Complete calendar with 10 races
The 1964 Formula 1 season produced one of the most thrilling championship battles in the sport's history, with John Surtees claiming the title by a single point in the final race at Mexico City. The former seven-time motorcycle world champion became the only person ever to win World Championships on both two wheels and four wheels, securing Ferrari's championship with 40 points to Graham Hill's 39. The championship fight went down to the final lap of the final race, with Lorenzo Bandini's opportunistic move on Hill effectively handing the title to his Ferrari teammate Surtees.
The championship battle featured three genuine contenders throughout the season: Surtees, Hill, and defending champion Jim Clark. Clark appeared to be cruising toward a second consecutive title after winning three of the first five races, but mechanical failures at the Nürburgring and Austria, combined with an oil leak while leading at Monza, destroyed his championship hopes. His retirement from contention demonstrated once again that speed alone wasn't enough without reliability, a lesson that would haunt Lotus throughout the 1960s despite their technical superiority.
John Surtees' championship victory represented the culmination of a remarkable transition from motorcycle racing to Formula 1. His victories at the Nürburgring and Monza showcased his exceptional car control and racecraft, while his consistency throughout the season demonstrated professional maturity. Surtees' unique achievement of winning world championships on both two and four wheels has never been equaled and likely never will be, given the modern era's specialization. His calm demeanor under pressure proved decisive in the championship showdown, even as the title was secured through circumstances beyond his direct control.
Graham Hill came agonizingly close to his second World Championship, leading the points standings going into the final round at Mexico City. His victories at Monaco and Watkins Glen, combined with consistent point-scoring throughout the season, put him in position to defend his 1962 title. However, in the closing laps at Mexico, while running second behind Gurney, Hill's BRM was struck from behind by Lorenzo Bandini's Ferrari, spinning him down the order and allowing Surtees to claim enough points for the championship. The incident sparked controversy and accusations of team orders, though Bandini maintained it was a genuine racing incident.
Ferrari's resurgence delivered both the drivers' and constructors' championships, with the team scoring 45 points compared to BRM's 42. The Italian team's success came from consistent point-scoring across two drivers, with Surtees and Bandini combining effectively throughout the season. Bandini's breakthrough victory at the one-off Austrian Grand Prix at Zeltweg demonstrated Ferrari's competitiveness, while the team's reliability proved superior to the faster but fragile Lotus. Ferrari's triumph restored the team's prestige after two disappointing seasons following their dominant 1961 campaign.
Dan Gurney emerged as a race winner for Brabham, taking victories at the French Grand Prix at Rouen and the season finale in Mexico. Jack Brabham's team continued to develop into a serious championship contender, finishing fourth in the constructors' standings and demonstrating that customer Climax engines could compete with works teams. The Brabham BT7 and BT11 chassis proved competitive and reliable, establishing the foundation for the team's future championship success.
The 1964 season featured ten races across five continents, with the controversial one-off Austrian Grand Prix at Zeltweg proving to be a disaster due to the bumpy runway circuit that destroyed cars and tires. The event wouldn't return to Austria until the purpose-built Österreichring was completed. The season also marked Honda's debut in Formula 1 at the German Grand Prix, beginning the Japanese manufacturer's long and successful involvement in the sport. Jochen Rindt made his first appearance, starting a career that would eventually lead to a posthumous World Championship.
Surtees' championship by a single point marked one of the closest title fights in Formula 1 history up to that point. The dramatic finale at Mexico City, with its controversial collision and championship implications, demonstrated that Formula 1 could deliver heart-stopping drama and unexpected outcomes. While questions about the circumstances of Surtees' title would linger, his unique achievement as the only person to win world championships on both motorcycles and cars secured his place in motorsport immortality.