Choose your most memorable British Grand Prix

Trending 1 month ago

Lorraine McKenna

BBC Sport Journalist

With Formula 1 celebrating its 75th day this year, and nan 2025 play arriving astatine Silverstone this week, BBC Sport is looking to reply nan question: What is nan astir memorable British Grand Prix?

We person put together a database of 9 and each you person to do is take your favourite.

Epic duel betwixt Stewart and Rindt - 1969

Jackie Stewart celebrates pinch his woman Helen aft winning astatine Silverstone successful 1969 Image source, Getty Images

The 1960s were coming to an extremity and Jackie Stewart was nan driver to hit successful Formula 1. The Scot had won 4 of nan first 5 races of nan '69 play and was nan favourite to return triumph erstwhile information six landed successful Britain.

Austrian Jochen Rindt, driving for Lotus, took rod up of Stewart's Matra. As soon arsenic nan emblem dropped, though, nan 2 drivers began an epic duel that would spot nan lead of nan title regularly alteration hands.

In nan closing stages, bodywork harm and a deficiency of substance denied Rindt nan chance of victory. Stewart triumphed, lapping nan full field, earlier toasting nan triumph pinch his wife, Helen.

Hunt's triumph that he mislaid - 1976

James Hunt drives his McLaren during nan 1976 British Grand Prix astatine Brands Hatch Image source, Getty Images

Brands Hatch was nan big of nan 1976 British Grand Prix for 1 of nan astir arguable races successful F1 history.

James Hunt secured triumph that time successful July, but it would beryllium be taken distant from nan location driver 2 months later.

Hunt was progressive successful a first-lap clang pinch nan Ferrari of Clay Regazzoni, which resulted successful a reddish flag. After he drove his damaged McLaren backmost to nan pits via a shortcut, nan stewards initially barred him from nan restart. However, nan partisan and sun-baked crowd were outraged, truthful nan determination was reversed and Hunt was capable to participate.

Following his win, Ferrari protested nan result, arguing that Hunt had not completed nan afloat title region because of nan shortcut. Hunt was officially disqualified successful September, giving Lauda nan title victory.

Mansell mania takes complete - 1987

Nigel Mansell drives his Williams astatine Silverstone successful 1987Image source, Getty Images

The twelvemonth is 1987 and nan moustachioed Nigel Mansell is starting successful 2nd spot astatine Silverstone, arsenic his Williams team-mate Nelson Piquet claimed nan coveted rod position.

On thigh 35, Mansell was wrong 2 seconds of Piquet. But a instrumentality equilibrium rumor meant nan squad elected to pit nan Briton for caller tyres. Following a speedy (for nan time) 9.5-second stop, Mansell rejoined nan action 28 seconds down Brazilian Piquet pinch 29 laps left.

Hopes were fading for a British win, but Mansell relentlessly hauled successful Piquet, yet overtaking his rival into Stowe pinch only 3 laps remaining.

The fans swarmed connected to nan track, delirious pinch joy. "And nan British crowd break ranks - they're marvellous astatine this!" cried commentator Murray Walker.

"I tin deliberation of nary different crowd successful nan world that would do that."

Senna hitches a thrust pinch Mansell - 1991

Ayrton Senna hitches a thrust connected Nigel Mansell's Williams pursuing nan British Grand Prix successful 1991 Image source, Getty Images

This play is not needfully remembered for nan victory, contempt Mansell celebrating a ascendant 3rd triumph of his profession connected location soil, but much for nan iconic, albeit somewhat dangerous, portion of sportmanship.

Championship leader Ayrton Senna, who started adjacent to Mansell successful second, was classified successful 4th spot aft his McLaren ran retired of substance connected nan last lap.

As Mansell completed his cooldown lap, he noticed nan Brazilian waiting for assistance, truthful he beckoned Senna complete and gave him a assistance backmost to nan pits connected nan broadside of his car. Cue rapturous applause from nan fans, but disapproving glances from nan marshal Senna had brushed disconnected successful bid to climb connected nan Williams.

"On your way, Nigel, says Senna, pinch a pat connected nan helmet," said Walker successful commentary.

Schumacher and Hill extremity up successful nan gravel - 1995

Marshals be to Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher aft nan 2 drivers collided successful 1995 Image source, Getty Images

The Silverstone ambiance amplifies erstwhile a British driver is progressive successful nan title race, truthful arsenic nan 1990s reached nan midway point, Damon Hill being only 11 points down defending champion Michael Schumacher put nan location crowd connected a high.

Willimas' Hill was connected rod pinch Schumacher second, but nan German took nan lead connected a one-stop strategy.

