It’s not often you hear about an F1 driver being banned from driving on the roads – but it’s just what happened to this multi-time race winner.
In 1960, F1 legend Stirling Moss experienced an unexpected setback when a Shropshire court convicted him of dangerous driving, resulting in a 12-month driving ban and a £50 fine that threatened his F1 aspirations.
Moss collided with a van, a Rover car, and a cyclist while test-driving a Mini near Chetwynd, Shropshire, leading to a court appearance in January, with Moss pleading not guilty before the trial proceeded in April at Shropshire Quarter Sessions.
At the time, Moss was racing for Rob Walker’s team, piloting a Lotus 18-Climax and having already won at Monaco, raising the stakes of the ban potentially hindering his career.
Despite being known for his speed, with British police reportedly using his name as a benchmark for fast driving, Moss found himself stripped of his road driving privileges, prompting him to obtain a US license to continue racing.
This solution proved effective, allowing Moss to persevere through a challenging season that included a major crash during Belgian Grand Prix practice, resulting in injuries that he overcame to win the United States Grand Prix and secure third place in the World Championship.
