Image: Joost Evers / Anefo, Nationaal Archief, CC BY-SA 3.0 NL via Wikimedia Commons (Credit links at the end of the content)
We are excited to begin a brand-new series about Formula 1’s forgotten drivers, starting with the 1970s and continuing through the decades. Our goal is to regularly bring you unique stories that require extensive research, uncovering names that many fans have long forgotten. At CarsRave, we enjoy exploring parts of Formula 1 history that are rarely covered, and this first chapter, One-Race Wonders of the 70s (Part 1): The Forgotten F1 Debuts, tells the stories of drivers who reached the Formula 1 World Championship, made just one or two race appearances, and then vanished from the grid almost as quickly as they arrived.
Before we continue with this new series, we would like to share one of our previous collections covering forgotten Formula 1 drivers from the 1990s and beyond. In that series, we explored drivers whose Formula 1 careers lasted fewer than 30 Grands Prix. If you enjoy discovering overlooked names from the sport’s history, be sure to visit our Forgotten F1 Drivers category for many more stories.
Forgotten F1 Debuts: Formula 1 drivers who never returned
We all know Formula 1 has always been a championship built on opportunity. While legends such as Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, and Emerson Fittipaldi became household names during that era, many other talented drivers experienced the sport from a completely different perspective, getting just a single chance to compete before quietly fading into history.
The first part of our One-Race Wonders series focuses on drivers who reached Formula 1 during the 1970 and 1971 seasons. We will continue the journey with more forgotten names from 1972 in the second part of the series. Below are seven drivers who earned their opportunity in F1 during those years, but for various reasons, none managed to establish themselves as permanent members of the grid.
Editor’s Note: Before we begin, we apologize for the limited number of images in this article. Many forgotten Formula 1 stories come from an era where photos are rare and difficult to source. Our focus remains on bringing these overlooked drivers’ stories back to life.
Gus Hutchison: The American Privateer Who Raced for Passion
American racer Gus Hutchinson fulfilled his Formula 1 dream at the United States GP at Watkins Glen in 1970.
Unlike many drivers, Hutchinson entered F1 entirely on his own terms, a successful businessman and qualified chemist, he had built considerable wealth through his company, rather than relying on sponsors, he purchased an ex-Jacky Ickx Brabham BT26A powered by the legendary Cosworth DFV engine and entered the race as a private competitor.
He qualified 22nd on the grid, an impressive achievement considering the competitive field, he was +3.15 slower than the pole sitter that day, Jacky Ickx.
However, his race lasted only 21 laps after damaged the car and loosened its fuel tank, forcing an early retirement.
He never came back in Formula 1 again, he continued racing in America before retiring in the mid-1970s to continue and work in his company, for him, F1 was simply another racing adventure rather than a career objective!
Peter Westbury: The Brilliant Engineer
Peter Westbury’s F1 story is unique because he became just as respected for his engineering talent as for his driving ability, he first appeared in F1 during the 1969 German GP, where Formula 2 cars were allowed to compete alongside F1 cars on the daunding Nurburgring, he delivered an excellent performance by finishing ninth overall and fifth among the Formula 2 entries.
His next opportunity came at the 1970 United States Grand Prix, where he was scheduled to drive a works BRM, but engine failure during practice prevented him from setting a qualifying time, ending his weekend before it truly began.
That proved to be his final F1 attempt…
Westbury had already established himself as one of Britain’s finest mechanical engineers, through his company, Felday Engineering, he pioneered four-wheel-drive racing technology and even assisted BRM in developing its own experimental F1 projects.
Rather than pursuing uncertain driving opportunities, Westbury focused on engineering and team management, his Formula 3 operation helped launch the international career of future Le Mans legend Derek Bell before Westbury eventually stepped away from racing to concentrate on business!
François Mazet: The aerobatic pilot
French driver Francois Mazet reached F1 through an unusual route, before becoming a racing driver, he was an accomplished aerobatic pilot.
