You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet: The World Champions Collection at Silverstone Festival
15 August 2025- Never-seen-before central display celebrating 75 years of Formula 1
- Title-winning cars raced by all 34 World Drivers' Champions on show
- Exhibition of Hamilton, Hunt, Lauda, Schumacher and Senna sculptures by Paul Oz
- Four thrilling retro F1 races featuring 75+ icons from Grands Prix past
- Wide range of tickets available - best prices for advance bookings
Honouring the 75th anniversary of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the World Champions Collection at next weekend’s Silverstone Festival (22–24 August) will be the most comprehensive gathering of title-winning F1 cars ever displayed together.
Since Silverstone hosted the first points-scoring Grand Prix in 1950, 34 legendary racers have claimed the sport’s ultimate prize – the World Drivers’ Championship.
Marking this milestone, an unparalleled line-up of cars raced by every single champion will return to Silverstone – the birthplace of the world series. It’s the first time such a star-studded array of championship-winning machines has been seen in one place.
Over two-thirds of the cars are the actual machines raced by the champions in their title-winning seasons. The remainder are significant F1 cars from other key moments in their championship careers.
The display stretches from an Alfa Romeo 159 as raced by Giuseppe Farina – victor of the first Drivers’ crown in 1950 – to Max Verstappen’s 2022 Red Bull RB18, which secured the second of his four titles.
This stunning timeline captures 75 years of Formula 1 evolution: from front-engined cars in national colours to modern rear-engined hybrids with powerful sponsorship, aerodynamic wings, slick tyres, and advanced electronics.
The Collection will also spotlight Britain’s incredible success – ten homegrown drivers have claimed the crown: Mike Hawthorn (1958), Graham Hill (1962, 1968), Jim Clark (1963, 1965), John Surtees (1964), Jackie Stewart (1969, 1971, 1973), James Hunt (1976), Nigel Mansell (1992), Damon Hill (1996), Jenson Button (2009), and Sir Lewis Hamilton (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020).
John Surtees remains the only person to win world titles on both two and four wheels. His 1960 MV Agusta and his first Surtees F1 car will be displayed together proudly loaned by the Surtees family. Hamilton will be represented by both McLaren and Mercedes title-winning cars.
All five British-based Grand Prix teams that have produced world champions are contributing, alongside museums, private collectors, curators, and heritage organisations including Team Lotus.
“We must thank everyone for helping us bring together such a phenomenal collection of standout Formula 1 cars,” said Nick Wigley, Event Director. “The World Champions Collection will celebrate Formula 1’s 75th anniversary at Silverstone – where it all began – and honour all 34 champions in style. It’s an unmissable spectacle.”
Adding to the attraction for visitors, the display will also showcase six stunning sculptures of World Champions by renowned British artist Paul Oz. These 60-percent-scale bronze depictions of Lewis Hamilton, James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Michael Schumacher, and Ayrton Senna all capture the inspirational spirit of their subjects. The sculptures will be exhibited alongside the F1 cars.
The action-packed Silverstone Festival will also include four retro races that feature Grand Prix cars from yesteryear. The two charismatic HGPCA grids revive the pre-1966 eras with both front and rear-engined entries ranging from Maserati 250Fs and Cooper Bristols from the fifties up to the game-changing Brabhams, Coopers and Lotuses from the early sixties.
The pair of Masters Racing Legends grids continue the story with more than 25 much-loved stars from the following DFV era with Arrows, Brabham, Lotus, March, McLaren, Penske, Shadow, Tyrrell and Williams racers all rolling back the years in their evocative period liveries.
Adding to the 75th anniversary theme, this year’s racecard also includes a special Sunday showdown for pint-sized 500cc F3 cars. These little bike-engined single-seaters provided the only support race to the landmark British Grand Prix in 1950 and a world record turn-out of nearly 60 entries has been received.
As well as the exceptional World Champions Collection and 20 epic retro races on the Grand Prix Circuit, staged over the end-of-summer Bank Holiday weekend, the Festival offers a huge range of on- and off-track entertainment for all ages. Children aged 15 and under can attend for free with a paying adult.
All tickets include access to an incredible array of family-friendly activities –including live performances by Natasha Bedingfield, Craig David presents TS5, and Ministry of Sound Classical – alongside traditional funfair rides, stunt shows, and much more.
THE WORLD CHAMPIONS COLLECTION 2025 SILVERSTONE FESTIVAL
1950 Giuseppe Farina (ITA) – Alfa Romeo 158
The Alfa Romeo 158/9 is arguably the most successful racing car in history. It won 47 of the 54 Grands Prix it entered and carried Giuseppe Farina to the very first FIA Formula One Drivers’ World Championship. A year later, it took Juan Manuel Fangio to his first title.
