Massive British Formula One Legacy
Lewis Hamilton has perfect role models.
February is the last month of the Formula One break before the start of the new season. While the British gaze is directed to sunny Italian Maranello, the rest of the world wonders how to stop the flying Dutchman from Belgian Hasselt named Max Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton may once again become Max's main rival in the upcoming season if Ferrari engineers in Maranello build a better car than Mercedes has constructed in Brackley for the last three years. And it would be good for Lewis to perform like the heroes of this article.
Historical British F1 Drivers
Mike Hawthorn
The first British champion in the history of Formula One, who won the title in 1958. It was not immediately after the foundation of the championship in 1950 that the pilot from Great Britain managed to become the best. This almost happened to Stirling Moss three times, who, before Hawthorn's championship, finished second in the overall standings for three seasons in a row. Because of this, Sir Stirling is considered the greatest Formula One driver who never became a champion.
Like a true British person of that era, Hawthorn was as fast as he was extravagant: he loved smoking, drinking and partying no less than racing. But at the right moment, Mike was able to pull himself together and become the best, which he proved in 1958. Symbolically, Hawthorn became champion as a driver of Ferrari. Lewis, take an example!
Graham Hill
The second British champion was more successful than Hawthorn since he won two titles. The father of another future champion, Damon Hill, did it on two occasions: in 1962 and 1968. Graham won his second title at the age of 39. But, back then, winning a title at that age was easier than it is now. Jack Brabham is a perfect example of this, winning the title at the age of 40.
John Surtees
Although he won only six Grand Prix, he did what is now expected of Hamilton: like Hawthorn, he won the title as part of Ferrari. Symbolically, the driver that finished right behind Surtees overall was Graham Hill, losing just one point.
Jim Clark
Although Graham Hill was a two-time Formula One champion, Jim Clark became the true British sporting icon in the 1960s. He also won two titles, but the way he did it was remarkable: as part of the legendary Lotus of Colin Chapman, who adored Clark. Jim spent his entire career with Lotus, winning 25 Grand Prix. Sadly, in April of 1968, broken rear suspension on the fast but unreliable Lotus cut short the life of the 32-year-old legend. Clark's death was one of the turning points in the history of Formula One when drivers became seriously concerned about their lives and began to demand that the organisers strengthen security measures. The following legend of this selection will lead this fight.
Jackie Stewart
He is not just a three-time Formula One champion but a true revolutionary of the queen of motorsport. As influential as Hamilton became in terms of combining sport and show business, Stewart influenced Formula One security measures. He could come to the track before the Grand Prix started to check for compliance with security measures and demand that the race be canceled if the track seemed life-threatening to him and his colleagues.
If not for Stewart, perhaps safety barriers, full-face helmets, five-point seat belts, and ambulances would have appeared in Formula One much later, and many more drivers would have lost their lives. As Sir Jackie himself recalls, he was lucky to survive in the era when he raced:
James Hunt
The most famous playboy in the history of Formula One. People considered him an enemy of Niki Lauda, but Hunt was one of the few people that the Austrian champion respected.
One title was enough for James. He proved everything to everyone and went on living the only way he knew - every day as if it was his last. At one point, this lifestyle brought Hunt to the very bottom, and Lauda even gave him money. Fortunately, James pulled himself together and was even going to get married, but his heart treacherously stopped at the age of 45.
Nigel Mansell
Big Nige broke a 16-year streak of the British without champion titles. Like Stirling Moss, bad luck often pursued Mansell, who finished second in the championship three times before 1992. But, unlike Sir Stirling, Nigel's luck returned the favour: in 1992, he was lucky to be at Williams - the only team that, thanks to a loophole in the regulations, stuffed their car with electronics and was absolutely invincible for a couple of seasons before the FIA refined the regulations.
Damon Hill
Despite the great legacy in the person of his father, Damon was not considered a good driver for a long time. He got into Formula One only at the age of 31. In the first season, he almost always did not even pass the qualifying sessions. But Frank Williams signed him anyway and hit the jackpot: the following season, Hill won three races, and after the death of Ayrton Senna, he fought for the title, which he won in 1996 after two consecutive seasons when he was a runner-up.
Jenson Button
Being in the right place at the right time is how Jenson Button won his title in 2009. The incredible title win by the under-resourced Brawn GP team was made possible by a loophole in the regulations: the team's engineers found out that fitting in double diffusers to their cars would make them considerably faster. No one else has done it. As a result, Brawn was unbeatable in the first part of the season. Then the lack of resources began to tell, but Ferrari and McLaren were so bad that season that they were unable to catch Brawn in either the Constructors' or Drivers' Championships.
The British Drivers to Fight for the Title in 2025
Lewis Hamilton
In fact, there is no need to advise Lewis anything, as he is the greatest British driver in the history of Formula One. He is his own shining example. He conquered the sport as soon as he got into it, and then won six titles with the team that almost everyone advised him not to join in 2013. A championship with Ferrari would make him the greatest driver of all time, with all due respect to Michael Schumacher.
Lando Norris
To be fair, Lewis's chances are still unclear, and Max Verstappen's main rival, as last season, remains Lando Norris. McLaren has already accomplished one task: they built a better car than Red Bull. But now they and Norris personally face an even more difficult, almost impossible task: to become faster than Max Verstappen. Bookmakers believe that the British and the Dutchman have approximately equal chances of winning the title.
George Russell
Let's be honest - George is not yet ready for the title battle. Firstly, it is doubtful that Mercedes will suddenly solve their problems and start being faster than everyone else anywhere except cold Las Vegas. Secondly, George himself has lost what impressed everyone in 2022: consistency. His chances of winning the title are close to none.
It is not worth talking seriously about Oliver Berman's chances.
The two Britons have a chance to become champions in the 2025 season. But they will be opposed by the racer who managed to become a champion behind the wheel of the third fastest car. Therefore, although the British title is possible, achieving it will be extremely challenging.
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