Mazet won the 1969 French Formula 3 Championship, which earned him valuable recognition, supported by Jo Siffert, he secured a private March 701 for his home race at the 1971 French GP.
He started 24rd position, he kept the car out of trouble throughout the afternoon and finished 13th.
Although he failed to score points, simply reaching finish represented a respectable achievement for a private entry.
His F1 career, never progressed beyond that afternoon.
He was scheduled to make another F1 appearance at Monza later that same year, but he withdrew before the event. Without the necessary financial support to continue, the opportunity eventually disappeared.
Max Jean: One Race, One Mistaken Identity
Jean earned his F1 chance after winning the French Formule France championship and securing backing from Motul.
Frank Williams, operating his team years before it evolved into the modern Williams Racing organization, provided Jean with a March 701 for the 1971 French GP.
Max Jean qualified 23rd, he spent much of the race struggling with gearbox, despite the mechanical issues, he managed to nurse the aging March to the finish, although he was ultimately left unclassified after falling several laps behind.
The appearance proved to be both his F1 debut and farewell.
Unlike many future stars, Jean never produced standout performances in Formula 2 or Formula 3 that convinced major teams to invest in him.
Once his sponsorship package ended, the possibility of rending another F1 car disappeared, he eventually left racing behind.
Sam Posey: The American Who Chose a Different Path
Unlike many drivers on the list, Sam Posey had the ability to continue racing at a very high level, the American racer made two F1 starts at Watkins Glen in consecutive seasons with Surtees machinery.
His debut came in 1971, where he qualified 18th before retiring after only 15 laps, he returned year later in a Surtees TS9B, Posey delivered a far stronger performance by bringing the car home in 12th position.
Many expected him to continue searching for F1 opportunities, but he had different ambitions.
He already enjoyed an outstanding career in North America, competing successfully in Cam-Am, endurance racing, and even the Indianapolis, Posey never came back to F1 again.
John Cannon: Too Successful to Start Over
British-Born Canadian driver John Cannon arrived in F1 with an outstanding reputation built entirely in North America.
Earlier in 1971 he impressed many observers during the non-championship Questor Grand Prix by outperforming future F1 stars in qualifying driving the March 701.
Cannon earned an opportunity at the United States Grand Prix later that year, driving a Yardley BRM, he started near the back but delivered a measured race to finish 14th after avoiding mistakes on the demanding Watkins Glen Circuit.
Despite a respectable result, Cannon never appeared in another F1 race again.
Chris Craft: The Driver Who Simply Walked Away
Craft’s F1 career may be one of the shortest, but it remains one of the most fascinating.
After failing to start the 1971 Canadian GP because of engine failure, he finally made his F1 debut two weeks later at Watkins Glen in a private Brabham BT33.
During the race he was running competitively between experienced World Champion Denny Hulme and rising talent Ronnie Peterson, but in mid-race, the stresses of the circuit caused the Brabham’s chassis to crack, while suspension damage forced his retirement.
However, Craft recieved further F1 approaches but his chance never came again, he returned to endurance racing, where he enjoyed significant success.
Related Content: If you want to explore more stories from the past, including the short Formula 1 careers of drivers from the 1990s, you can read our previous series here (PART 1). For more forgotten names and untold stories from the world of F1, visit our Forgotten F1 Drivers category.
Why These Drivers Never Returned
Looking back, these seven stories reveal that failing to build a F1 career wasn’t always the result of lacking speed, some were already established champions in North America, others preferred successful business careers, while several simply lacked the financial backing needed to compete in F1.
Although they never became F1 stars, but each earned something that thousands of racing drivers never did, a place in F1 grid, their names may not appear among the sport’s greatest champions, but their brief appearances remain part of F1’s rich and often forgotten history.
Image Credits: Joost Evers / Anefo, Nationaal Archief, CC BY-SA 3.0 NL via Wikimedia Commons sourced from Proxy.handle.net