On thigh 46, Hill successful 2nd was connected fresher tyres erstwhile he made interaction pinch Schumacher, trying to overtake nan Benetton driver for nan lead done nan Priory corner, pinch nan 2 cars ending up successful nan gravel.

After nan race, arsenic fans clamoured for his autograph, Hill said nan stewards felt location was "equal blasted connected some parts" for nan collision.

There was ceremony for nan location crowd, though, arsenic Johnny Herbert - Schumacher's Benetton team-mate - took his first profession triumph that time aft 74 attempts.

Hamilton's wet-weather masterclass - 2008

Lewis Hamilton celebrates connected nan podium aft winning nan 2008 British GP Image source, Getty Images

The awesome British summertime was successful afloat effect successful 2008 arsenic gloomy conditions and rainfall hampered information 9 of nan campaign.

Lewis Hamilton was 23 years aged and successful his 2nd twelvemonth astatine McLaren erstwhile he wrote his sanction into British Grand Prix folklore. He had been nether unit coming into nan race, aft failing to people points successful nan erstwhile 2 grands prix.

Starting successful fourth, Hamilton's earthy wet-weather driving talent saw him walk team-mate and polesitter Heikki Kovalainen connected thigh 5 up nan wrong into Stowe - nan aforesaid spot Mansell had overtaken Piquet for nan lead 11 years earlier.

The stunning triumph - his maiden triumph successful Britain - by much than a infinitesimal put Hamilton successful a three-way necktie for nan title lead pinch Ferrari duo Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.

Hamilton wins connected 3 wheels - 2020

Lewis Hamilton looks astatine his worn tyres aft winning astatine Silverstone successful 2020 Image source, EPA

Silverstone fell silent because of nan coronavirus pandemic successful 2020, pinch nary fans coming for back-to-back title weekends astatine nan circuit successful August.

The first event, carrying nan accepted 'British' title (the 2nd was nan 70th Anniversary Grand Prix), was a mostly regular matter until nan last moments, erstwhile leader Lewis Hamilton suffered a puncture connected nan past lap.

Hamilton had watched connected arsenic Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas' title was ended 2 laps earlier by tyre issues. So erstwhile Max Verstappen, who was astir 30 seconds behind, began to adjacent in, it looked for illustration a grounds seventh location triumph was astir to gaffe done Hamilton's fingers.

With his left-front tyre successful dire straits, Hamilton managed to scope nan statement to return nan chequered flag. "That was close," he said, his alleviation evident.

Drama-filled title title - 2021

Start of nan British Grand Prix successful 2021 Image source, Getty Images

Polesitter Max Verstappen was up of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton by 32 points successful a tense title title erstwhile nan brace started alongside each different connected nan beforehand statement astatine Silverstone successful 2021.

It did not return agelong for nan play to unfold, arsenic nan opening thigh took a melodramatic twist into nan 190mph Copse area - 1 of nan fastest successful F1 - erstwhile nan 2 rivals made interaction astatine precocious speed, sending Red Bull's Verstappen spinning retired of nan expansive prix. The Dutchman was taken to infirmary for precautionary tests aft nan 51G impact.

Hamilton - who was fixed a 10-second punishment for causing nan collision pinch Verstappen - had to walk Lando Norris and team-mate Valtteri Bottas earlier mounting aft title leader Charles Leclerc successful nan Ferrari. He had 12 laps to adjacent an eight-second spread and did so, getting past connected thigh 50 of 52 erstwhile Leclerc ran wide astatine nan exit of Copse.

Hamilton's victory, his eighth connected location soil, trim Verstappen's lead astatine nan apical of nan drivers' title to 8 points.

Hamilton's first triumph successful 945 days - 2024

Lewis Hamilton kisses nan British Grand Prix trophy aft wining successful 2024 Image source, Getty Images

"I thought it was ne'er going to hap again," said Hamilton aft his truimph astatine Silverstone successful 2024. His triumph successful his last twelvemonth astatine Mercedes was his first triumph successful an astonishing 2 years, 7 months and 2 days - an unfathomable barren spell for 1 of nan all-time F1 greats.

Hamilton won an aggravated race-long conflict pinch Verstappen and McLaren's Lando Norris successful wet-dry conditions successful beforehand of 164,000 people. The triumph was his ninth astatine location to go nan record-holder for wins astatine a azygous circuit.

"I can't extremity crying," he said consecutive aft climbing retired of his car. Later, he remarked: "That mightiness beryllium nan astir affectional ending to a title I deliberation I person astir apt ever had."