Formula 1 marks its 75th anniversary this season, with this weekend’s British Grand Prix representing another significant milestone for the sport.
Silverstone played host to the inaugural F1 World Championship grand prix in May 1950 and will host the British round for the 59th time on Sunday, July 6.
We present a selection of memorable images from past British Grands Prix, including races held at Brands Hatch and Aintree.
Giuseppe Farina of Alfa Romeo leads his team-mate Luigi Fagioli during the first Formula 1 World Championship grand prix at Silverstone. Italian driver Farina won the race and subsequently became the first drivers’ champion.
Jose Froilan Gonzalez of Argentina navigates Abbey Curve en route to victory in the 1951 British Grand Prix, marking Ferrari’s first race win in the F1 World Championship.
British motor racing icon Stirling Moss pictured with Juan Manuel Fangio, his Mercedes team-mate and close friend, before the 1955 British Grand Prix. This was the first race held on a circuit within Aintree racecourse, renowned for the Grand National. Moss edged out Fangio to secure his first F1 victory. Despite suspicions that Fangio allowed Moss to win, the Argentine, a five-time world champion, consistently denied this.
Tony Brooks’ BRM engulfed in flames after a crash on lap 40 in 1956 at Silverstone. Brooks was ejected from the car but fortunately escaped serious injury.
Mirabel Topham, owner of Aintree racecourse, presents Stirling Moss with the winner’s laurel wreath following his victory, shared with fellow Briton Tony Brooks, in a Vanwall in 1957. This marked the first F1 win for a British car.
Peter Collins kisses his wife, Louise, after his 1958 Silverstone victory. Ferrari team-mate Mike Hawthorn, who would become Britain’s first world champion that year, offers him a drink. Tragically, Collins died in a crash at the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring just two weeks later.
Alan Stacey and Jo Bonnier during the 1959 race at Aintree, with the Melling Road, used by horses during the Grand National, visible in the background.
Tyre smoke fills the air as the field starts the 1965 race at Silverstone. Jackie Stewart’s BRM is nearest the camera, followed by Richie Ginther’s Honda, Graham Hill’s BRM, and Jim Clark’s Lotus, with John Surtees’ Ferrari in the second row. Between 1962 and 1967, Scotsman Clark dominated the race, winning five times, only missing out in 1966.
An aerial view of Brands Hatch from 1970. The Kent circuit alternated with Silverstone as host of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986.
A first-lap pile-up at Silverstone’s Woodcote corner in 1973 resulted in the retirement of 11 cars.
James Hunt’s McLaren lifts onto two wheels in a first-corner collision at Brands Hatch in 1976. The race was red-flagged, and Hunt was initially disallowed from restarting due to not completing the first lap in his damaged car. However, amidst growing crowd anger and objects being thrown onto the track, the home favorite was permitted to start. Hunt won the race but was later disqualified two months afterward.
A smiling Ayrton Senna raises Niki Lauda’s arm after the Austrian’s victory in the 1984 race at Brands Hatch, with Senna finishing third. Senna, driving for Toleman, was in his debut F1 season, while Lauda secured his third world title that year, narrowly beating McLaren team-mate Alain Prost by half a point.
The two Williams cars battle for the lead in 1986, with Nigel Mansell ahead of Nelson Piquet. This would be the first of four British Grand Prix wins for Briton Mansell, in the final F1 race at Brands Hatch. Since then, Silverstone has been the permanent home of the grand prix.
Nigel Mansell’s Williams overtakes McLaren’s Alain Prost for second place in the early stages of the 1987 race at Silverstone. Nelson Piquet leads, but after a pit stop for tyres, Mansell closed the gap and overtook the Brazilian with three laps remaining for a thrilling victory.
Ayrton Senna is given a ride back to the pits by race winner Nigel Mansell after his car broke down on the final lap of the 1991 race at Silverstone.
With Jackie Stewart observing, Nigel Mansell, on two wheels, speaks to a 10-year-old Prince William at Silverstone in 1992, the year he won nine of 16 races – including Silverstone – en route to the drivers’ title.
Spectators invade the track to celebrate Mansell’s dominant 1992 victory.
The cars set off at the start in 1994, with Williams’ Damon Hill ahead of Benetton’s Michael Schumacher, as Martin Brundle’s McLaren-Peugeot engine explodes dramatically.
A tense exchange between Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher after they collided while battling for the lead in 1995. Both drivers were forced to retire, allowing Schumacher’s Benetton team-mate Johnny Herbert to win the race.
Religious activist and former priest Neil Horan runs onto the track along the Hangar Straight during the 2003 grand prix. The safety car was deployed, and Horan was later jailed for aggravated trespass.
Lewis Hamilton leads McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen to a dominant victory in treacherous and changeable conditions in 2008. This was the first of Hamilton’s record-breaking nine wins at Silverstone.
Hamilton examines his punctured front left tyre after finishing the 2020 grand prix on three wheels. The puncture occurred on the final lap, but he managed to complete the race for the win.
The Alfa Romeo of Zhou Guanyu is seen upside down at the first corner in 2022. Zhou’s car went over the barriers, but he was extracted from the car by paramedics and was uninjured.
Actor Brad Pitt, playing Sonny Hayes, films a scene for the upcoming F1 movie at Silverstone during the 2023 event. Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz joins him for added authenticity.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton raises the winner’s trophy to the fans after winning in 2024, marking his first grand prix victory since the 2021 season.
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