Best Formula 1 Books

Looking for some good Formula 1 books to read? I often get emails from readers asking about F1 books or for some recommendations.

Here’s my current list of the best F1 racing books that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. I will tweak the list from time to time – at the moment the Top 10 includes many Rainer Schlegelmilch books because they are so good. The first 5 books make the list just based on the detail and the amount of work that would have been spent into making them.

My basic criteria for this list is the quality of the photography, degree of research, page count, book layout, balance, presentation and value for money. Most of these are large heavy hardcover books as these typically have more content.

I have to admit a personal preference for hardcover color photo-albums rather than paperbacks as you can re-read these books repeatedly (even after many years) without them feeling stale. That isn’t to say that there aren’t great B&W grand prix books around (e.g. Chris Nixon’s excellent Auto Union Album 1934-1939) or good text paperbacks (typically these tend to be driver autobiographies).

It’s difficult to have one list for all F1 books because of the wide range of content available e.g. modern F1 vs historic F1, team books, driver books, engineering books, etc. To balance this list, check my other book lists (best Senna books, best Ferrari books and best team and driver books). Due to cost & value being a criteria, I’ve not included rare F1 books in this list – if you’re looking for rare F1 books, you can see my list posted here.

I will slowly get around to posting reviews of all the books and will update them with working links.

F1-nut.com Recommended Formula 1 books – hardcovers (click links to read full book reviews)

1. 50 Years of Formula 1 Photography by Rainer Schlegelmilch; Könemann 2012

Top of the list. Weighs a ton – 660 pages packed full of iconic photos from F1 seasons 1962-2011.

2. Grand Prix: Fascination Formula 1 by Rainer Schlegelmilch, Hartmut Lehbrink; Könemann 1993

Former top of the list. Before his 50 years of Formula One book, I rated Fascination Formula 1 as one of the best F1 books. Close to 400 pages of dramatic photo panels.

3. McLaren the Cars by William Taylor; Coterie Press 2020

All the McLaren F1 and racecars profiled. The 2020 edition adds updated content to the 2008 edition which was the definitive car book for any McLaren F1 fan.

4. Monaco Grand Prix by Michael Hewett; Haynes Publishing 2007

Great photo book chronicle of the Monaco GP up to 2006.

5. Formula 1 in Camera Series 1980-1989 by Quintin Spurring and Rainer Schlegelmilch.

One of a series of 3 Schlegelmilch in Camera books. This one covers the exciting 80’s turbo and Senna-Prost era.

6. The Jack Brabham Story by Sir Jack Brabham, Doug Nye; Minidi 2004

Superbly balanced book – a biography in the format of a technical photo album!

7. First Among Champions: The Alfa Romeo Grand Prix Cars by David Venables; Haynes Publishing 2000

Detailed research and photography for Alfa fans.

8. Racing the Silver Arrows by Chris Nixon; Osprey Publishing 1986

The definitive book on the 1930’s Mercedes Silver Arrows era.

9. The Complete Book of Formula One by Simon Arron, Mark Hughes; Motorbooks International 2008

Compilation thumbnail photo galleries of all F1 cars up to 2008.

=10. How to Build a Car by Adrian Newey; Harper Collins (2017)

Personal & technical insights into iconic historic championship winning cars of the last few decades including Williams FW14B, McLaren MP4/13 and Red Bull RB6 from the accomplished designer himself.

=10. Colin Chapman Inside the Innovator by Doug Nye; Haynes Publishing 2010.

F1 history and technical innovation rolled into one book.

Honorable Mentions:

There are quite a few other books that deserve mentioning (click link to read full reviews):

William Taylor’s “Lotus the Cars” is a superb collectors book which documents most of the iconic Lotus grand prix and sports cars.

Stuart Codling’s “The Art of the Formula 1 Race Car” is also a great close up photo book of some classic F1 cars.

Chris Nixon’s “Auto Union Album 1934-1939” has a compilation of amazingly detailed B&W archival photos. A great companion book to “Racing the Silver Arrows”.

Easy reads & paperbacks

If you’re simply looking for good F1 books that’s light and easy to read on the daily commute to work, paperbacks are best although most paperbacks these days are driver biographies.

I’ve posted my list of best F1 driver books elsewhere on the site but some good general F1 paperback books include:

Sir Jackie Stewart “Winning is not Enough” gives some good insight into the 60’s & 70’s era of F1:

For 90’s F1 fans, Steve Matchett’s “The Mechanic’s Tale” is a good all-round general read.

For 2000 era F1 fans, Charles Jennings’ “Burning Rubber” is a decent read.

For F1 fans for the modern post 2010 F1 era, Mark Webber’s “Aussie Grit“, Jenson Button’s “Life to the Limit” and Marc Priestley’s “The Mechanic” are all very entertaining non-PC reads.