Race and classic pictures

A salute to F1's original Marlboro Man

Arturo Merzario - Formula 1's very own Stetson-wearing Marlboro Man - was born on this day, 82 years ago.

A veteran of 57 Grand Prix starts between 1972 and 1979, the Italian journeyman was a colorful presence in the F1 paddock who raced for Ferrari, Iso Marlboro, Williams and his own team, Merzario.

Up until this weekend and Ollie Bearman's unexpected F1 debut in Saudi Arabia, Arturo had been the only driver to start his first Grand Prix with Ferrari.

His best results in F1 were a trio of fourth-place finishes but his greatest achievement was perhaps lending a saving hand to the attempts to free Niki Lauda from his burning Ferrari following the Austrian's horrific crash at the Nurburgring in 1976.

 

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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