Anthony Davidson’s F1 profession could be cut up into two elements – his 24 Grand Prix begins with Minardi, BAR-Honda and Tremendous Aguri, and his time as some of the useful check drivers within the sport. For our newest Lights to Flag function, the Briton shares all about his time within the prime echelon, in addition to the rollercoaster trip that adopted in sportscars and the way he’s nonetheless closely concerned in F1 as we speak as a tv pundit and Mercedes simulator driver.
Impressed by Walker and Hunt
Born in Hemel Hempstead, UK, in 1979, Davidson was launched to F1 by his motorsport-loving household and, on the age of eight, began a karting profession that may take him throughout Britain, Europe and North America – and yield loads of trophies.
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“My first recollections of motorsport are positively watching it on TV, being weaned on Murray Walker and James Hunt [with their BBC commentary],” smiles Davidson. “I used to take a seat there, sucking my thumb as just a little child, subsequent to my dad and my brothers. My dad by no means raced, however considered one of his greatest passions was watching F1.
“I keep in mind going to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix in 1987, the yr when Nigel Mansell overtook Nelson Piquet at Stowe. It was a mega time. My heroes rising up had been Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mansell, Piquet, that sort of era. I completely liked it and simply couldn’t get sufficient of it.
“Once I began karting myself, I selected my helmet design primarily based on a listing in Autosport journal of all the present drivers. Eddie Cheever was the one which sort of stood out and I stated to my dad, as an eight-year-old, ‘I like that one!’, so I’ve a number of fond recollections as a child following F1.”
