John Surtees dead at 83: British F1 legend won world titles on two and four wheels
JOHN SURTEES has died in hospital at the age of 83, his family have confirmed.
A look back at John Surtees' impressive F1 win
Surtees was admitted to St George's Hospital last month with an existing respiratory condition and spent time in intensive care but passed away this afternoon.
His wife, Jane and daughters, Leonora and Edwina were by his side.
"We deeply mourn the loss of such an incredible, kind and loving man as well as celebrate his amazing life," a statement from the Surtees family said.
John Surtees died at St Georges Hospital in London after a short illness
John Surtees was awarded CBE for services to motor sport, receiving the honour in March 2015
"He has set a very real example of someone who kept pushing himself at his peak and one who continued fighting until the very end."
Surtees' father was a motorcycle dealer and he started his motor sport career racing bikes in the early 1950s.
John Surtees won the F1 World Drivers' Championship in 1964
John Surtees became a popular figure on the F1 grid even after he retired from racing
In 1958, the 24-year-old won his first Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship, dominating the sport for the next two seasons.
He then swapped two wheels for four, making his Formula One Grand Prix debut at Monaco in 1960.
Surtees later joined Ferrari, winning his first race for them in 1963 at the German Grand Prix.
Sad news today. It was great to meet you legend. RIP John Surtees pic.twitter.com/1C58QY1xGl
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) March 10, 2017
A year later, he became and is still the only man to win Grand Prix World Championships on two wheels and four, beating out fellow Brits Graham Hill and Jim Clark.
Surtees founded his own team in 1970 and after retiring from racing in 1972, he also ran his own motorcycle dealership.
His son Henry followed his footsteps into motor sport as a driver but was tragically killed at Brands Hatch in 2009 during a Formula 2 race after colliding with a loose wheel head on.