The greatest British F1 drivers of all time
11 June 2025When you think about Formula 1’s most iconic figures, a long list of British names springs to mind.
From the early trailblazers of the sixties to the titans of today, British drivers have shaped the sport’s history, broken records, and captivated fans for generations.
Join us for a drive down memory lane as we celebrate the most legendary British F1 drivers of all time.
Sir Lewis Hamilton: The record breaker
Sir Lewis Hamilton has rewritten the history books of Formula 1 ever since he burst into the paddock with McLaren in 2007.
There was no mistaking that a generational talent had arrived when he swooped around reigning double world champion team-mate Fernando Alonso at Turn 1 of the season opener in Melbourne, and eventually, he missed out on the title in his rookie year by a single point.
There was no denying Lewis the following season though, clinching his first championship in dramatic style at the final corner in Brazil in one of modern F1’s most iconic moments. But that was just the beginning.
After switching to Mercedes in 2013, Hamilton entered a new phase of dominance. From 2014 onwards, he amassed win after win, and title after title, eventually drawing level with Michael Schumacher on a record seven world championships.
Along the way, he broke records for most pole positions, most race wins – becoming the sport’s first centurion – and most podium finishes, cementing his legacy as statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen.
Sir Jackie Stewart: The flying Scot
Sir Jackie Stewart is remembered not just for his achievements on the track, but for his pioneering work around safety, transforming F1 from a death-defying spectacle into a professional sport with a conscience.
Winning world titles in 1969, 1971 and 1973 during one of F1’s most dangerous eras, Stewart was a master of wet-weather racing, famed for his smooth driving style and unflappable composure under pressure.
In an era when fatal crashes were tragically common, Stewart emerged as a powerful voice for change. After witnessing countless colleagues lose their lives, he championed the introduction of seatbelts, full-face helmets, medical crews and proper crash barriers.
His efforts were met with resistance at the time, but Jackie’s perseverance reshaped F1 safety standards, saving countless lives as a result.
Despite the dangers, Stewart’s record speaks for itself: 27 wins from 99 starts. When it came time for Jackie to retire, he held the records for the most wins and podiums.
Jim Clark: A natural talent
Even among the greats, Jim Clark is often spoken of with a certain reverence. The softly spoken Scot was a two-time world champion in 1963 and 1965, whose natural feel for a car is compared to the likes of Ayrton Senna.
Driving exclusively for Lotus and team boss Colin Chapman in F1, Clark dominated the 1963 season and added a second title two years later.
Remarkably, Jim still holds several records 60 years after his last title. 25 wins from just 72 starts give him the third best win ratio in F1 history behind only Juan Manuel Fangio and Alberto Ascari.
In his title-winning seasons, only a driver’s best six results counted towards his total points score in the standings, and so Clark shares a statistic with Ascari of scoring 100% of possible points in a season.
He also holds the record for most grand slams (taking pole, the win, fastest lap, and leading every lap of the Grand Prix) on eight, two clear of Hamilton who has six to his name.
To this day, Jim remains the only driver to win both the F1 World Championship and the Indianapolis 500 in the same year.
Tragically, his career was cut short in 1968 when he was killed in a Formula 2 race in Hockenheim at just 32, but his legacy in the sport remains as powerful today as it did 60 years ago.
Nigel Mansell: Il Leone
Known as Il Leone to the adoring Tifosi, Nigel Mansell didn’t have it easy during his time in Formula 1. He fought tooth and nail for everything he achieved, and that’s exactly why he was so loved by fans.
Known for his aggressive, heart-on-sleeve driving style, Mansell endured years of bad luck, mechanical failures, and near-misses (including the heartbreaking 1986 Adelaide tyre blowout) before finally clinching the title in 1992 with the dominant Williams FW14B.
That season, Mansell was unstoppable, winning nine races and setting a record for the most wins in a single year at the time. It was well-deserved after he’d come so agonisingly close, finishing as runner-up on three separate occasions in previous years.
Through it all, Mansell remained a fan favourite, especially in Italy and in the UK at Silverstone, known for his gutsy overtakes and never-say-die attitude.
With 31 wins, he remains one of the most successful British drivers of all time. Mansell is also the only driver in history to hold both the F1 and IndyCar titles at the same time.
Sir Stirling Moss: The greatest never to win the title
Sir Stirling Moss is widely regarded as the greatest driver never to win a world championship. Between 1955 and 1961, Moss racked up 16 Grand Prix wins, finished runner-up in the championship four times and third place three times, despite never having the best machinery at his disposal.
Moss was known to be an incredibly versatile driver, winning in sports cars, touring cars, and single-seaters (with standout non-F1 victories at the 1954 12 Hours of Sebring and the 1955 Mille Miglia), often choosing to drive British machinery even when it meant sacrificing competitiveness.
