James Hunt

Hunt owned a tame fox named Humbert, which he kept as a companion at his home. He was fond of animals generally and kept various pets throughout his life. The fox was well-documented and appeared in newspaper profiles of Hunt during his racing career. He treated Humbert with the same relaxed affection he brought to everything in his personal life.

Beyond Humbert the fox, Hunt kept a parrot and various other animals over the years. His homes were described by visitors as chaotic but characterful, populated with pets, friends, and the general disorder of a man who had no interest in maintaining appearances.

Hunt's paddock persona was legendarily dishevelled. He frequently went barefoot, often arrived looking like he'd slept in a skip, and was known to be nursing hangovers during race weekends. And then he'd get in the car and be devastatingly fast. Team mechanics and engineers found it maddening and impressive in equal measure.

Hunt retired from racing in 1979 and joined the BBC's F1 commentary team, partnering Murray Walker. The combination of Walker's breathless enthusiasm and Hunt's languid, informed, irreverent observations became one of British broadcasting's great partnerships. He was unfailingly honest, occasionally outrageous, and always compelling. His death in 1993 left a gap that Murray Walker described as impossible to fill.

Hunt played squash to a high standard and used it as a primary fitness activity during his racing career. The sport suited his competitive nature and the intensity of a squash match provided the kind of physical outlet that complemented rather than conflicted with his racing preparation. He was reportedly very difficult to beat.

Despite his carefree public persona, Hunt suffered from severe pre-race nerves. He has been documented vomiting in the pit lane before races. The anxiety was genuine and chronic — he once described racing as the only thing in the world that frightened him, which made it also the only thing that felt worth doing. The contrast between his devil-may-care image and his private terror before races was something he eventually spoke about openly.

Hunt spent part of his career and immediate post-career period in Spain, before returning to London in the 1980s. His death in 1993 at the age of 45 from a heart attack shocked the motorsport world. He had, by many accounts, turned his life around in his final years — quieter, happier, and devoted to his two children and his friends. He was buried at St James's Church in Marlborough.