F1 Hub Blog : Murray Walker: One Of The Few F1 Legends Outside Of The Car

Gentleman, passionate, inspired, thrilled and dedicated are a mere few descriptive words and feelings linked to this commentating legend.

Having commentated on all seasons of Formula 1 from the first championship in 1950 right up to over fifty years later in 2001, rarely missing a single race, it's fair to say he deserves his place in Formula One's greatest hall of fame.

Murray Already A Well Established Voice Of The BBC Even in 1967 Here Pictured [BBC]

Who else can you really say that about that isn't a Formula One champion or at least a significant racing figure? Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone? Ferrari President Luca di Montezemola? Red Bull car design guru Adrian Newey? Sure yeah. But to be a commentating legend is some feat. He thrilled us syncing the on track action into our living room televisions.

Martin Brundle after retiring in 1996, joined Murray in the commentary box for the 1997 season when ITV won the television contract from the BBC until Murray's retirement, and at his final race Martin rightly spoke, "I'm sure I speak for many millions of people - tens of millions all around the world - when I say to you, thank you so much for what you've done for Formula 1 over the decades" - Martin Brundle, US GP 2001.

The BBC and Sky have both got super commentaters currently and both give fans at least one channel to enjoy watching, but old times sakes, feast your eyes on these classic 'Murrayisms'. Also see the videos below of more Murrayism's, and the man himself taking a hot ride with Martin Brundle in a two-seater version of the classic 1998 McLaren.

Nick, F1 Hub

"He's obviously gone in for a wheel change. I say obviously because I can't see it"

"With half the race gone, there is half the race still to go"

"Do my eyes deceive me, or is Senna's Lotus sounding rough?"

"Anything happens in Grand Prix racing and it usually does"

"Alboreto has dropped back up to fifth place"

"As you look at the first four, the significant thing is Alboreto is 5th"

"I can't imagine what kind of problem Senna has. I imagine it must be some sort of grip problem"

"He is shedding buckets of adrenalin in that car"

"It's raining and the track is wet"

"And there's just a few more corners for Nigel Mansell to go to win the Canadian Grand Prix...and...he's going rather slow...HE'S STOPPING HE'S STOPPING!"

"And this is the third placed car about to lap the second place car"

Murray "What's that? There a BODY on the track!!!" James: "Um, I think that that is a piece of bodywork from someone's car"