Former Ferrari driver Chris Amon dies aged 73

Former Ferrari driver Chris Amon has died aged 73 after a battle with cancer.

The New Zealander started 96 grands prix between 1963 and 1976, racing for legendary teams including Ferrari, March and Tyrrell.

Although he never won a race, Amon finished on the podium 11 times and claimed 19 front-row starts, and is considered one of the best drivers never to stand on the top of an F1 podium.

He did triumph at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1966 with countryman Bruce McLaren, while Amon also enjoyed success in other racing categories.

Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle tweeted: "Very sad to hear that the great Chris Amon has died. Met him a few years ago in NZ, what a lovely man. Approachable, humble, a class act."

Sky F1 analyst Mark Hughes added: "Chris Amon, one of the very greatest talents ever to sit in an F1 car - and a lovely man. RIP. Very, very sad."

McLaren chairman Ron Dennis described Amon as "the greatest racing driver never to have won a race at the very highest level".

"He nearly won a fair few, but always it seemed that his luck would run out before he saw the chequered flag," Dennis added. 

"However, he won at Le Mans, in a mighty 7.0-litre Ford, exactly 50 years ago, his co-driver his friend and fellow Kiwi, Bruce McLaren, whose name still graces the team to which I have devoted my working life."

Amon died in Rotorua hospital in New Zealand and a statement issued by his family read: "Chris battled cancer in recent years but retained not only a close interest in Formula 1 - and his very wide range of favourite topics - but also his wonderful sense of humour complete with infectious chuckle."