Book Review: Speed Read F1 by Stuart Codling

Netflix’s Drive to Survive documentary series has brought in a whole new demographic to Formula 1 – a new younger generation of F1 fan that is super knowledgable about driver personalties but not very knowledgeable of the sport’s history, technical rules, etc.  There are an abundance of books that cater to the F1 newbie. Bruce Jones’ books are well known as beginner guides for F1 season previews, F1 circuits (Circuits from Above) and F1 history (Treasures of Formula One).  Stuart Codling’s Speed Read F1 is another one of these.

Speed Read F1 has 7 chapters covering:

• basic F1 technology (engine, chassis, aero, steering wheel, etc.)
• drivers (training and record holders)
• famous driver rivalries (Lauda v Hunt, Prost v Senna, Rosberg v Hamilton, etc.)
• F1 circuits (classic, modern, street)
• flag to finish (mainly racing strategy across the weekend, including qualifying, start line & pitstops)
• safety
• commercial side of F1 (sponsors, Bernie, post-Bernie)

A lot of the content is a gloss over and not very detailed on the subject matter – for example, F1 circuits doesn’t actually relate to any specific circuit, layout or race history details.

This book doesn’t include any photos but rather has a right page illustration for each topic. These illustrations aren’t particularly helpful either but probably sets the tone that the target reader should be teenagers or younger. The fact it includes a F1 business section though, suggests maybe a more adult reader, so it’s a bit hard to pin down. I think this book is best suited to a much younger reader.

Speed Read F1 was published just after Nico Rosberg won & retired with the 2016 championship, so its at least up to date to the 2016 era of the sport. Stuart Codling will soon release a new book “The Formula One Drive to Survive Unofficial Companion” that looks to have a similar chapter structure but supplemented by actual colour F1 photographs in a more traditional history book style which might be better suited to more mature F1 fans.

Wow factor/money shot: Not much in the way of photos or graphics. Actually, the glossary sections are probably the most useful, thought out parts of the book.

Suitable for: Junior F1 newbies