Complete calendar with 9 races
The 1962 Formula 1 season marked Graham Hill's emergence as World Champion, winning his first title with BRM after a season-long battle against the faster but less reliable Lotus of Jim Clark. Hill's consistency and determination prevailed, securing four victories and the championship with 42 points, finishing twelve points ahead of Clark. The title fight went down to the final round at East London, South Africa, on December 29th, where Hill's victory sealed both the drivers' and constructors' championships for BRM.
BRM's P57 proved to be the most complete package of the season, combining competitive speed with the reliability that eluded their rivals. The British team had endured years of disappointment and criticism since their formation, earning the unflattering nickname "British Racing Misery" for their consistent failures. Hill's championship represented complete vindication of the project and established BRM as a serious force in Formula 1. The distinctive green cars won four races and scored 42 points in the constructors' championship, matching Hill's driver total in an era when only the best result from each team counted toward the constructors' standings.
Jim Clark emerged as the fastest driver in Formula 1, winning three races for Lotus including commanding victories at Spa, Aintree, and Watkins Glen. The young Scot's smooth, precise driving style extracted maximum performance from Colin Chapman's innovative Lotus 25, the first true monocoque chassis in Formula 1. However, mechanical reliability proved to be Clark's nemesis throughout the season, with numerous retirements costing him what should have been a comfortable championship. His 30-point total significantly understated his dominance in terms of pure speed.
The Lotus 25 represented a revolutionary step forward in Grand Prix car design, with its lightweight monocoque construction replacing the traditional tubular space frame. Colin Chapman's latest creation sat lower, was lighter, and handled better than any competitor, giving Clark a significant advantage when the car held together. The 25's innovative design would influence Formula 1 car construction for decades to come, even though reliability issues prevented it from achieving championship success in its debut season. Every subsequent championship-winning car would follow Chapman's monocoque philosophy.
John Surtees made a remarkable transition from motorcycle racing to Formula 1, finishing fourth in the championship with 19 points in his first full season driving for the Bowmaker-Lola team. The seven-time motorcycle world champion demonstrated his natural talent and fierce competitiveness, regularly running at the front and securing multiple podium finishes. His strong performances convinced Ferrari to sign him for 1963, beginning a partnership that would eventually deliver the World Championship. Surtees proved that the skills required for motorcycle racing excellence translated effectively to four wheels.
Bruce McLaren continued his steady development as both driver and constructor, winning Monaco and finishing third in the championship with Cooper. Dan Gurney secured Porsche's only victory of the season at Rouen, holding off a charging field in a thrilling finish. Defending champion Phil Hill struggled with Ferrari's outdated machinery, the Italian team having fallen behind in the technical arms race after their 1961 dominance. Ferrari scored only 18 points in the constructors' championship, a dramatic decline that highlighted how quickly competitiveness could be lost in Formula 1's rapidly evolving technical landscape.
The 1962 season featured nine races across four continents, maintaining the championship's international character while the sport continued growing in popularity and commercial importance. The competitive nature of the season, with four different manufacturers winning races, demonstrated the health of Formula 1 competition. Graham Hill's championship victory established him as one of the sport's leading figures, combining natural talent with professional dedication and a charismatic personality that made him a favorite with fans and media alike.
Hill's title represented the triumph of consistency over raw speed, a theme that would repeat throughout Formula 1 history. While Clark was undeniably faster on many occasions, Hill's ability to bring the car home in the points every race proved decisive. The championship validated BRM's years of development and investment, finally delivering on the promise that had seemed perpetually out of reach. The 1962 season demonstrated that in Formula 1, reliability and consistency were just as important as outright speed.