Book info

• Title Chequered Conflict
• Author Maurice Hamilton
• Year 2008
• Genre Sports

The 2007 Formula One Championship was the first since the legendary 1986 season in which three drivers went into the final race with the possibility of being crowned champion. And not since that fateful year, when Mansell, Piquet and Prost went head-to-head, has a season so captured the world's attention and drawn so many new spectators to the sport - for reasons both on and off the track. It wasn't meant to be that way. When Fernando Alonso joined McLaren for 2007, the unspoken assumption was that the double world champion would steadily proceed to his third title in a row. He would have done exactly that, but for a development no-one could have foreseen. Carl Lewis Hamilton, a relative unknown and just twenty-two-years old, would climb into the other McLaren-Mercedes and captivate the world with consistently brilliant performances. Even as it welcomed this new prodigy, however, the world of Formula One was rocked by accusations of spying between McLaren and their bitter rivals Ferrari; accusations that resulted in millions of pounds in fines and an ill feeling between the teams, their drivers and the governing body that now threatens the future of the sport.

Thoughts

For those of us that watched the 2007 season, we already know how this story ends, but Hamilton uses his journalistic skills to delve behind the headlines we might have already seen and find out what made those involved make some of the decisions they did.

It’s a remarkably unbiased piece of writing, considering the high emotions and questionable actions detailed along the way, and there are no significant conclusions drawn at the end. That’s by no means a bad thing, the book simply gives the reader the tools to make their own judgement.

Well-written, easily readable, with plenty of quotes and sources to add colour and depth to the story being told. This is either aimed at new fans who might want to catch up on some of the recent controversies they’ve missed, or the longer-term fans who want to relive what was a tense season, filled with emotional fireworks.

Rating: 3 / 5