Ask anyone of a certain age who the greatest driver never to win the Formula 1 World Championship was, and the answer comes back in a heartbeat: Stirling Moss. Four times runner-up, sixteen Grand Prix wins and a name that became shorthand for speed in Britain, Moss was the original "Mr Motor Racing".
He raced anything with wheels and usually won in it, from Grand Prix cars to sports cars on the Mille Miglia. Here is the story of the Boy Wonder who became Sir Stirling. Browse more legends in our Formula 1 collection.
Stirling Moss Fact File
| Full name | Stirling Craufurd Moss |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 September 1929 |
| Place of birth | West Kensington, London, England |
| Died | 12 April 2020, London (aged 90) |
| Discipline | Racing driver: Formula 1, sports cars, rallies |
| Nationality | British |
| Status | Retired from top-level racing in 1962; final retirement from racing in 2011 |
| F1 starts | 66 |
| Nicknames | Boy Wonder, Mr Motor Racing |
Career History
| Years | Cars / Entrants | Starts | Wins | Best WDC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951–53 | HWM, ERA, Connaught, Cooper | 10 | 0 | – |
| 1954 | Maserati 250F | 6 | 0 | 13th |
| 1955 | Mercedes W196 | 6 | 1 | 2nd |
| 1956 | Maserati | 7 | 2 | 2nd |
| 1957 | Maserati, Vanwall | 6 | 3 | 2nd |
| 1958 | Vanwall, Rob Walker Cooper | 10 | 4 | 2nd |
| 1959 | Rob Walker Cooper, BRP BRM | 8 | 2 | 3rd |
| 1960–61 | Rob Walker Cooper and Lotus, Ferguson | 13 | 4 | 3rd (both years) |
| Total | 66 | 16 | Runner-up ×4 |
Starts and wins are World Championship Grands Prix only. Moss also won major sports car races, including the 1955 Mille Miglia and Targa Florio.
Early Years: The Boy Wonder
Born in West Kensington in September 1929, Moss made his first competitive drive in 1947. He made his Formula 1 World Championship debut at the 1951 Swiss Grand Prix with HWM, and spent the early fifties wringing speed out of British cars that were rarely a match for the continental teams.
In 1954 he bought his own Maserati 250F, impressed enough to be taken into the works team, and the following year Mercedes came calling.
Celebrate the Boy Wonder with our Stirling Moss Men's Hoodie.
Breakthrough: Aintree 1955 and the Mille Miglia
1955 was the year everything clicked. Partnering Juan Manuel Fangio at Mercedes, Moss won the 1,000-mile Mille Miglia with journalist Denis Jenkinson reading pace notes beside him in the 300 SLR, one of the most famous drives in motor sport history.
Then on 16 July 1955 he won the British Grand Prix at Aintree, leading a Mercedes one-two-three-four just ahead of Fangio. It was the first of his 16 Grand Prix wins and the start of four straight years as championship runner-up.
Wear a piece of 1950s racing history with our Stirling Moss Men's T-Shirt.
Defining Moments: 1958 and Monaco 1961
The 1958 title shows exactly who Moss was. He lost the championship to Mike Hawthorn by a single point, having earlier spoken up for Hawthorn at a stewards' hearing after the Portuguese Grand Prix so his rival could keep his points. Sportsmanship cost him the crown, and he never regretted it.
At Monaco in 1961, driving Rob Walker's privately entered Lotus 18, he beat the works Ferraris.
Later Career and Knighthood
A crash at Goodwood in the Glover Trophy on 23 April 1962 ended his top-level career at 32. He continued to race in historic events for many years, finally hanging up his helmet in 2011 at the age of 81.
Moss was knighted in 2000 and stayed a beloved figure in British motor sport until his death in April 2020.
Honours
Formula 1
- World Championship runner-up: 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958
- Third place: 1959, 1960, 1961
- 16 Grand Prix wins
Sports Cars
- Mille Miglia: 1955
- Targa Florio: 1955
- Sebring 12 Hours: 1954
- RAC Tourist Trophy: seven wins
Awards and Honours
- Knight Bachelor: 2000
- International Motorsports Hall of Fame: 1990
- BRDC Gold Star: 10 times
Away From the Track
After his front-line career ended, Moss worked as a colour commentator for ABC's Wide World of Sports, narrated the children's series Roary the Racing Car and served as a Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador. He stepped back from public life in January 2018.
FAQs
How old was Stirling Moss when he died?
Sir Stirling Moss died on 12 April 2020 in London, aged 90.
Where was Stirling Moss born?
He was born in West Kensington, London, on 17 September 1929.
Did Stirling Moss ever win the F1 World Championship?
No. He finished runner-up four years in a row from 1955 to 1958 and third in 1959, 1960 and 1961, which is why he is often called the greatest driver never to win the title.
How many Grand Prix did Stirling Moss win?
Moss won 16 World Championship Grands Prix from 66 starts.
Which teams did Stirling Moss drive for?
His F1 cars included HWM, Maserati, Mercedes, Vanwall, Cooper, Lotus and BRM, many of them entered by privateer Rob Walker.
What was Stirling Moss's most famous race?
The 1955 Mille Miglia with Denis Jenkinson and his 1961 Monaco Grand Prix win in Rob Walker's Lotus are his best-known drives.
Shop the Stirling Moss Collection
Bring a touch of classic racing to your wardrobe with our Stirling Moss designs, made to order in the UK.
Explore more racing legends in our Formula 1 collection. Or design your own with our Custom Name Men's Hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Juan Manuel Fangio Career Story and Jim Clark Career Story.
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