The past five British F1 World Champions

With Lando Norris seeking to seal the F1 World Drivers Championship at the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend and become the newest British F1 World Champion, we are looking at the past five British drivers who have claimed the most prestigious trophy in motorsport.

1. Sir Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton claimed his first victory in his rookie season at the Canadian Grand Prix for McLaren F1 Team. Since that record breaking rookie year, where he only missed out on the championship by one point, he has won a record 105 Grand Prix’s and has earned the joint most F1 World Championships equalling Michael Schumachers record. Winning the F1 World Championship 7 times in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Over his F1 career he has driven for McLaren, Mercedes AMG Petronas and Scuderia Ferrari.

https://youtu.be/ve1K0pO31Nw?si=7j9bwjb5q19wwtvM

2. Jenson Button

Recently retiring from motorsport entirely, Jenson Button raced full time in Formula One from 2000 to 2016 and had a one off race at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix when he replaced Fernando Alonso. In 2006 he won his first race at an exciting and rain affected Hungarian Grand Prix from 14th on the grid. Three years later Button won his one and only F1 Championship in 2009 for Brawn GP. Throughout his career he raced for BMW Williams, Benneton (Renault), BAR Honda, Brawn GP and McLaren before leaving F1.

3. Damon Hill

In 1996 Hill continued his families legacy in Formula One, winning the championship in Japan after Jacques Villeneuve dropped out of the race. Becoming apart of the first father-son duo to win F1 World Championships after his father, Graham Hill, won it in 1962 and 1968. Damon Hill won eight of the 16 races that season and only finished off the podium in two races that he didn’t finish in.

https://youtu.be/GrPqodZYQh0?si=o2jhL0MF7yys8-Pt

4. Nigel Mansell

Mansell raced full time in Formula One from 1980 to 1992 and raced for Lotus, Williams, Ferrari. The most successful stint of his F1 career came when he returned to Williams in 1991 after leaving in 1989 to race for Ferrari for two seasons. In 1991 he finished 2nd in the championship behind the late great Ayrton Senna before blowing the competition out of the water in 1992 winning the championship 52 points ahead of second place Riccardo Patrese. He had 108 points, won nine out of 16 races and set an all time record for the highest percentage of pole positions in a season (87.5%, 14 out of 16 Grands Prix) which remains the record today.

https://youtu.be/mAJIO-0p0iM?si=XdmAXJ4uvS9DmkPQ

5. James Hunt

Hunt was one of Formula One’s most glamorous personalities, he raced from 1973 to 1979 and was known for being a fast and aggressive driver alongside being known for his famous rivalry with the late great Niki Lauda. Hunt beat Lauda to the championship in 1976 after a final race in Japan which was surrounded in controversy as the weather was extremely wet and foggy. Lauda decided to pit on the second lap to retire as he thought the weather was too extreme and didn’t want a repeat of his unfortunate incident at the Nurburgring earlier in the season. Although, Hunt showing his very confident personality finished the race 3rd after overtaking Clay Regazzoni and Alan Jones on the 71st lap which created confusion for the final results as they had him finishing 5th.