The Legacy of the British Grand Prix

Formula 1 celebrates 75 years since the sport was formalized into a world championship. The British Grand Prix at Silverstone was the first grand prix of the world championship in 1950, and the race has been on the calendar every year since, but at various locations.

Silverstone: The Birthplace of F1

The first location for the grand prix was Silverstone, a former airfield, in May 1950. Italian driver Emilio Giuseppe 'Nino' Farina won the race and took a clean sweep of pole position and fastest lap across the weekend. Farina of Alfa Romeo went on to win the championship, which had just seven races.

Aintree: Britain's Only Purpose-Built Circuit

Between 1955 and 1963, Silverstone and Aintree alternated as hosts of the British Grand Prix. Aintree, located in Liverpool, was thought to be Britain's only purpose-built grand prix circuit. In 1957, Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks of the Vanwall team shared the driving, which meant they shared the trophy too.

Brands Hatch: The Southern Host

As the cars became quicker, safety at Aintree became a concern. F1 eventually stuck to the south with the introduction of Brands Hatch. From the mid-1960s up to 1986, Brands Hatch and Silverstone alternated as hosts for the British Grand Prix. In 1966, three-time champion Jack Brabham started on pole position, as the race was won by Jody Scheckter of Tyrrell/Ford.

Iconic Moments

One of the most memorable moments at the British Grand Prix was when Nigel Mansell gave Ayrton Senna a lift on the side of his Williams FW14. Mansell took a clean sweep of the weekend with pole position, fastest lap, and race win, while Senna ran out of fuel on the last lap. On his cool-down lap, Mansell gave Senna a lift back to the pits, much to the shock of the stewards.

The Lewis Hamilton Era

Lewis Hamilton is statistically the most successful driver in F1 with seven world titles, 105 race wins, and 104 pole positions. He also holds the win record at the British Grand Prix (Silverstone) with nine victories. Hamilton's win tally at Silverstone continued to last year's grand prix, marking his final year with Mercedes.

The Future of the British Grand Prix

With no clear rival host, it's expected that Silverstone will remain on the calendar for the foreseeable future. The Red Bull Ring and Miami circuit signed contracts this year through to 2041, the longest so far.