Here is eight minutes of pure Formula 1 pleasure, a Sky Sports-produced video featuring its GP race
commentators (and retired F1 drivers) Martin Brundle and Damon Hill in a tribute Ferrari’s iconic 1961 championship-winning 156.
Dubbed the “Sharknose” for obvious reasons, the Carlo Chiti-designed mid-engine machines, among the first to be sculpted in a wind tunnel (“Works of art! exclaimed Hill) would prove to be streets ahead of the competition and propel Belgian and Italian GPs winner Phil Hill to the first, and so far only, F1 World Championship claimed by an American.
Tragically, Hill clinched the title at Monza, a victory marred by a terrible first-lap accident that claimed the life of Scuderia Ferrari team leader Wolfgang “Taffy” von Trips.
In shock, Ferrari chose to skip the season-ending USGP which denied Hill the chance of receiving Championship honors in front of his home crowd.
“Dangerous times, brave lads” Hill observed as he and Brundle discussed the several laps they enjoyed in a pair of immaculately restored, 170mph 1.5-liter machines.
