To mark the 75th anniversary of Formula 1, Assouline revisits the sport’s extensive and action-packed history with the second edition of Formula 1: The Impossible Collection. Written by experienced journalist Brad Spurgeon with texts by Jean Todt and Stefano Domenicali, the illustrated book brings together important milestones that have shaped Formula 1 from its beginnings in 1950 to its current global presence. It also includes new material on current events, including the rise of Red Bull and the cultural impact of the Drive to Survive series. The book chronicles winners and statistics while attempting to trace how Formula 1 became the sophisticated, media-driven phenomenon it is today.
The new volume goes through decades of change and highlights technical developments, crucial races and the personalities who shaped the sport. Well-known names such as Fangio, Senna, Lauda, Hamilton and Verstappen appear alongside team figures such as Enzo Ferrari and Colin Chapman. The book also reflects on Formula One’s quieter staff, the mechanics, designers and engineers, whose efforts often go unnoticed by fans. Presented as a curated selection rather than a complete archive, it offers an insight into the balance between tradition and constant reinvention in sport.
Brad Spurgeon, who covered Formula One for over two decades, brings a consistent voice and historical foundation to the collection. His experience following the sport firsthand provides context beyond the race day headlines and commentary. While the book itself is produced in Assouline’s typical deluxe format, the stories within focus more on the development of the sport than the spectacle. At a time when Formula 1 is reaching a wider audience and sparking new debates about its direction, this edition serves as a measured review that does not shy away from the risks and opportunities of the sport that have shaped it.
Source: Assouline Publishing
