About Chris Bristow
Lived 1937 – 1960 (aged 22). Chris Bristow was a British formula One driver, motorcycle racer and engineer.
Christopher William Bristow (2 December 1937 – 19 June 1960) was a British Formula One driver. Bristow was called the "wild man of British club racing", as he had spun or had collisions on almost every racetrack on which he had raced. He started four Formula One World Championship races and scored no championship points.
Career In his first Grand Prix in a Formula One car, the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix, Bristow recorded a joint-third qualifying time, although he was given the fourth starting spot.
Death Bristow was killed during the 1960 Belgian Grand Prix at the very fast Spa-Francorchamps circuit, in warm, dry, sunny conditions.
Bristow and Alan Stacey died in close proximity and within a few minutes of one another. There was a four-foot embankment there and barbed wire in the meadow about ten feet back from the road. Bristow's Cooper hit the bank and rolled over; he was hurled into the barbed wire, which decapitated him.
With regard to Bristow's unruly driving style, a friend of his said after the accident, "We all knew this was going to happen. It does no good to say now, but Chris simply did not have the experience to drive that way in Grand Prix racing."
The winner of the annual Autosport BRDC Award for promising young British drivers is also presented with the Chris Bristow Trophy.
Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Yr Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 WDC Points 1959 British Racing Partnership Cooper T51 (F2) Borgward Straight-4 MON 500 NED FRA GBR GER POR ITA USA NC 0 1960 Yeoman Credit Racing Team Cooper T51 Climax Straight-4 ARG MON 500 NED BEL FRA GBR POR ITA USA NC 0
Non-championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 1959 British Racing Partnership Cooper T51 Climax Straight-4 BUE GLV AIN INT OUL SIL 1960 Yeoman Credit Racing Team Cooper T51 Climax Straight-4 BUE GLV INT SIL LOM OUL
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Important facts
People in Chris Bristow's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Chris Bristow's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Chris Bristow?
racecar driver
When was Chris Bristow born?
Chris Bristow was born on 2 December 1937 in Lambeth.
When did Chris Bristow die?
Chris Bristow died on 19 June 1960 in Spa-Francochamps Circuit.
What was Chris Bristow's occupation?
Chris Bristow was a formula One driver, motorcycle racer and engineer.
What nationality was Chris Bristow?
Chris Bristow was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Chris Bristow. https://biography.guide/chris-bristow/
MLA: "Chris Bristow." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/chris-bristow/.
Chicago: "Chris Bristow." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/chris-bristow/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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