The days of the Spartan office in F1

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One look at the cockpit of Gilles Villeneuve's 1980 Ferrari 126CK tells us all we need to know about how “easier” an F1 driver's job used to be over forty years ago.

But that's precisely the point. The man in the cockpit was free to focus on the driving, the pure skill of taking himself and his machine to the limit, without the help or support of processors, sensors, algorithms or a massive array of computers and engineers located a thousand miles away at a team's base.

Simpler times... But we're they better times?

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.