Top 10... F1 Piggy‑backs

I stumbled across this shot of Stirling Moss from the Glover Trophy Formula 1 race in April 1956. The Englishman won the race in a Maserati 250F, as was his wont, and was snapped giving fellow Brit Archie Scott Brown a lift after the Alta engine in his works Connaught Type B, which he’d started on the front row alongside polesitter Moss, failed just after half-distance.

The image reminded me of plenty of other occasions when drivers have stopped to give stranded rivals a ride back to the pits.

Here, then, are 10 examples of the world’s most exotic Grand Prix taxis in action.

Jim Clark and Colin Chapman – Monza 1963 

Superstar Clark won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in the Climax-engined Lotus 25, by more than a minute and a half. His fifth victory of the season made sure of the Drivers’ title for the Scot and the Constructors’ crown for Lotus, so to celebrate Clark picked up team boss Chapman and an unidentified mechanic for a lap of honour.

Denny Hulme and Jack Brabham – Nürburgring 1967

The Brabham BT24s of Denny Hulme and Jack Brabham took a dominant one-two in the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the Kiwi taking his second career win in the 3-litre Repco V8-powered machine. Team boss Brabham, who battled up to second from seventh on the grid, joined his team-mate for a celebration ride, seen here taking it easy around the outside of the famous Karussell bend. 

Jonathan Williams and Jo Siffert – Mexico City 1967

The V12 Maserati in Jo Siffert’s Rob Walker Cooper T81 had cooked itself six laps before the end of the Mexican Grand Prix so the Swiss ace hitched a lift home with British racer Jonathan Williams, making his World Championship debut in a works Ferrari 312. Williams had finished eighth, two laps behind Jim Clark’s winning Lotus 49, but would never appear in F1 again.

Mario Andretti and Gunnar Nilsson – Long Beach 1977

Gunnar Nilsson’s JPS Lotus 78 had expired on the penultimate lap of the United States (West) Grand Prix around the Californian street circuit, stranding him out on the concrete-wall-lined circuit. Fortunately, team-mate Mario Andretti, who’d just taken his first win of the season, was there to rescue Nilsson with the Swede perching gratefully on a sidepod for the ride home. 

Nelson Piquet and Alain Prost – Hockenheim 1987

Nelson Piquet took the points lead thanks to victory in the German Grand Prix, his first win of his second season with Williams. Reigning World Champion Alain Prost had retired his McLaren five laps from the end after electrical woes in the TAG Porsche-powered car. After hitching back to the pits with his title rival Piquet the Frenchman learned he’d been classified seventh, one place adrift of a World Championship point.

Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna – Silverstone 1991

One of the most iconic shots of the era was captured when Ayrton Senna’s McLaren-Honda ran out of fuel at Club corner on the last lap of the British Grand Prix. The Brazilian flagged down home hero Nigel Mansell, who’d just won the race from pole position for Williams, and wrapped himself round the airbox of the FW14 for the celebratory journey back to the pits.

Michael Schumacher and Jean Alesi – Montreal 1995

Incredible scenes greeted first-time Grand Prix winner Jean Alesi in Canada. The Frenchman made the most of his victory parade in the 412T2 V12 that adorned the #27 made famous by French-Canadian hero Gilles Villeneuve. However, just as the crowd began to invade the track, the Ferrari ran out of fuel at the final hairpin. There to help Alesi back to the pits was Michael Schumacher, who’d finished fifth for Benetton and who would replace him at Maranello for ’96.

Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger – Hockenheim 1996

The Benetton duo looked good for a double podium finish in the German Grand Prix with Berger leading and Alesi running in third. Sadly for Berger, his Renault V10 engine expired just three laps from home, dropping him to last of the classified finishers in 13^th. Alesi held on to second behind Williams’ Championship leader Damon Hill and then stopped to give his team-mate and friend a consolation ride back to base.

David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen – Barcelona 2001

McLaren ace Hakkinen had traded the lead with Ferrari nemesis Michael Schumacher throughout the Spanish Grand Prix. Once the pitstop cycles were finished, the Finn took command for the last 20 laps for what looked like his first win of the year. On the very last lap, however, the clutch in the MP4-16 failed, thus ruining Mika’s afternoon. David Coulthard finished fifth in the second McLaren and stopped to collect his hapless team-mate and return him to the pits.

Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber – Marina Bay 2013

The most recent episode of F1 hitchhiking occurred in Singapore in 2013 when Fernando Alonso, who’d finished second to Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, stopped to give Vettel’s team-mate Mark Webber a lift down pitlane. The Renault V8 in the Australian’s RB9 had sprung a water leak on the last lap, so the Spaniard was able to carry a carless Webber home. Afterwards, both drivers were reprimanded for their actions, with Webber handed a 10-place grid penalty for the next race in Korea as it was his third black mark of the year. And that’s why, thanks to the health and safety police, you’re likely never again to see the ancient tradition of Formula 1 piggy-backing at the end of a race.

Photography courtesy of LAT Images