“RIP My Friend”: Fans Mourn the Tragically Early Death of British Legend as F1 Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Remember Him 30 Years Later

“The closer you are to death the more alive you feel. But more powerful than fear itself, is the will to win.” Nobody can question this British F1 legend’s will to win. Even when legends like Niki Lauda had something to lose, this legend risked everything to win everything. The Briton’s will to win his only championship was definitely beyond the fear of death. As F1 remembers their legend on his death Anniversary, fans get emotional and mourn his tragic death.

What is that one thing which comes to your mind when you hear “James Hunt?” I’m sure it’s either his championship fight with Niki Lauda or his off-track shenanigans. James Hunt was the epitome of what people call living on the edge. As quoted by James Hunt himself, “To hell with safety. All I want to do is race.” The British driver did not care about safety and only had one thing on his mind when on track, “racing.” 

Hunt unexpectedly won the 1975 Dutch GP while driving for the Hesketh racing team. James Hunt’s raw edge and sheer determination to win put him on McLaren’s radar, who signed him for the 1976 season. It was James Hunt’s attitude that won him his one and only World Championship Title in 1976 against Niki Lauda in the treacherous wet conditions in Japan. Niki Lauda and James Hunt’s rivalry to date remains one of the fiercest yet most respected ones out there. 

F1 posted a post on Instagram as they remembered James Hunt on his 30th death anniversary. Many slides were posted by F1, showcasing the highlights of Hunt’s career. For James Hunt, one championship was enough as he proved to the world what he had to and retired at the end of 1979 before passing away in 1993 of a heart attack aged only 45. Despite his short span of life, James Hunt probably lived twice the life that any other driver in those short 45 years.

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Hunt is still fondly remembered by F1 fans as they took to social media to express their emotions on James Hunt’s 30th Death Anniversary. Hunt once said, “Don’t go to men who are willing to kill themselves driving in circles looking for normality.” While Hunt’s life was anything but normal, who knew he was going to get face-to-face with death this early? Let’s see what the fans had to say about the legend. 

Fans react to F1’s Instagram post paying tribute to James Hunt.

Fans bombarded the comments section of the F1’s post as they remembered James Hunt and his on and off-track shenanigans. Many suggested that James Hunt is to date one of the greatest drivers to grace the sport, comparing him to Lewis Hamilton. Some added that drivers like James Hunt aren’t made anymore. The sheer will to make a move by putting oneself at risk isn’t seen anymore. Some suggested how, despite passing at 45, James Hunt lived his life to the fullest. Let’s see what the F1 community commented on Instagram. 

“He might have died young but he lived to the fullest those 45 years”
“Great post guys, thanks a lot 😊🙏🏼”
“This man would be unhirable today 😅”
“A true Champ, just like Niki.”
“great champion, great man, strongly anti-apartheid and politically invested. 🤍”
“they dont make em like hunt any more, such a shame”
“Hunt>>>hamilton”
“The one who dragged Ronnie out of his burning wreckage, true racer but also an amazing human being.”
“RIP my friend, miss you every day 😢”
“One of the best 🙌”
“Is an underrated champion and an underrated driver.”
“One of the greatest ever🏆”
“A true legend”
“Legend, in my karting days I ran with his number 27!”
“A classic old school champ! Legend!”
“Pedal to the Metal attitude about life.”

James Hunt will forever be remembered by the F1 community as one of the fiercest F1 drivers who did not fear death. After all, “the risk of death turns people on.”

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What do you think? Is there any driver on the current F1 grid that comes remotely close to James Hunt and his attitude?