F1 world champion bedded 5,000 women and took coke in build-up to winning title

A legendary champion reportedly slept with thousands of women and indulged in cocaine at rowdy parties while at the height of his popularity.James Hunt only raced in F1 for seven years but made a lasting impression, winning his only title in 1976 and securing ten Grand Prix victories. He gained a degree of notoriety for his action-packed exploits on track, in addition to his playboy lifestyle off it.He emerged as a major sex symbol in the 1970s and reportedly bedded as many as 5,000 women at the peak of his powers. This figure is rumoured to include up to 35 air hostesses during his title-winning season.Hunt was also known for his love of partying and was said to have used cocaine and other drugs while letting his hair down. He tragically died at the age of 45 from a heart attack but is fondly remembered as one of F1’s larger-than-life characters.

His son, Freddie, previously downplayed his father’s alleged drug use but was able to confirm his success with the opposite sex.Quizzed on whether his dad actually slept with 5,000 women, Freddie told : “I can’t vouch for the number of women but I know that Dad wasn’t a junkie. He just liked getting loose at parties.”He took coke, but he wasn’t a cokehead. We do behave quite similarly. Then again, my mum was pretty naughty too.”On his womanising abilities, Freddie added: “There were witnesses. There was a fresh supply of hostesses. They would come to the hotel, stop over, then get on the plane the next day. There was a different one every night.”Hunt was married to Suzy Miller, a model and actress, until she left him for actor Richard Burton in 1975. He eventually married his second wife, Sarah Lomax, in 1983 with whom he had two children including Freddie.

The couple separated in 1988 but continued to live together, believing it would be in the best interests of their children. A year later, they divorced on the grounds of adultery committed by Hunt.Following the break-up, he found love once again with Helen Dyson, a waitress who was 18 years his junior. Hunt proposed to Dyson in 1993 but he sadly died the very next day.In 2013, the story of Hunt’s epic rivalry with Niki Lauda was brought to the big screen with the movie Rush. He was portrayed by Chris Hemsworth, who later admitted that he found the role ‘intimidating’ due to Hunt’s reputation.He said: “This was particularly nerve-wracking because he was an iconic person and he is also no longer alive, which adds pressure because I had to live up to the memory.”At the same time, this challenge makes it kind of thrilling. There were so many resources, people to talk to and so much information to take in.”