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Do you love racing? If you're eager to explore modern-day racing and its roots, books are a fantastic way to dive in. Here are some titles that I’ve read or plan to read.
As a motorsports fan and the founder of Red Racer Books, I’m always on the lookout for stories that capture the excitement of racing—from the high-speed drama on the track to the behind-the-scenes moments. Lately, there’s been a surge in motorsports books, with insiders, broadcasters, and journalists (including some first-time authors) sharing their unique perspectives, which is great to see! In addition to these new releases, I’ve also discovered some older gems that are well worth reading.
This is my personal list of motorsports books I’ve enjoyed, am currently reading, or plan to pick up soon. If you love racing as much as I do, I’m sure you’ll find something here to enjoy.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions, too!
F1 Books
The Grand Prix Book: An Illustrated History of Formula 1
by Will Buxton, Illustrations by Davi Augusto
📖 View on Amazon
If you’ve watched Drive to Survive or follow the sport via F1TV, you know Will Buxton. He’s written a book that reflects his deep care and appreciation for F1’s marvelous history. This beautifully illustrated journey through Formula 1 is perfect for fans who love a mix of visuals and storytelling. I think it’s a great book for both new and seasoned fans. The audiobook, narrated by Will himself, is a treat if you’re a fan like me. There’s also a foreword by Stefano Domenicali!
The Formula: How Rogues, Geniuses, and Speed Freaks Reengineered F1 into the World's Fastest-Growing Sport
by Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg
📖 View on Amazon
An inside look at the innovators and risk-takers who shaped modern F1 during its most transformative years. I’ve just started diving into this book and found myself highlighting and marking it up—it’s full of great quotes, sayings, and fun facts.
Don’t Thank God, Thank the Crash Test Dummies That Came Before You
by Frank Allison, Cover Art by Riley Girmann, Afterword by Richard Morris
📖 View on Game Over Books
An amazing book of Formula One-inspired poems. Frank Allison’s beautiful and thought-provoking words are complemented by Riley Girmann’s stunning cover art. I’ve been fortunate to meet everyone involved in this book—they’re all incredible people. Highly recommend this short but powerful read, especially trackside with the soundtrack of race cars roaring by.
Fast & Reckless: A Racing Hearts Novel
by Amanda Weaver
📖 View on Amazon
If you’re an F1 fan who enjoys love stories or romance, this novel offers a thrilling blend of passion and high-speed drama. Set within the world of a fictional F1 team, it dives deep into the relationships, emotions, and dynamics of life behind the scenes—crafted with remarkable authenticity. Author Amanda Weaver brings the team to life, and her husband, F1 podcaster Matt Trumpets (Missed Apex), contributed to the racing details, making the story even more immersive. It’s a fun, steamy read that will keep you hooked from the first page—perfect for fans of both racing and romance! Just a heads-up: this one’s for adults. 😉
Sand, Sunsets & Speed: Capturing the Miami Grand Prix
by RACEWKND
📖 View on RACEWKND
This book perfectly captures the vibe of the Miami Grand Prix and it’s packed with stunning photography that brings the event to life, plus an intro and curated soundtrack by Tiësto, a legendary DJ and F1 super-fan.
INDYCAR Books
Indy Split: The Big Money Battle that Nearly Destroyed Indy Racing
by John Oreovicz
📖 View on Amazon
Great for motorsport history lovers, particularly those passionate about INDYCAR and the Indy 500. This book offers a fascinating overview of IndyCar’s history and a gripping account of the turbulent split between CART and the IRL that shook American open-wheel racing to its core.
Playing in Traffic: My Journey from Autism Diagnosis to the Indy 500 Flagstand
by Aaron Likens
📖 View on Amazon
I first heard about Aaron Likens through a friend in INDYCAR and was fortunate to meet him at the Indy 500, where our books launched during the same weekend. His journey from childhood karting, through undiagnosed Asperger’s, to becoming the Indy 500 Chief Starter is inspiring. Aaron is a true artist with the flags, and his story is a testament to following your dreams.
