James Hunt Marlboro Man

This is 1976 Formula 1 world champion James Hunt, doing what he did best and smoking cigarettes. It wasn’t unusual for James to be asking journos for cigarettes whilst stood on the winners podium or to get one last cigarette in before the race.

These days corporate sponsors call the shots and F1 drivers are moulded and groomed to match their high powered brands. Not with James, he called the shots and Marlboro simply tip toed behind with their ‘guy’ making all the rules. Seems strange these days in the western World to see any tobacco advertising let alone sports stars smoking the brand they are paid to advertise.

And yes. Smoking is bad. It kills you. But then so did Formula 1 racing back in the 70’s.