British Grand Prix - The first race of Formula 1 fixed its place on a calendar

The British Grand Prix is one of just two Grand Prix races which is held continuously since 1950, the first season of the Formula 1 World Championship.

Most recently, in July 2019, Silverstone Circuit has agreed on a new deal with Liberty Media which will keep the British Grand Prix venue on the Formula 1 calendar until 2024.

Early history

The history of the British Grand Prix dates back 1926 when it was held for the first time at Brooklands oval circuit near London. The race was held for the second time at the same venue in 1927 and that was the last British GP before World War II. Several non-championship Grand Prix races, dominated by the German manufacturers and drivers like Bernd Rosemeyer and Tazio Nuvolari, were held at Donington Park during the 1930s.

The start of the 1948 British Grand Prix

The British Grand Prix was re-established in 1948. Silverstone circuit hosted the Royal Automobile Club International Grand Prix in October and the winner of the race was Italian Luigi Villoresi in a Maserati. In the following year, the layout of Silverstone circuit was heavily modified. The venue in Northamptonshire became similar to modern racing tracks while the race was won by the Swiss driver Emmanuel de Graffenried in Maserati.

Beginning of the new Formula 1 era at Silverstone

When the Formula 1 World Championship was introduced in 1950, the British Grand Prix was the first race ever held. Silverstone circuit hosted the race which was won by the Alfa Romeo driver Giuseppe Farina. Silverstone was the host of the following four British GPs. Ferrari was dominant from 1951 to 1954, so Jose Froilan Gonzalez and Alberto Ascari scored two wins each.

Jim Clark was the first five-time winner of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix

In 1955 British Grand Prix for the first time was held at Aintree circuit near Liverpool. Local fans were delighted after the victory of Stirling Moss who was behind the wheel of Mercedes. Until 1963 the race was alternated between Aintree and Silverstone and that was the period when British manufacturers and drivers were very successful.

Lotus, with Jim Clark, and Cooper, with Jack Brabham, scored two wins each while Vanwall won the race in 1957. Interestingly, that was the only race won by two drivers – Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks. A year earlier at Silverstone, legendary Juan Manuel Fangio won his only British GP driving the Lancia-Ferrari.

Brands Hatch became a third circuit to host the British Grand Prix

In 1964, Aintree fell out of favor and until 1986 the race was switched between Silverstone and Brands Hatch. Jim Clark was the first winner at Brands Hatch while the same driver recorded his fourth consecutive victory at British Grand Prix in 1965. Two years later, Clark scored his fifth victory and so far he is one of two most successful driver in the history of the event.

The Lotus 72D of Emerson Fittipaldi leaves the pits at the British Grand Prix

In 1971 British Racing Drivers Club bought the entire plot where Silverstone sits what was the beginning of the big development. Many new facilities were built, track layout was changed and became more attractive, with more opportunities for overtaking. During 1970s British manufacturers Lotus, McLaren, and Tyrrell dominated the British Grand Prix. Interestingly, Emerson Fittipaldi was the only driver who was able to win more than once during that period. Among the other winners were many legendary champions, including Jackie Stewart, Jody Scheckter, Niki Lauda, and James Hunt.

Alain Prost was the master of British GP during the 1980s

Williams and McLaren ruled the Formula 1 world during the 1980s, so it wasn’t a surprise that the cars of two manufacturers were most successful at British Grand Prix. Two teams shared nine wins between them but among drivers, Alain Prost was the one who marked this decade as he scored three victories – in 1983 as Renault driver and in 1985 and 1989 when the Frenchman was McLaren driver. Niki Lauda and Nigel Mansell, who won the last race at Brands Hatch in 1986, stepped twice to the top of the podium while Ayrton Senna scored his only win in 1988 at Silverstone.

Alain Prost scored five wins between 1983 and 1993

Since 1987, Silverstone Circuit is the home of the British Grand Prix. The circuit went through another development and over the years track layout again has been changed several times. Nowadays, Silverstone Circuit offers a great driving challenge while the spectator facilities are at the highest level.

Williams team dominated during the 1990s

Alain Prost recorded another two wins in the first half of the 1990s and equaled Jim Clark’s record of five victories at British Grand Prix. While Clark recorded all wins driving Lotus cars, the Frenchman triumphed with four different manufacturers – Renault, McLaren, Ferrari and Williams. The latter ruled the Silverstone Circuit in the last decade of the 20th century and triumphed on six occasions.

Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna at 1987 Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone

Nigel Mansell also won twice during the 1990s, both times with Williams, while Jacques Villeneuve triumphed in 1996 and 1997, also as a driver of the Williams team. English fans enjoyed that period after their compatriots Johnny Herbert, Damon Hill, and David Coulthard were among the winners of the British Grand Prix. Coulthard recorded two consecutive wins and was the winner of the last race held in the 20th century.

Ferrari and Schumacher were the best at the beginning of the new century

At the beginning of the 21st century, there were attempts to reinstall Brands Hatch as the home of the British GP but that never happened. Silverstone continued to host the race. British manufacturers weren’t s dominant like in the previous decades but McLaren still was able to win on three occasions. Mika Hakkinen won the 2001 British Grand Prix, Juan Pablo Montoya triumphed in 2005 while Lewis Hamilton was the winner of the 2008 British GP.

Ferrari team celebrates triumph at 2002 British Formula 1 Grand Prix

However, Ferrari was the most successful team from 2001 to 2010. The Scuderia pilots won in four events. Michael Schumacher triumphed twice while the other two wins were scored by Rubens Barrichello and Kimi Raikkonen. Interestingly, during his supremacy, the Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel won only once at Silverstone while his teammate Mark Webber triumphed twice (2010, 2012).

Lewis Hamilton scored his fifth win in 2017

Mercedes scored four consecutive wins at British Grand Prix from 2013 to 2017. Nico Rosberg began that streak and Lewis continued it with four wins in a row, joining the prestige club of drivers with five wins in total. The British driver will have an opportunity to surpass Jim Clark and Alain Prost few more times before.

Lewis Hamilton equaled the records of Jim Clark and Alain Prost

The future of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone has been uncertain for a couple of years but then, in July 2019, it was finally confirmed that the race will stay on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar until 2024.

Multiple winners of the British Grand Prix (1950 - 2017)

British Grand Prix multiple constructor winners (1950-2017)

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