1952, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957 Juan Manuel Fangio (ARG) – Maserati 250F
The legendary Juan Manuel Fangio won the F1 title five times and still holds the record for most wins (24) from races entered (52). He claimed championships with Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, Lancia-Ferrari, and finally Maserati in 1957.
1952 and 1953 Alberto Ascari (ITA) – Lancia D50
Ferrari holds the record for the most Drivers’ Championships, with 15 titles won by nine different drivers. Alberto Ascari was the first, winning in 1952 and 1953. Before his death in a sportscar testing accident, Ascari had amassed 13 wins from just 32 F1 races – fewer starts than any other World Champion. His final three GPs came in a Lancia D50.
1958 Mike Hawthorn (GBR) – Ferrari 246 Dino
Mike Hawthorn made history in 1958 by becoming the first of ten British drivers to win the Drivers’ title. His scarlet Ferrari 246 Dino was the last front-engined car to win the F1 World Championship.
1959, 1960 and 1966 Sir Jack Brabham (AUS) – Brabham BT20
Sir Jack Brabham, a three-time champion, won his first two titles with Cooper and the third title in 1966 driving his own Brabham BT20. He remains the only driver to win the Drivers’ Championship in a car bearing his own name.
1961 Phil Hill (USA) – Ferrari 156
Affectionately dubbed the ‘sharknose,’ the Ferrari 156 that carried Phil Hill to become the first American F1 World Champion is one of the sport’s most iconic cars. All originals were scrapped so the car on show at Festival is a faithful replica.
1962 and 1968 Graham Hill (GBR) – BRM P578*
Graham Hill won two titles – first in 1962 with BRM, becoming the first British driver to win in a British car, and again in 1968 with Lotus. On show is his 1962 title-winning car, lovingly named ‘Old Faithful.’
1963 and 1965 Jim Clark (GBR) – Lotus 25 R4*
Jim Clark, still hailed as one of F1’s greatest drivers, won the title in 1963 and 1965, setting records for wins, poles, and fastest laps. The rightly revered Lotus 25 R4 saw him win seven Grands Prix in 1963.
1964 Sir John Surtees (GBR) – MV Agusta* and Surtees TS 7/01
Sir John Surtees is the only person to win World Championships on both two and four wheels. He won the 1964 F1 title with Ferrari and seven motorcycle titles on MV Agusta bikes. He is represented by his 500cc title winner from 1960 and his very first eponymous Surtees F1 car in which he won the 1970 Oulton Park Gold Gup – both still proudly owned by the family.
1967 Denis Hulme (NZ) – Brabham-Repco BT24
Nicknamed ‘The Bear,’ Denis Hulme is New Zealand’s only F1 World Champion. He beat team leader Jack Brabham to the title in 1967 – the final year before Ford’s DFV engine revolution.
1969, 1971 and 1973 Sir Jackie Stewart (GBR) – Tyrrell 006*
Sir Jackie Stewart, a three-time World Champion, remains the oldest living F1 title winner. On display is the Tyrrell 006 he used to claim his final title in 1973. He now champions the Race Against Dementia charity.
1970 Jochen Rindt (AUT) – Lotus 72*
Jochen Rindt is the only posthumous F1 World Champion. The Austrian tragically died at Monza in 1970. On show is one of the Lotus 72s he drove earlier that season.
1972 and 1974 Emerson Fittipaldi (BRA) – Lotus 72D*
Emerson Fittipaldi became the first of three Brazilian World Champions. His first title came in 1972 with the iconic JPS-liveried Lotus 72D displayed; his second followed with McLaren in 1974.
1975, 197 and 1984 Niki Lauda (AUT) – BRM 160E
Niki Lauda is a triple F1 World Champion winning the title twice with Ferrari in 1975 and 1977 and once with McLaren in 1984. On the way to the top, he raced for March and BRM – on show is his BRM 160E from 1973.
1976 James Hunt (GBR) – McLaren M26*
As famously screened in the movie Rush, British swashbuckler James Hunt caught the public’s imagination when overcoming arch-rival Niki Lauda to win the fiercely-fought 1976 title with McLaren.
1978 Mario Andretti (USA) – Lotus 79*
Always an innovator, Lotus introduced the game-changing ground effect Lotus 79 in 1978. Mario Andretti leveraged its aerodynamic advantage to become America’s second F1 World Champion.
