Famous British F1 Drivers

The name Lewis Hamilton has become synonymous with Formula One, and such is the greatness of Hamilton. Honoured with MBE by the Queen, Lewis Hamilton is one of the most successful Formula One Grand Prix Racing Driver. Hamilton was the first Black driver to win the Championship and has 6 World Championship titles and 90 race victories to his name.

James Hunt was a British racing driver who earned the nickname 'Hunt the Shunt' for his action-packed and often reckless exploits on the track. In 1976, he won the Formula One World Championship in his first year with McLaren, which inspired several teenagers to take up motor racing. James Hunt has inspired racers, such as Kimi Räikkönen.

Jackie Stewart is a British retired racecar driver who competed in Formula One. He won three World Drivers' Championships between 1965 and 1973. He is best known for playing a key role as a campaigner for better safety measures at motor racing circuits. After retiring from racing, Jackie Stewart appeared as a sports commentator for ABC network.

Jenson Button is a British racing driver best known for winning the Formula One World Championship title in 2009. A popular driver, Button is the recipient of several prestigious awards such as the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy and the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy. In 2017, Jenson Button was made an inductee of the FIA Hall of Fame.

British Formula One racing-driver James Clark Jr. is counted among the greatest Formula One drivers of all time. He won his first World Driver’s Championships in 1963 making a record of winning seven out of ten races in a season. He again won the championship in 1965. His 1965 Indianapolis 500 win marked the first win for a rear-engined car.

Damon Hill is a British retired racing driver best known for winning the Formula One World Championship title in 1996. He is currently a part of the broadcasting team of Sky Sports F1, providing expert analysis. Damon Hill is also known as the son of former Formula One World Champion, Graham Hill.

British former racing-driver Nigel Mansell, CBE, presently ranks as #2 in the list of most-successful British Formula One drivers of all-time with regards to number of race wins. Winner of Formula One World Championship and CART Indy Car World Series, Mansell became the only racing-driver to concurrently hold the titles of World Drivers' Championship and the American open-wheel National Championship.   

Graham Hill was a British racing driver remembered for winning the Formula One World Championship title in 1962 and 1968. Counted among the greatest drivers of his era, Hill is the only driver to win the prestigious Triple Crown of Motorsport. Hill is also credited with inspiring his son Damon, who won the Formula One World Championship title in 1996. 

British Formula One race-car driver Stirling Moss won several contests such as the British Grand Prix and the New Zealand Grand Prix. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, too. He later had a broadcasting career with Wide World of Sports and narrated Roary the Racing Car.

Susie Wolff is a British retired racing driver who competed in Formula One. Wolff made history in 2014 when she became the first woman in 22 years to participate in a Formula One race weekend. Susie Wolff is the current CEO of Venturi Racing, which competes in Formula E.

Martin Brundle is a British retired racing driver who competed in Formula One. After his retirement, Brundle started working as a commentator. Over the years, he has worked for television networks like BBC, ITV Sport, and Sky Sports.

Johnny Herbert is a British retired racing driver who competed in Formula One between 1989 and 2000, during which he represented seven different teams. After retiring from competitive racing, Johnny Herbert became a TV personality and is currently working for Sky Sports F1.

Justin Wilson was a British open-wheel racing driver who took part in the IndyCar Series as well as the Formula One. He won many races, including the International Formula 3000 Championship title and the 2012 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2006 and 2007, Justin Wilson was honored with the prestigious Greg Moore Legacy Award.  

Paul di Resta is a British racing driver who competed for Force India in Formula One from 2011 to 2013. Currently, he is one of the reserve F1 drivers for McLaren. Paul di Resta also works as a commentator for Sky Sports.

Donald Campbell was an English speed record breaker. He is best remembered for breaking eight world speed records on land and on water in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1964, he became the first person to set both world water speed and land records in the same year. Campbell died while attempting to set a water speed record in England.

Mike Hawthorn was a British racing driver best remembered as the first Formula One World Champion from the United Kingdom; he achieved the feat when he won the world championship in 1958. Having been affected by the demise of his friend Peter Collins in the 1958 German Grand Prix, Mike Hawthorn announced his retirement after winning the F1 title.  

John Surtees was a British motorcycle road racer and racecar driver. He won the Grand Prix motorcycle World Championship title on seven occasions and the 1964 F1 World Championship title, becoming the first person to win World Championships on both four and two wheels.

Colin Chapman was an English inventor, design engineer, and builder in the automotive industry. He is credited with founding the popular British automotive company, Lotus Cars. Chapman is best remembered for achieving major automotive technical advances through his sports car company Lotus Cars. Under Colin Chapman’s leadership, Team Lotus won six F1 Drivers' Championships and seven Formula One Constructors' titles.

