Chris Amon

Christopher Arthur "Chris" Amon (20 July 1943 - 3 August 2016) was a New Zealand racing driver who competed in Formula One from 1963 to 1976 and became known as the sport's most unlucky driver despite being recognized as one of its most talented. Born in Bulls, New Zealand, Amon remains the only driver from New Zealand and Oceania to have raced for Scuderia Ferrari in Formula One, a distinction that highlights his exceptional abilities. Amon participated in 96 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix but never won a race, despite frequently leading in the final stages only to be denied victory by mechanical failures or racing incidents. The Italian press dubbed him "Il Sfortunato" (The Unlucky One) after numerous heartbreaking late-race failures while running in winning positions, particularly during his Ferrari years.

His reputation for bad luck became so legendary that fellow driver Mario Andretti once quipped that "if he became an undertaker, people would stop dying," a dark joke that captured the seemingly cursed nature of Amon's Formula One career. Amon signed with Ferrari in 1967, and his three seasons with the Italian team represented a period when he was a prince to the Tifosi despite his lack of victories. Legendary Ferrari designer and engineer Mauro Forghieri said: "Amon was by far the best test driver I ever worked with. He had all the qualities you need to be an F1 world champion, but bad luck just wouldn't let him be.

" This assessment from one of motorsport's most respected technical figures speaks to Amon's genuine abilities, which were recognized by his peers and team personnel even if results didn't reflect them. Amon's career featured at least eight races where he led in the final stages, only to be denied victory by mechanical failure, accidents, or circumstances beyond his control. These included the 1968 French Grand Prix, where he led comfortably before a fuel pump failure, and the 1969 Spanish Grand Prix, where he was leading when his Ferrari suffered rear wing failure. At the 1970 Monaco Grand Prix, Amon led for much of the race before being forced to retire, another cruel twist in his unlucky career.

His most famous near-miss came at the 1967 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where he was leading with three laps remaining when a fuel pipe broke, handing victory to John Surtees. Despite never winning a Formula One race, Amon achieved significant success in sports car racing, demonstrating that his abilities were genuine and his Formula One misfortunes were indeed bad luck rather than lack of skill. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966 alongside Bruce McLaren, driving a Ford GT40 Mk II, one of endurance racing's most prestigious victories. He also won the 1000km of Monza, the Daytona 24 Hours, and six Tasman Series races, proving his competitiveness across different categories and circuits.

Amon himself maintained a philosophical perspective on his career, saying: "A lot of people say I was very unlucky and I suppose in terms of results, I was, but one thing I do always say to people is that I am very lucky to be here." This comment reflected his awareness of the era's dangers—many of his contemporaries died in racing accidents—and his gratitude for surviving an extremely dangerous period in motorsport. Following his retirement from Formula One in 1976, Amon returned to New Zealand where he remained involved in motorsport through historic racing and occasionally appeared at events worldwide. He maintained friendships with fellow drivers and was respected within the motorsport community as a driver who deserved better fortune.

Chris Amon passed away on 3 August 2016 at Rotorua Hospital after a battle with cancer at age 73. Tributes poured in from around the world, with many acknowledging him as one of Formula One's greatest drivers never to win a race, a tragic distinction that captures both his immense talent and extraordinary misfortune.