He participated in 38 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 19 July 1975, but never scored any championship points.

On winning the minor British Formula Vee championship in 1971, ever-conscious of the value of public relations, he announced that he was going to be World Champion.

Unfruitful outings for Arrows and Tyrrell in 1982 led to no more success, though he did set the fastest lap at the British Grand Prix - Henton is the only driver in Formula One history to have set a fastest lap without ever scoring a championship point.

[1] Following his retirement from the sport, he returned to running a car dealership and later moved into property development and in recent years has diversified into other areas, notably engineering.

18 Surtees during practice for the 1978 Austrian Grand Prix but was not officially entered for the race.