1979 Jody Scheckter (RSA) – McLaren M19A
Jody Scheckter won the 1979 title with Ferrari, but this McLaren M19A was the first F1 car he raced – in his 1972 Grand Prix debut at Watkins Glen. It remained in his personal collection until recently.
1980 Alan Jones (AUS) – Williams FW07B*
Alan Jones secured Williams's first F1 World Championship title in 1980, claiming five victories in the FW07B, including a win at Silverstone.
1981, 1983 and 1987 Nelson Piquet (BRA) – Williams FW11B*
The 1987 F1 World Champion, Nelson Piquet, recorded eleven podium finishes and three victories that season in the FW11B with Williams.
1982 Keke Rosberg (FIN) – Williams FW08*
Despite turbocharged rivals, Keke Rosberg secured his sole F1 title in the consistent, normally aspirated Williams FW08 – the last car to win a championship with the Ford DFV engine.
1985, 1986, 1989 and 1993 Alain Prost (FRA) – McLaren MP4/2B*
Alain Prost became the first Frenchman to win the World Championship when lifting the first of his four crowns with McLaren in 1985. On show is his title-winning MP4/2B. He won two more titles with McLaren in 1986 and 1989 plus one with Williams in 1993.
1988, 1990 and 1991 Ayrton Senna (BRA) – McLaren MP4/4*
Between them, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna won a record-breaking 15 of 16 Grands Prix in 1988 – Senna overcoming the Frenchman to win the first of three titles with McLaren. On display is the Brazilian’s championship-winning MP4/4.
1992 Nigel Mansell (GBR) – Williams FW14B*
In 1992, Nigel Mansell claimed the championship in the FW14B, achieving nine Grand Prix victories that season - one of them being at the British Grand Prix here at Silverstone.
1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 Michael Schumacher (GER) – Benetton 191
Record-breaking Michael Schumacher made his F1 debut with Benetton in 1991, racing the chassis displayed in the season’s final three Grands Prix. He went on to win seven World Championships.
1996 Damon Hill (GBR) – Williams FW18*
The FW18 was piloted by Damon Hill who dominated the 1996 season. He secured eight wins across 16 Grands Prix and went on to claim the Drivers' Championship title.
1997 Jacques Villeneuve (CAN) – Williams FW19*
Jacques Villeneuve, Canada's sole F1 World Champion, claimed the title in the FW19 in the Spanish Grand Prix.
1998 and 1999 Mika Häkkinen (FIN) – McLaren MP4/14*
Mika Häkkinen won back-to-back Championships with McLaren. On show is the Finn’s title winner from the second of those years, in which he won five Grands Prix to pip Eddie Irvine to the coveted crown.
2005 and 2006 Fernando Alonso (ESP) – Renault R25*
Fernando Alonso rewrote the record books when racing the R25 exhibited to the title in 2005 – he became the youngest driver at the time to win the World Championship as well as Spain’s first F1 champ. He won the title again with Renault in 2006.
2008 Sir Lewis Hamilton (GBR) – McLaren MP4/23*
Sir Lewis Hamilton won his first Championship with the McLaren team, in the McLaren MP4-23. In a nail-biting finale, he pipped Felipe Massa to the crown by a single point.
2009 Jenson Button (GBR) – Brawn BGP 001*
Formed from the ashes of the Honda Racing F1 Team, one-hit-wonder Brawn GP pulled off one of the biggest shocks in F1 history. Just three chassis were built and displayed is Jenson Button’s fairy-tale title winner.
2010, 2001, 2012 and 2013 Sebastian Vettel (GER) – Red Bull RB8*
Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing dominated F1 winning no fewer than four consecutive titles between 2010 and 2013. This RB8 is his Championship winner from 2012 when he beat Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) to the crown by just three points.
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Sir Lewis Hamilton (GBR) – Mercedes-AMG F1 W11*
Sir Lewis Hamilton won six World Championship crowns with Mercedes – on show is the final of those title winners from 2020 when he won 11 of the 16 races contested to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of seven titles.
2016 Nico Rosberg (FIN) – Mercedes-AMG F1 W07*
Nico Rosberg became the second son of a World Champion to win motorsport’s premier title when emulating his father Keke in 2016. He promptly announced his retirement just five days later.
2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Max Verstappen (NL) – Red Bull RB18*
With four consecutive titles under his belt, Max Verstappen is already rated as one of F1’s greatest-ever drivers. On display is his Championship winning RB18 from 2022 – a season in which he crushed the opposition taking 15 Grands Prix victories.
*Actual cars raced in World Championship winning seasons – 24 in total.
• Sir Lewis Hamilton is listed twice as both McLaren and Mercedes are kindly loaning title winning cars.
