Who Was James Hunt? Know Everything About His Larger Than Life Lifestyle

Over the course of Formula 1 history, we have heard some truly incredible tales. Tales of brilliance, some awe-inspiring, some motivational, and some absolutely unbelievable. However, there is one man whose stories and life as a Formula 1 driver trump them all: James Hunt.

Before Formula 1 was full of highly professional drivers dedicating their lives to the sport, there was the 70s era. An era that James Hunt ruled with his escapades. Most of us are aware of the incredible life of the British world champion. However, if you aren’t, let us take you through the incredible life and a few of the most infamous instances from Hunt’s career.

James Hunt and the 35 British Airways Stewardesses

Formula 1 was not always the way it is now. The sport did not have all the eyes of the world monitoring and judging every step taken by each driver. There was a lot more freedom, so to speak, for the drivers back in the 70s. James Hunt was part of the sport from 1973 to 1979 and no one took advantage of the freedom like him.

The flamboyant Brit embodied the playboy lifestyle of an F1 driver in the 70s. One instance, people at Upshot revealed through a Twitter thread before the crucial 1976 Japanese GP perfectly summarizes Hunt’s life in F1.

The Brit had “Sex, Breakfast of Champions” embroidered on his overalls and that is exactly how he started his day in the weeks leading up to the Japanese GP. Hunt, quite extraordinarily, bedded 35 British Airways stewardesses in two weeks. This was after his team’s attempts to keep Hunt away from any temptation given his history.

“Every morning, James would bounce up to the girls in his shorts and bare feet, say, ‘Hello, I’m James Hunt,’ and take them straight upstairs for a party,” recalled the McLaren team manager Alastair Caldwell. “This happened every day for a fortnight.”

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Despite his escapades, Hunt went second fastest in the qualifying in the crucial race. A race that earned him his maiden world championship. However, if you think the all-important race would bring out the professional in him, you’re wrong!

James Hunt: full-time playboy, part-time Formula 1 driver

James Hunt was the bane of the late Niki Lauda’s existence. The Austrian three-time world champion was the embodiment of professionalism and lived, and almost died, for the sport. His biggest rival in the 70s era, especially in 1976, was Hunt, and, as we know now, he was the complete opposite of the Austrian.

The 1976 season, as one can relive through the 2013 Hollywood flick Rush, was a rollercoaster of emotions for both drivers. Lauda, during the Germany GP, met with a near-fatal accident. The Brit caught up to the Austrian in his absence in the following races. However, Lauda’s speedy recovery got the ball rolling again for the championship.

It all came down to an Abu Dhabi-esque showdown at the Japanese GP. However, Hunt, being true to his core, was nowhere to be found in the moments leading up to the race.

A frantic Williams boss, Patrick Head, was searching for Hunt when he heard a crash. He discovered Hunt with a Japanese girl in the pit garage doing… we’ll leave that to your imagination.

The Williams boss zipped up Hunt and dragged him to his car for the race. The extreme conditions of the race saw Lauda retire because of his extreme injuries sustained during the crash in Germany. Hunt capitalized and dragged himself to a dramatic 3rd place finish, all he needed to win his maiden championship at one point.

Read More: ‘Eccentric’ & ‘Weird’ Lewis Hamilton Was Once Compared to F1’s Ultimate Playboy James Hunt by None Other Than Niki Lauda Himself

The ecstatic Britisher celebrated the only way he knew how with a bender for weeks. How does the story end tho?

Life after Formula 1

The Brit announced his retirement from the sport in 1979 and was soon offered a job at BBC. Hunt became an F1 commenter alongside Murray Walker.

On his first day at the job, Hunt walked in with a cast from a recent skiing accident. Maybe pain as an excuse or just force of habit, Hunt went through two bottles of Rose during the broadcasting. The Brit even rested his feet on his co-commentator lap during the race.

Getting back to the job, Walker was commenting on the French driver René Arnoux, blaming his bad form on an engine change. By then, a well-oiled-up Hunt delivered his expert opinion in eight simple words. “All I can say to that is bullshit,” he said.

This is how the Brit started his commentary career with BBC, which he surprisingly continued till 1993.

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The life of the Brit became a cautionary tale, but in today’s day and age, no one can live the James Hunt life anymore in the sport. Nor should they, as all Formula 1 drivers are looked upon by millions of people. However, if it weren’t for James Hunt, we wouldn’t have this extraordinary tale to tell.