Brabham to Button - F1 champions reunite in Bahrain
The oldest living world champion, 83-year-old , will be in Bahrain on Sunday to watch his most recent successor, Jenson Button, begin his title defence.
The 1959, 1960 and 1966 world champion is part of a dazzling guest list of Formula 1 stars who have made their way to the desert.
All 20 living world champions - with the exception of Nelson Piquet and Kimi Raikkonen - are in the principality to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the drivers' championship.
"It's the greatest collection of world champions that there's ever been," said three-time world champion Sir Jackie Stewart.
1992 world champion Nigel Mansell drives the Ferrari Thin Wall Special in Bahrain
Brazil's double world champion added: "It's like a time machine. We've never had this group together in the same place before - it's a great honour."
A selection of classic F1 cars have also been wheeled out of the vaults of history and some of the former champions will be back at the helm.
Keke Rosberg is climbing back into the Williams that took him to the 1982 title for the first time since jumping out of it in the final race of the season in Las Vegas.
The 61-year-old, who is a regular fixture at Mercedes as he keeps an eye on son Nico's progress, says he hasn't driven an F1 car for 13 years.
Stewart is more of a regular on the classic F1 scene but was thrilled to still be trim enough to squeeze into his original 1969 racesuit, which he will wear at the wheel of his championship-winning 1973 Tyrrell-Ford.
Damon Hill is driving the 1996 Williams that took him to the title, Fittipaldi is back in the cockpit of the wedge-shaped Lotus 72 in which he took the 1972 crown, while 1992 champ Nigel Mansell is sitting tall in a 1954 .
The drivers will parade the cars around the track on Sunday before the four current world champions on the grid - Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button - begin their quest for another title in the .
Watching the former champions pull on their race suits on Saturday morning and talk to their engineers before climbing into the cars on Saturday's run-through, it was obvious that none of them - not even - had lost the desire or thrill of racing.
But none of them - with the exception of , Niki Lauda and Mansell - have been tempted to come out of retirement for one more throw of the dice as Schumacher has done after his three-year hiatus.
Schumacher, at the age of 41, and his former foe Hill is watching with interest.
"I think it's very interesting to see if it can be done by Michael," said Hill,
"He's taking on a big challenge - but I think he's big enough for the challenge."
People often ask how I came to be the Formula 1 lady for the 91Èȱ¬ website. Well, after being dragged around vintage car rallies and auto jumbles by my Dad, motor racing got under my skin. I am now a fully paid-up member of F1's travelling circus after a year on the road as part of the 91Èȱ¬ team. I look forward to bringing you more on- and off-track adventures here. You can also follow me on .
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