Lewis Hamilton class in 2008 and other memorable British Grand Prix

David Cooper - Writer 13:36 04/07/2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and the rest of Formula One’s elite drivers have descended on Northamptonshire for the British Grand Prix this weekend.

    Ahead of Sunday’s race, we look back at five dramatic moments in England.

    1955

    A year dominated by Mercedes – something that would sound all too familiar these days. Juan Manuel Fangio of Argentina went on to clinch the third of his five world titles that year, but he didn’t win the British Grand Prix at Aintree. Instead, a 26-year-old named Stirling Moss pipped the legendary South American to victory by only a matter of metres. The Briton led a Mercedes 1-2-3-4 to seal the first of his 16 race wins.

    1976

    The year of James Hunt v Niki Lauda. Hunt had a poor start to the race and Lauda pulled away. But the Austrian sustained a broken rear wheel at the first corner and his car spun. Several more cars were damaged as a result of the debris, including Hunt’s. After some clever work from the mechanics, Lauda went on to beat Hunt after the McLaren driver was disqualified. The Briton, however, would win the drivers title that year – by just one point.

    1987

    One of the races that will be remembered the most. Nigel Mansell broke the Silverstone lap record 11 times to chase down his Williams-Honda teammate Nelson Piquet, passing the Brazilian with three laps remaining at Stowe corner. It was the third of Mansell’s five wins in the 1987 campaign and second successive win at Silverstone. Piquet won the world title that season, finishing 12 points ahead of his teammate.


    1998

    Remarkably the only race ever to be won in the pit lane. Starting from second on the grid, Michael Schumacher was handed a 10 second stop-go penalty for overtaking under the safety car with two laps to go. At the end of the final lap, the German came in to serve his penalty but crossed the finish line in the pit lane to win the race. McLaren, who finished second, protested but the controversial penalty was later rescinded. Mika Hakkinen, who finished second that day, lifted the first of his back-to-back world titles in 1998.


    2008

    Eight years on from David Coulthard’s win in 2000, no Britain had won the home race at Silverstone. In wet conditions, Lewis Hamilton produced a masterclass to navigate the slippery track in Northamptonshire, finishing more than a minute ahead of title rival Felipe Massa. It was the third of his five victories that season en route to lifting his maiden world championship. Ten years on, the 33-year-old is eyeing a fifth world crown and sixth win at the home of racing.

    Recommended