Tiff Needell is a British racecar driver and TV presenter. A former co-presenter of Fifth Gear and Top Gear, Needell currently presents a show called Lovecars. As far as his racing career is concerned, Tiff Needell has competed in popular races, such as Formula One and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

British racing-driver Peter Collins commenced his career at age 17 and gained-attention during Formula 3 races. He ranked third during the 1951 Autosport National Formula 3 Championship. He won the 1958 British Grand Prix and a couple of weeks later met with a fatal accident during the German Grand Prix. He was rushed to hospital, but died later that day.

When British racing driver Max Chilton made his Formula 3 debut at 16, he became the youngest deriver to do so. He now represents the North American racing series IndyCar. While he initially wished to be a farmer, he began his racing career at age 10, racing in karts.

British former racing driver Derek Warwick has been a regular at Formula One, though without much success. However, he is still regarded as one of the best F1 drivers. Post-retirement, he has served on the advising panel at various Grand Prix meetings. He is also a bowel cancer survivor.

Roger Williamson was a British racing driver best remembered for winning the British Formula Three Championship title twice. Williamson died at the age of 25 while competing in his second F1 race during the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix in the Netherlands.

Jonathan Palmer is a British retired racing driver who competed in Formula One from 1983 to 1989. He is also known for his contribution in the development of the McLaren F1 road car. Since his retirement as a racer, Jonathan Palmer has established himself as a businessman. He is the current Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision. 

Anthony Davidson is a British retired racing driver best known for competing in Formula One for Super Aguri and Minardi. Since his retirement as a racer, Anthony Davidson has established himself as a TV personality. He currently works for Sky Sports F1 as an analyst.

David Purley was a British racing driver who competed in 11 F1 World Championship Grands Prix. He is best remembered for his heroics at the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix where he stopped in the middle of a race to save his fellow racer Roger Williamson. Purley was honored with the George Medal for his bravery in trying to save Williamson.

British racing driver Allan McNish was 19 when he had his first F-1 experience, with McLaren. Over his illustrious career, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans thrice and also drove for Benetton and Renault. He is an FIA World Endurance Champion and has also won the American Le Mans Series thrice.

British racing-driver Piers Courage began his Formula One World Championship career during the 1967 South African Grand Prix. He competed for Lotus, BRM, Brabham and De Tomaso, scored 20 championship-points and garnered two podium-finishes participating in 29 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix. His life was tragically cut-short after he met with a fatal-accident during the 1970 Dutch Grand Prix. 

British racing driver Will Stevens started his career with karts in 2003 and moved on to Formula Renault in 2008. He has driven for teams such as Manor-Ferrari and Caterham and has also been a test driver for Marussia. He has competed for the Belgian Audi team WRT, too.

A 5-time Le Mans 24 hours winner, British racing driver Derek Bell has raced for prominent F-1 teams such as Ferrari and McLaren. He is a 2-time World Sportscar Champion and a 3-time Daytona 24 hours winner. Apart from being named an MBE, he was also awarded the BRDC Gold Star 4 times.

British auto racing driver Katherine Legge is best known for her participation in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. She became the second woman to test a F-1 car when, in 2005, she tested at Vallelunga Circuit for the Minardi F1 Team. She has also tested for the UK team at the A1 Grand Prix.

British racing driver Sam Bird has tested for the Formula One team Mercedes GP and now competes for Jaguar TCS Racing in the Formula E World Championship. He has also participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Apart from racing, he is also an avid fan of football.

Retired British Formula One driver Mark Blundell was the winner of the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans and has had a successful career, driving for teams such as Tyrrell and McLaren. He has also worked as a Formula One analyst on ITV. He previously also owned a sports management company.

Retired British racing driver David Hobbs had a 30-year long stint on the racing circuit. Post-retirement, he has been a successful Formula One commentator with networks such as ESPN, NBC, and Speed Channel. He has also appeared in the movies Stroker Ace and Cars 2.

Though he initially studied accountancy, British rally driver David Richards later earned global fame as the co-driver of Ari Vatanen in the 1981 World Rally Championship, which they won. He later founded the motorsport and technology business Prodrive. He was made a CBE for his achievements.

Born to jockey Ken Gethin, British racing driver Peter Gethin made history when he won the 1971 Italian Grand Prix with the fastest-ever speed. He also became the only racer to win any race in a Formula 5000 car. He also won a couple of notable non-championship races.

Colin Davis was an English conductor best remembered for his work with the popular London Symphony Orchestra. He also served as the principal conductor of the Royal Opera House for more than 15 years. Colin Davis was the recipient of several prestigious awards, such as the Queen's Medal for Music, the Elgar Medal, and a Grammy Award.

Initially an insurance broker at Lloyd's, Eric Thompson later gained fame as a motor racer. He also actively served in the army during World War II, before starting his racing career at age 28. He passed away at age 95, but not before becoming the oldest-surviving 24 Hours of Le Mans driver.

Robin Widdows is a British retired racing driver who competed in F1, F2, and F3. He is also known for his participation in the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games where he competed in the bobsleigh events. Robin Widdows is one of the few men to have competed in both Olympic Games and a F1 World Championship race.