Monaco post is something that I can count on every year for a new release of Formula One related stamps. It is not a disappointment though, in fact it is a double delight this year.
Two stamps, one on Michele Alboreto and another on Graham Hill were the surprise release.
Michele Alboreto - An Italian racing driver whose career in Motorsport is very diverse. He participated in championships such as Formula One, Le Mans, Sebring, IndyCar, European Sportscar, Formula Two, Formula Three. He started his career in Formula Monza, without much success he then moved to Formula Three and finally to Formula One in 1981. His best finish in Formula One was 2nd in 1985 F1 drivers’ championship. He retired from Formula One in 1992 after racing with teams Tyrrell, Ferrari, Larrousse, Footwork, Scuderia Italia, Arrows and Minardi. He also had a good time in Le Mans racing winning the championship in 1997 for Joest Racing. He died in a crash in 2001 while performing a test drive for Audi. The only other country to release a stamp on Michele was Italy in 2009.
Graham Hill - He was a British racing driver who holds the record of winning Triple Crown of Motorsport - 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Formula One World Championship. He won the Formula One Championship twice - 1962 and 1968. His son Damon Hill won the Formula One Championship in 1996 and they were the only "father and son" to win the Formula One championship. He was popularly called as "King of Monaco" as he has won 5 Monaco Grand Prix races ( 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969 ). He is part of elite list of 10 Brits who won the Formula One Drivers Championship. He was the second Brit to win the Formula One Championship after Mike Hawthorn. He also won Indy 500 in 1966 and Le Mans in 1972. Graham Hill died in 1975 in a plane crash while piloting his private plane.
