Stirling Moss. He is, was and will always be one of the biggest names in the history of Formula 1 and world motorsport. A legend that left us today at 90 years of age.
“My wonderful husband is no longer with us," Lady Moss told the press. "He died calmly and peacefully at home, in his bed. I mean I consider myself the luckiest wife to have had the best husband in the world.”
Since 2018 Sir Stirling Moss — always very involved in the automotive world — has not participated in public events due to health complications from which he never fully recovered.
Remember that in 2016 Sir Moss spent 134 days in hospital due to a chest infection while on vacation in Singapore.
Sir Stirling Moss's career
Moss started his professional career in 1950 and gained fame by winning the England Tours Trophy.
His Formula 1 career began in 1951, a championship where he won 16 Grand Prix races — two of which in Portugal. Outside of Formula 1 he also saw glory by winning the mythical Mille Miglia, Targa Florio and Sebring 12 Hours races.
In total, during your successful career, Sir. Stirling Moss won 212 race.
His career would come to an abrupt end after a serious accident at Goodwood, in the 1962 Glover Trophy. As a result of this accident, Moss was in a coma for over a month and for six months with paralysis in some areas of his body.
He would happily recover and even continued to compete in historic events until old age, where he was a regular presence.
A champion who is not just about titles
Four times Formula 1 world runner-up between 1955 and 1961, young Stirling Moss showed the world that titles are not the only indicator of a driver's greatness. And one of those episodes happened in our country, at the Grand Prix of Portugal.
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Stirling Moss lost the F1 title in 1958 to fellow countryman Mike Hawthorn, after preventing Mike Hawthorn from being disqualified with the organization when he was accused of having put his car in the opposite direction.
At the commissaires' college, Stirling Moss, stated that his opponent's maneuver was carried out in the runway escape and in safety. Contrary to what the track commissioner had defended.
At the end of the 1958 season, he lost the title by just 1 point. He lost the title but gained the respect and admiration of all his opponents and motorsport aficionados.
For the rest, everyone is unanimous in stating that Stirling Moss was one of the best drivers of all time, an opponent on the track with names like Jim Clark and Juan Manuel Fangio. He was not world champion because of his stubbornness in putting his principles ahead of victories.
Throughout his career, he has often been hampered by his determination to lead for English and private teams.
In 2000, for example, his human and sporting example was ordained a knight, Sir Stirling Moss
Razão Automóvel would like to convey its condolences to family, friends and all Stirling Moss fans.
Razão Automóvel's team will continue online, 24 hours a day, during the COVID-19 outbreak. Follow the recommendations of the General Directorate of Health, avoid unnecessary travel. Together we will be able to overcome this difficult phase.