Top 5 British F1 Grands Prix

It is a time of high expectations for Formula 1 fans as Silverstone beckons us once again. There will be great enthusiasm around the British Grand Prix this year as four British drivers take to the circuit come race-day. With the season approaching mid-way point, there is very little clarity in the standings with 5 different winners in just 7 races and maybe the British Grand Prix will give us a little more idea as to who will be crowned champion at the end of the season. Silverstone is a circuit with a great history and there are very few of these left in the calendar now. It was, after all, the place where the first-ever world championship was held.

The British drivers expressed their eagerness to race at the circuit. Lewis Hamilton recalled his precious 2008 victory and said, “Winning the British Grand Prix in 2008 was an incredible moment for me. I’ve been aiming to repeat it every year since and I’d love to win my second race at Silverstone.”

Jenson Button expressed his appreciation of the circuit at Silverstone, calling it one of the finest on the calendar. He said, “Becketts, quite simply, is the greatest sequence of corners in motor sport – you cannot believe the speeds you’re able to pull through there. And Copse and Stowe are incredible too.”

Paul Di Resta of Sahara Force India was excited about the enthusiastic fans that are always present at Silverstone, though they will have to shell out money this time. He said, “For me it’s the biggest event we go to, especially in terms of support from the British fans, which is always amazing. You feel it as soon as you arrive on the Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon because the fans are already there camping.”

It is a good moment to recall some of the great races that we have witnessed at Silverstone over the years. Here is a list of some memorable races:

1951: Jose Froilan Gonzalez

The Argentine, who passed away this month, had a love affair with Silverstone. He participated in 26 Grands Prix in his career but won only two and both of those victories came at Silverstone. He will definitely be remembered when everybody related to Formula 1 gather at Silverstone. It was also Ferrari‘s first victory at the circuit. The Pampas Bull, as he was fondly called for his stocky body, defeated the fancied Alfa Romeo in that race and repeated the feat in 1954. Interestingly, compatriot Juan Manuel Fangio, who is still considered to be the best driver, did not have a great time at Silverstone, winning the race only once in 1956.

1983: Alain Prost

The professor began a love-affair with the Silverstone from this race that was to be one of his five victories that remains a record to this day. The diminutive Frenchman was methodical in his approach as opposed to some of his more glamorous opponents, but his impeccable technique meant that he became almost invincible on the superfast tracks of Silverstone. The circuit has always proved to be a litmus test for the capability of drivers and those who have been able to dominate this circuit have often dominated the world.

1987: Nigel Mansell

Perhaps no driver has received the kind of fan support at Silverstone as Nigel Mansell did in his three victories that came in 1987, 1991 and 1992. The British Bulldog was determined to prove himself at this circuit and did so abundantly. The mania at the circuit when Mansell drove was perhaps a far cry from the mild buzz that we will get if a Britisher gets the victory at this year’s Grand Prix.

2002: Michael Schumacher

The German driver, who is hailed as the greatest by many, had a mixed bag at the Silverstone. He suffered a terrible accident in 1999 after suffering a brake failure and that was when he came into the race as the previous year’s winner. He lost out to Coulthard next year but he made his peace with the circuit in 2002, bagging his second victory. He came back again to win at the circuit in 2004 to join an elite club of drivers who have won three or more times at the challenging circuit.

2008 Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton grabbed all the eyeballs with his 2008 victory at the circuit with McLaren. He was cheered by 90,000 fans as they were delighted to see a British driver triumph at home after 8 long years. He has been quiet at the circuit ever since but he has a long career ahead of him and would want to join the legends with more memorable victories at the circuit.