James Hunt
born 29 Aug 1947 · raced 1973–1979
James Hunt, the charismatic British driver, embodied the daring spirit of 1970s Formula 1. Known for his flamboyant personality off-track and aggressive, no-holds-barred driving style on it, he captured the 1976 World Championship in a dramatic season finale. His intense rivalry with Niki Lauda, immortalized in film, remains one of the sport's most compelling narratives. Across 92 starts, Hunt secured 10 victories, 14 pole positions, and 23 podium finishes.
All-time records
Where James Hunt ranks in the all-time Formula 1 record books.
- =2nd in Closest F1 Championship Finishes (1 points)
- =11th in Best Pole to Win Conversion in F1 (50.0% %)
- =18th in Most F1 Drivers’ Championships (1 titles)
- 22nd in Highest F1 Win Percentage (10.9% %)
- =23rd in Most Consecutive F1 Pole Positions (3 consecutive poles)
- =25th in Most F1 Pole Positions (14 pole positions)
Top Circuits
Circuit | Wins | Avg ptsAvg Points (as awarded) |
|---|---|---|
| Watkins Glen | 2 | 5.17 |
| Circuit Paul Ricard | 1 | 5 |
| Silverstone Circuit | 1 | 5 |
| Circuit Park Zandvoort | 2 | 3.67 |
| Mosport International Raceway | 1 | 3 |
| Nürburgring | 1 | 3 |
| Jarama | 1 | 2 |
| Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez | 0 | 1.8 |
| Red Bull Ring | 0 | 1.67 |
| Kyalami | 0 | 1.5 |
Points are Grand Prix points as awarded at the time (sprints excluded); average points are per race started.
Most-shared teammates. Each link opens their head-to-head.
- Jochen Mass33 shared races · Compare with Jochen Mass (1977)
- Patrick Tambay15 shared races · Compare with Patrick Tambay (1978)
- Brett Lunger12 shared races · Compare with Brett Lunger (1977)
- Jean-Pierre Jarier5 shared races · Compare with Jean-Pierre Jarier (1973)
- Alan Jones4 shared races · Compare with Alan Jones (1975)
- Mike Beuttler4 shared races · Compare with Mike Beuttler (1973)
| Season | Team | Matchup | Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | McLaren | Hunt vs TambayJames Hunt vs Patrick Tambay | 4–11 |
| 1978 | McLaren | Hunt vs LungerJames Hunt vs Brett Lunger | 2–2 |
| 1977 | McLaren | Hunt vs MassJames Hunt vs Jochen Mass | 11–6 |
| 1977 | McLaren | Hunt vs LungerJames Hunt vs Brett Lunger | 2–3 |
| 1976 | McLaren | Hunt vs MassJames Hunt vs Jochen Mass | 12–4 |
| 1975 | Hesketh | Hunt vs JonesJames Hunt vs Alan Jones | 3–1 |
| 1975 | Hesketh | Ertl vs HuntHarald Ertl vs James Hunt | 1–2 |
| 1975 | Hesketh | Hunt vs LungerJames Hunt vs Brett Lunger | 3–0 |
| 1973 | March | Hunt vs JarierJames Hunt vs Jean-Pierre Jarier | 4–1 |
| 1973 | March | Beuttler vs HuntMike Beuttler vs James Hunt | 0–4 |
17 circuitsShow all▾
19797 racesWolf▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 9 | Accident | 0 | |
| 15 | Brakes | 0 | |
| 8 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 13 | P8 | 0 | |
| 10 | Steering | 0 | |
| 18 | Electrical | 0 |
Earlier seasons1973–1978 (6 seasons)▾
197816 racesMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 6 | P7 | 0 | |
| 10 | Distributor | 0 | |
| 7 | P10 | 0 | |
| 8 | Accident | 0 | |
| 8 | Disqualified | 0 | |
| 14 | Accident | 0 | |
| 4 | P3 | 4 | |
| 14 | P8 | 0 | |
| 4 | P6 | 1 | |
| 6 | Accident | 0 | |
| 6 | Handling | 0 | |
| 7 | Accident | 0 | |
| 3 | Engine | 0 | |
| 2 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 6 | P4 | 3 |
197717 races, 3 winsMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | Accident | 0 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 1 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 3 | Accident | 0 | |
| 2 | Engine | 0 | |
| 4 | Fuel pump | 0 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | P3 | 4 | |
| 3 | P128 places worse than season average (P4.2) | 0 | |
| 9 | P7 | 0 | |
| 7 | Engine | 0 | |
| 7 | Engine | 0 | |
| 8 | P7 | 0 | |
| 1 | P4 | 3 | |
| 1 | P2 | 6 | |
| 1 | Suspension | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than James Hunt’s average finish in 1977 (P4.2, retirements excluded).
197616 races, 6 winsMcLaren▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | P3 | 4 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 24 | Spun off | 0 | |
| 2 | P1 | 9 | |
| 1 | P4 | 3 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 2 | Disqualified | 0 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 8 | P5 | 2 | |
| 14 | Engine | 0 | |
| 3 | Gearbox | 0 | |
| 1 | P1 | 9 | |
| 3 | Accident | 0 | |
| 1 | P2 | 6 | |
| 1 | Accident | 0 |
197514 races, 1 winHesketh▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | P4 | 3 | |
| 8 | P5 | 2 | |
| 2 | P2 | 3 | |
| 9 | Wheel | 0 | |
| 9 | P4 | 3 | |
| 3 | P2 | 6 | |
| 3 | P1 | 9 | |
| 13 | Brakes | 0 | |
| 11 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 11 | Accident | 0 | |
| 3 | Accident | 0 | |
| 12 | Fuel system | 0 | |
| 7 | P6 | 1 | |
| 6 | P2 | 6 |
197415 races▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | P3 | 4 | |
| 8 | P4 | 3 | |
HeskethItalian GPItalian Grand Prix | 8 | Engine | 0 |
| 7 | P3 | 4 | |
HeskethGerman GPGerman Grand Prix | 10 | Gearbox | 0 |
HeskethBritish GPBritish Grand Prix | 6 | Suspension | 0 |
HeskethFrench GPFrench Grand Prix | 10 | Collision | 0 |
HeskethDutch GPDutch Grand Prix | 6 | Collision | 0 |
HeskethSwedish GPSwedish Grand Prix | 6 | P3 | 4 |
HeskethMonaco GPMonaco Grand Prix | 7 | Halfshaft | 0 |
HeskethBelgian GPBelgian Grand Prix | 9 | Accident | 0 |
HeskethSpanish GPSpanish Grand Prix | 10 | P105 places worse than season average (P5.3) | 0 |
| 14 | Transmission | 0 | |
| 18 | P9 | 0 | |
| 5 | Overheating | 0 |
▲/▼ a finish at least 4 places better/worse than James Hunt’s average finish in 1974 (P5.3, retirements excluded).
19738 racesMarch▾
| Grand Prix | Grid | Result | PtsPoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | P2 | 6 | |
| 15 | P7 | 0 | |
| — | Accident | 0 | |
| 9 | Injection | 0 | |
| 7 | P3 | 4 | |
| 11 | P4 | 3 | |
| 14 | P6 | 1 | |
| 18 | P9 | 0 |