Formula One legend Chris Amon dies after battle with cancer

Former Ferrari driver Chris Amon, who was considered one of the best Formula One drivers of his generation, has passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 73.

Paying his tribute to Amon, three-time world champion Jackie Stewart described him as 'one of the most skillful and natural drivers ever to grace Formula One', Sport24 reported.

Meanwhile, Ferrari's then technical director Mauro Forghieri said that Amon was by far the best test driver he had ever worked with while admitting that he had all the qualities to be a world champion but bad luck prevented him to do so.

Amon competed in Formula 1 between 1963 and 1976 and appeared in 95 races, in which he took five pole positions and made 11 podium finishes.

The New Zealand driver spent the first four years of his F1 career across the Lola, Lotus, Brabham, Cooper and McLaren teams before he joined Ferrari in 1967, where he spent three seasons.

Amon also raced for Matra, Tecno, Tyrrell, BRM, Ensign and Williams over the remaining years of his F1 career. His last F1 Grand Prix came in Canada in 1976.