James Hunt, the 1976 Formula 1 World Champion, died in 1993 at the age of 45 from a heart attack, with reports suggesting he had no money at the time. The former McLaren driver, who secured his only title half a century ago, was as famous for his partying lifestyle as for his racing achievements.
Rivalry with Lauda and Championship Triumph
Hunt clinched the 1976 championship, edging out rival Niki Lauda in a season marked by dramatic incidents. His seven-year career in the sport earned him acclaim, but his womanising persona and demand for a partying lifestyle often overshadowed his driving prowess.
During the 1970s, Hunt became a sex symbol and allegedly engaged in scandalous behaviour, reportedly sleeping with up to 5,000 women in his lifetime, including a rumoured 33 air stewardesses during his championship-winning season.
Son Freddie on His Father's Lifestyle
Following Hunt's death, his son Freddie spoke about his father's wild time off the track and his alleged drug use. Freddie told The Times: "I can't vouch for the number of women but I know that Dad wasn't a junkie. He just liked getting loose at parties. He took coke, but he wasn't a cokehead. We do behave quite similarly. Then again, my mum was pretty naughty too."
When questioned about his father's womanising, Freddie added: "There were witnesses. There was a fresh supply of hostesses. They would come to the hotel, stop over, then get on the plane the next day. There was a different one every night."
Marriages and Financial Troubles
Hunt married Suzy Miller two years before his title victory, but she left him in 1975 for actor Richard Burton. He married his second wife, Sarah Lomax, in 1983, and they had two children, including Freddie. The couple split in 1988 but cohabited for a year before divorcing due to Hunt's adultery.
Shortly before his death, Hunt became involved with waitress Helen Dyson, who was 18 years his junior. He proposed to her but passed away the following day. At the end of his life, Hunt was reportedly in massive financial trouble due to poor investments, including involvement in Lloyd's of London's financial losses in the late 1980s, allegedly losing £180,000. Fans would see him travelling around London in an old van or on his bike.
Return to Racing and Legacy
Due to his rumoured bankruptcy, Hunt considered a return to the racing seat in 1989 and reportedly tested a Williams car to gauge a comeback to F1, which would have added to his 10 Grand Prix wins. The Surrey-born legend allegedly satisfied his "gigantic appetite for sex" by inviting air hostesses to his suite before the Tokyo Grand Prix, and celebrated his championship by "draining the aircraft of alcohol" on his return flight to the UK.
