Formula One’s governing body, the FIA has inaugurated its new Hall of Fame in Paris with nine FIA Formula One World Champions yesterday. All 33 winners of the Motorsport's most prestigious title were honoured by the sport’s regulator. The inaugural ceremony was held in the library of the ACF, where F1’s regulations were first drafted in the 1940s.
The event first honoured all one-time championship winners, starting with Formula One’s first champion, 1950 winner Giuseppe Farina and ending with 2016 champion Nico Rosberg.
The ceremony then celebrated two and three-time champions, including 2005 and 2006 winner Fernando Alonso. The Renault R25 driven to title glory by Alonso in 2005 was displayed outside the FIA headquarters along with the Alfa Romeo 158 of Nino Farina; the Ferrari 156 of Phil Hill; the Lotus Climax 25 of Jim Clark; the McLaren MP4/5 of Ayrton Senna, and the Ferrari F1-2000 of Michael Schumacher.
After honouring three-time winners such as Sir Jackie Stewart and Sir Jack Brabham, the sport’s most successful drivers, beginning with the induction of four-time champions Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton were called up. Five-time winner Juan Manuel Fangio was honoured after this.
Lastly, the sport’s most successful driver, seven-time champion Michael Schumacher was inducted, with long-time manager Sabine Kehm accepting his award.
She added,“We all know Michael should be here and I am totally sure he would love to be here. He always had the highest respect for everyone in this room and he would be very honoured. What made Michael so special, what made him so successful was, as with everybody in this room, a love and passion for this sport.
