1964 Season

John Surtees won the Drivers’ Championship, driving for Ferrari, while Ferrari also secured the Constructors’ title in a season that comprised 10 races. The 1964 Formula One World Championship was characterized by a closely contested battle among multiple drivers and teams, with the outcome decided at the final round.

The season featured five different race winners: Jim Clark (three wins), Graham Hill (two), Dan Gurney (two), John Surtees (two), and Lorenzo Bandini (one). Jim Clark led the early stages, winning three of the first five races and holding the championship lead at mid-season. However, reliability and shifting fortunes allowed Graham Hill to take over the points lead after round six. Surtees, meanwhile, steadily accumulated points and victories, including wins at the German and Italian Grands Prix.

The championship battle remained open until the final race in Mexico. After nine rounds, Hill led with 39 points, Surtees had 34, and Clark had 30. Surtees’ consistent podium finishes—six in total—enabled him to overtake Hill at the last event, finishing the season with 40 points to Hill’s 39, while Clark ended with 32.

Mechanical failures were frequent, with engine issues accounting for 25 retirements. The season did not feature a single dominant driver or team, but rather a competitive field under the 1.5-litre engine regulations of the era. The 1964 season is notable for its dramatic title decider and for Surtees becoming the only person to win world championships on both two and four wheels.