Rainer W. Schlegelmilch: capturing the complete story of Formula 1
Meet the man whose work has graced the covers and pages of every major publication worldwide and made him as illustrious as the Grand Prix drivers he's photographed.

In 1962, a twenty one year old Rainer W. Schlegelmilch was studying photography in Munich when he shot his first motor race at the Nurburgring and, shortly after, his first grand prix at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. Needless to say he was bitten by the motorsport bug and over 50 years later, Rainer Schlegelmilch is regarded as, quite simply, a legend on the Grand Prix circuit.

Since that first Grand Prix, Schlegelmilch has arguably created the greatest collection of motorsport imagery available anywhere in the world - the sheer depth and breadth of the archive is unparalleled. Containing a who's who of Formula 1, Schlegelmilch has captured practically every driver, every team, every car and every race over the past five decades.

Rainer enjoys a unique position to document what it is to be a racing driver at the very pinnacle of motorsport. Through his fabled 'Bernie Pass' accreditation - given to him personally by Bernie Ecclestone in recognition of his services to Formula 1 photography - Schlegelmilch has been able to photograph behind the scenes, recording the highs and lows of the drivers and the teams around them.

These images offer a fascinating insight into what drives the world of Formula 1 and ultimately what makes a true champion, together with the glitz and glamour that surround the sport. From the exhilaration of victory to the despair of defeat, Schlegelmilch has managed to capture it all and the collection is as near to the complete story of Formula 1 as it is possible to be.

Explore the Rainer Schlegelmilch collection on Getty Images

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