains. “Even if you were racing in the stands, you wouldn’t see most of these things. We wanted to uncover those layers and share them with everyone.”
“Sand, Sunsets, and Speed” is not alone in this quest. The six other magnificent books we’ll explore—from photographic tributes to tomes loaded with historical detail—are excellent reminders of the many ways one can fall in love with Formula 1.
Sand, Sunsets & Speed
For RACEWKND editor Marcus Greaves, the 2023 Miami Grand Prix represented a unique moment, merging the sudden popularity of “Drive to Survive” with F1’s ambitions to conquer the American market. “Sand, Sunsets & Speed” captures this magic so well that you can almost smell the coconut sunscreen when you flip through the book’s neon pink cover for the first time. Of course, it has plenty of photos of cars roaring around the track (built in the Hard Rock Stadium parking lot). However, it’s Frederick Broden’s cinematic images, celebrating the sunny hedonism of the city, fans, concerts and pool parties, that immerse you in an ambiance reminiscent of the ’70s. An introduction by the Miami resident and superfan of F1, DJ Tiesto, adds to the atmosphere, without forgetting the very colorful box in which the book is presented. Only 1,000 copies will be printed.
Published in 2024 by RaceWKND; $100 at racewknd.co
Formula 1: The Impossible Collection
“Formula 1: The Impossible Collection” by Assouline and Brad Spurgeon is as spectacular as the Ferrari F1-90 featured on the cover. Inside, 228 pages of history are recounted through 100 photographs, carefully chosen by motorsport journalist Spurgeon. From post-race shots of Lewis Hamilton after breaking Schumacher’s victory record at Portimão in 2020 to powerful images of F1’s stars — machines and humans — in action, the book captures moments defining eras from every decade . Not to be overlooked, “Formula 1: The Impossible Collection,” like Assouline’s other works, is itself a veritable trophy. Weighing 19.7 pounds, it comes in a clamshell box with a metal plate, offering a lightly scented fragrance of an exclusive gum-infused essence, and is presented with a pair of white gloves, as an invitation to preserve its integrity.
Published in 2021 by Assouline; $1200 on assouline.com
Art of the Race V16
You may already be familiar with the work of Darren Heath, as he is the photographer behind some of the most memorable images in recent Formula 1 history. From 2014 to 2019, he collaborated with Art of Publishing on five individual volumes , each showcasing images from a racing season. This edition, Heath’s third, looks back at the 2016 season, which saw Nico Rosberg win the Drivers’ Championship, beating teammate Lewis Hamilton by five points in the final race (before retiring after winning the title). . Like each of the previous volumes, it is a time capsule filled with Heath’s incredible images that still resonate long after the races are over.
Published in 2017 by Art of Publishing; £22 on artofpublishing.net
Formula 1 Circuits: Maps and Statistics From Every Grand Prix Track
It’s true that the Internet is full of data and facts about F1, but nowhere else will you find this information as well presented and easy to access as in “Formula 1 Circuits”. The circuits are listed in chronological order from when they first held a Grand Prix, starting with Monza (1922) and ending with Miami. (The publication date of 2023 explains the absence of Las Vegas). This work serves as a history of sport, told through its twists and turns, nourished by the insights of journalist and commentator Maurice Hamilton. The reason this book deserves a permanent place on your coffee table is so you can check it out every Sunday before Crofty declares “Here we go!”
Published in 2023 by Sandman Books; $50 at amazon.com and sandmanbooks.com
Grand Prix: An Illustrated History of Formula 1
Will Buxton may have seen his popularity explode with ‘Drive to Survive’, but as he told Motorsport, he began his career as a journalist. He returns to the written word with this illustrated history of F1, designed to help new fans familiarize themselves with the subject. “Grand Prix: An Illustrated History of Formula 1” offers essential insights into the sport’s iconic people, moments and circuits, accompanied by animated illustrations. Although the book is mainly aimed at new fans, it might also be of interest to those who dream of Leyton House. If it’s not talking to you, it’s definitely talking to your friend who just got hooked, or a kid around you asking about tire strategies.
Published in 2024 by Penguin Random House; $30 at amazon.com and bookshop.org
Formula 1 in Camera, 1970-79 (Updated, paperback)
The first volume of Paul Parker’s Formula 1 in Camera series offers exclusive access to a glorious and chaotic decade of F1 history. Packed with behind-the-scenes images from renowned Formula 1 photographer Rainer Schlegelmilch, the book traces the sport’s rapid evolution towards world-renowned drivers, multi-million corporate sponsorships and radical technologies (Tyrell P34, we don’t know). will never forget). Once you’ve finished reading, you can begin Parker’s two-volume sequel, covering the years 1960 to 1969.
Published in 2003 by Behemoth Publishing; $80 at amazon.com
McLaren Formula 1 Car by Car: Every Race Car Since 1966
For papaya enthusiasts, journalist Stuart Codling offers a treasure trove of information: almost every statistic and feature of every McLaren car ever to race in Formula 1. Published last summer and presented in chronological order with photos and stories from each car, this work offers a visual history of the sport through the prism of one of its most iconic manufacturers. However, it’s all about admiring impressive machines, and if your heart beats for red, Codling’s book “Ferrari Formula 1: Car by Car” (published in 2021) will delight your racing red.
Published in 2024 by Motorbooks; $60 at amazon.com
F1 Mavericks: The Men and Machines that Revolutionized Formula 1 Racing
Today’s Formula 1 teams operate at the cutting edge of speed, backed by nine-figure budgets and a deep understanding of aerodynamics, sometimes seen as magical. However, “F1 Mavericks” reminds us that the technological innovations we take for granted are based on bold ideas from brilliant engineers and equally bold drivers. Exploring the period from 1960 to 1982, this book highlights as much the minds — Colin Chapman, Gordon Murray, Mauro Forghieri — as the drivers, while translating advances in aerodynamics, engine technology, tires, and more into accessible to all.
Published in 2019 by Motorbooks; $50 at amazon.com