History
The Race to the Future: 8,000 Miles to Paris – The Adventure That Accelerated the Twentieth Century
by Kassia St. Clair
📖 View on Amazon
I am really drawn to the earliest days of racing, when cars were first invented around the turn of the century, and that’s exactly where this fascinating book begins. It tells the story of an incredible rally race from Peking, China, all the way to Paris, France—an event cooked up by a French newspaper to promote both automobiles and itself. Along the way, it features a colorful cast of characters, from an Italian prince to a con man, as well as journalists reporting via telegram.
Between these stories, the author weaves in a captivating history of cars, human mobility, and the rapid innovation that took us from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles and beyond. It’s a truly intriguing look at how the race for speed has shaped both technology and human progress.
Ferrari Formula 1 Car by Car: Every Race Car Since 1950
by Stuart Codling, Photos by James Mann
📖 View on Amazon
I received this book as a Secret Santa gift at my car club’s holiday dinner, and it was perfect! Ferrari is the only team to have raced in every F1 season, and this book catalogs their legendary cars beautifully. It’s a must-have for Ferrari fans—and they make versions for other teams too.
Planning to Read Next
How to Read F1: Everything You Need to Know About Racing in the Fast Lane
by Jennie Gow
Another Drive to Survive alum and BBC F1 broadcaster, Jennie Gow, has written an A-to-Z guide to F1. She’s an incredible personality and, as a stroke survivor, is raising awareness and inspiring others through her recovery journey.
This one’s on my Christmas list—I can’t wait to read it!
How to Win a Grand Prix
by Bernie Collins
Another book on my Christmas list that I’m excited to read is this one, written by an F1 strategy insider drawing from her experience as a Chief Race Engineer and F1 Team Strategist. It’s a deep dive into the entire process, from design and construction to pre-season testing and all the way through to race weekend. I can’t wait to check it out!
Life in the Pitlane (Coming in 2025)
by Calum Nicholas
I’ve been a big fan of Calum Nicholas, a star of the record-breaking Red Bull Racing Pit Crew, for a while. His story is fascinating, and I love that he’s written a book that offers an inside look at Red Bull Racing during their peak success with Max Verstappen, along with their Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships.
Previous Motorsports Book Lists
If you're looking for even more racing books, check out my Holiday Gift Guides from the past couple of years. These guides feature some fantastic titles that make great gifts—or additions to your own bookshelf!
What’s on Your Reading List?
These are just some of the motorsports books I’ve come across and found worth sharing—by no means a comprehensive list! There’s a whole world of racing stories out there, and I know I haven’t discovered them all. What books have you found that should be on my list? Share your favorite motorsports reads in the comments, and let’s keep fueling our passion for racing—on and off the track. 🏎️📖💨
Looking for Kids' Motorsports Books?
If you're looking to share your love of racing with the next generation, check out our small but mighty collection of children’s books at Red Racer Books! We’ve got something for every young racing fan, with more titles coming in 2025.
Here are a few to get you started:
🔤 ABCs of Racing: My First Guide to Formula 1™ Racing
Age 0-6 | Formula 1
The perfect introduction to the world of F1 for little fans, with fun illustrations and easy-to-follow text.
🚗 All About Race Cars: A Guide to Formula 1 Race Cars
Age 4-10 | Formula 1
Packed with exciting facts and photos, this book is ideal for budding race car enthusiasts who want to know more about F1 cars.
Age 0-6 | INDYCAR
A fun and educational guide to INDYCAR, teaching kids the A to Z of racing with colorful illustrations.
🏎️ Josef's BIG Dream: An INDY 500 Story
Age 4-8 | INDYCAR / Indy 500
An inspiring story of perseverance and chasing big dreams, based on the legendary Indy 500 and written by Josef Newgarden.
New books are coming in 2025, but until then, these titles are ready to fuel the imagination of young race fans!
🔗 Check out the full collection or Shop Red Racer Books on Amazon
