“James Hunt bedded 5,000 women” – How British F1 idol earned untouchable status as champion and playboy

Samriddhi Jaiswal | 08/06/2022

James Hunt won the 1976 championship and was known for his remarkable skills on track but he also earned the status of a playboy.

James Hunt was a British F1 idol whose rivalry with Niki Lauda from the 1973 to 1979 season is one of the biggest rivalries in the history of motorsport.

Hunt earned recognition as a fast, aggressive driver but prone to accidents. He was nicknamed ‘Hunt the Shunt (shunt, as a British motor-racing term, means “crash”). Hunt met a tragic death in 1993 aged just 45 after suffering a heart attack.

Despite being involved in a fierce rivalry with Lauda, both the drivers shared quite a wholesome relationship off the track. They admired each other for their skills. Lauda even described the Briton as an “open, honest to God pal” in his autobiography name ‘To Hell and Back.’

Apart from his skills behind the wheels, Hunt also garnered the status of a playboy and there are rumours about his alleged addiction to drugs.

Also Read: How England’s World Cup victory spoiled seven time World Champion’s after race party

James Hunt bedded 5,000 women

Hunt is rumoured to have bedded 5,000 women as he lived life to the max, including 35 British Airways air hostesses during his run to the 1976 championship title.

Hunt’s son Freddie has downplayed his father’s alleged addiction to drugs but agrees with the rumours about the women.

He said, “I can’t vouch for the number of women but Dad wasn’t a junky. He just liked getting loose at parties and took coke but wasn’t a cokehead.”

“There were witnesses. There was a fresh supply of hostesses. They would come to the hotel, stop over, and then get on the plane the next day. There was a different one every night,” Freddie further added.

Furthermore, Hunt’s story was brought to the big screen by Ron Howard in the 2013 blockbuster movie titled Rush. Australian actor Chris Hemsworth was cast as Hunt to portray the legend’s iconic story.

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Post Edited By: Jatin Hasija
1976 championship Freddie Hunt James Hunt McLaren Niki Lauda

About the author

Samriddhi Jaiswal

Samriddhi Jaiswal is an F1 editor and writer at The SportsRush. She started her career as a business journalist but soon found her calling in lights out here we go! Samriddhi has been a Ferrari fan even when her interaction with F1 was occasional. Her first real experience with the thrilling sport came when Charles Leclerc clinched his iconic victory in Spa and Monza and painted the track red. Now, a Tifosi, Samriddhi is a hardcore fan of the prancing horse and can relate to the chaos within the Italian camp and also admires Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. Off the track, she finds her home in books and musical instruments.

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