Above all, Moss was respected for his integrity as seen in 1958, when he famously defended title rival Mike Hawthorn after a penalty that would’ve handed Moss the championship.
Though fate denied him a world title, Moss’s impact on British motorsport was immense. Knighted in 2000, he remains one of the most admired and respected figures in F1 history.
James Hunt: Bringing rock 'n' roll to F1
Few drivers in Formula 1 history matched the charisma of James Hunt. Known for his maverick lifestyle, sharp wit, and flamboyant charm, Hunt brought a dose of rock ’n’ roll to the paddock in the 1970s.
Beneath the playboy exterior was a fiercely talented racer which came to the fore during his dramatic 1976 title-winning season.
That year, Hunt battled Niki Lauda in F1’s first truly iconic rivalry. After Lauda’s near-fatal crash at the Nürburgring, Hunt capitalised, but the Austrian’s miraculous return late in the season kept the title fight alive until the final race in Japan.
In appalling conditions underneath Mount Fuji, Lauda withdrew on safety grounds, and Hunt secured just enough points to claim the championship by a single point.
While his F1 career was relatively short – with just 10 wins from 93 starts – Hunt’s legacy endures, living on in the memories of that legendary season as well as his post-racing commentary career, where his blunt, insightful punditry won new fans.
Graham Hill: Mr. Monaco Triple Crown champion
Graham Hill is still the only driver to achieve motorsport’s elusive Triple Crown: victory in the Formula 1 World Championship (or winning the Monaco Grand Prix depending on who you ask), the Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
With F1 titles in 1962 and 1968, Hill was a master technician and strategist, revered for his precision on street circuits, earning him the nickname “Mr. Monaco” after five wins around the principality.
Hill didn’t race a car until the age of 24 and initially, worked as a mechanic just to get a foot in the door. But once behind the wheel, his razor-sharp racecraft propelled him to the top. His second title in 1968 came in the wake of Jim Clark’s death; Hill rallied Lotus and led the team through a season of mourning to championship glory.
Tragically, Hill died in a plane crash in 1975. Yet his legacy lives on, not only through his own achievements, but through his son, Damon, who would go on to become a champion in his own right. Together, they form one of only two father-son duos to win the world title.
John Surtees: A master of two and four wheels
John Surtees holds one of motorsport’s rarest distinctions: he is the only person in history to win world championships on both two wheels and four.
Before stepping into a Formula 1 car, Surtees had already conquered the world of motorcycle racing, winning seven world titles across the 350cc and 500cc classes.
Then, in 1964, Surtees won the Formula 1 World Championship with Ferrari, securing the title in a nail-biting finale in Mexico.
Known for his mechanical sensitivity and deep technical understanding, he played a pivotal role in the development of the cars he drove.
He later ran his own F1 team and remained an influential figure in British motorsport until his death in 2017. Surtees’ dual legacy remains unique and unmatched in the sport’s history.
Jenson Button: A uniquely smooth style
Jenson Button was known for his laid-back demeanour and buttery-smooth driving style and spent much of his early career as the sport’s nearly man until the fairytale 2009 season was etched into F1 folklore.
Driving for the Brawn GP team born from the ashes of the disbanded Honda outfit, Button took the sport by storm with six wins in the first seven races of the campaign, and went on to secure the world championship in a season few saw coming.
In Brawn’s revolutionary, double-diffuser-equipped car, Button’s experience and consistency proved crucial as his rivals closed the gap in the second half of the season. By the time the chequered flag fell in Brazil, he’d done enough to make his childhood dream a reality with his ever-present father by his side.
He later joined McLaren, where he added more victories to his tally, ending his career with 15 victories. Whether in victory or defeat, Button’s grace under pressure made him one of Britain’s most admired F1 champions.
Damon Hill: Following in his father’s footsteps
Living in the shadow of a famous father is never easy, especially when that father is Graham Hill, one of Britain’s most decorated drivers.
But Damon Hill carved out his own remarkable path in Formula 1, winning the 1996 World Championship and earning his place by battling some of the sport’s greatest competitors.
Hill’s route to the top was unconventional. He started racing late and worked his way up through persistence rather than prodigy status.
When Ayrton Senna tragically died in 1994, Hill suddenly found himself leading Williams during one of its most emotionally fraught periods.
He rose to the challenge, winning six races and finishing runner-up in the championship after a controversial title decider where he came to blows with Michael Schumacher.
In 1996, everything came together for Hill as he dominated the season and won the title in Japan, becoming the first son of a world champion to repeat the feat.
His final years in F1 included memorable underdog performances, including nearly winning for Arrows in Hungary in 1997.
With 22 career wins, Hill’s resilience and quiet dignity made him a standout figure in 1990s Formula 1.
