British GP: 75 Years of History at Silverstone, Aintree and Brands Hatch

75 Years of Formula 1: A Journey Through the British Grand Prix

This year, Formula 1 celebrates its 75th anniversary since it was formalized as a world championship. The British Grand Prix, held in Silverstone, was the first race of the championship in 1950 and has been a constant event on the calendar, although in different locations. The first Grand Prix in May took place in Silverstone, a former airfield, where the Italian driver Emilio Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina won, securing pole position and the fastest lap during the weekend.

Farina, at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo, won the championship, which at that time consisted of only seven races. Pirelli, which has been present in F1 from the beginning, was a familiar element in the paddock, although in those times the teams had the option of choosing a tire supplier.

In 1956, the Argentinian driver Juan Manuel Fangio, already three-time world champion, won the race with Ferrari, being his only victory in the British Grand Prix.

Fangio became the most successful driver in F1 history, with five world championships, until he was surpassed by Michael Schumacher with seven titles and then by Lewis Hamilton, also with seven. Between 1955 and 1963, Silverstone and Aintree (Liverpool) alternated as venues for the British Grand Prix. In 1957, it was Aintree’s turn.

Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks, of the Vanwall team, shared the driving in the 1957 edition, which meant that they also shared the trophy. As cars became faster, safety at Aintree became a concern due to its few escape areas and little margin for error. F1 finally stayed in the south with the introduction of Brands Hatch. From the mid-1960s to 1986, Brands Hatch and Silverstone alternated as the venues for the British Grand Prix. In 1966, Jack Brabham, three-time champion and the first Australian to win an F1 title, started from pole position. The race was won by Jody Scheckter of Tyrrell/Ford.

In the 1970s, Brabham came to be owned by the head of F1, Bernie Ecclestone. Desiré Wilson participated in a race of the F1 world championship, the 1980 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. A few months earlier, at the same circuit, she became the only woman to win a post-war F1 race (outside the championship). However, in the classification, after multiple changes in its configuration and having to drive a different car than the one he had tested, an uncompetitive Williams FW07, finished last and failed to qualify for the race.

Wilson continued to win in other endurance series and has a stand named after him at Brands Hatch. Brands Hatch also hosted under the guise of the European Grand Prix on a couple of occasions, the location of which changed every few years. But 1986 would be the last time a Formula 1 Grand Prix would be held at Brands Hatch, for reasons similar to the disappearance of Aintree as host. Silverstone was the only circuit large enough to accommodate the larger and faster cars in the United Kingdom. There have been many iconic and memorable moments at the British Grand Prix over the years, but one of the fans’ favorites is when Nigel Mansell gave Ayrton Senna a lift in his Williams FW14. Mansell dominated the weekend, with pole position, the fastest lap, and the victory in the race. Senna ran out of fuel on the last lap, being stranded. On his cool-down lap, Mansell gave Senna a push back to the pits, to the surprise of the stewards.

Both drivers seemed to escape without receiving any reprimand. Fernando Alonso, on his way to his second world championship that same year, won the British Grand Prix in 2006 and again in 2011.

The Silverstone circuit has undergone many changes since this image from 2006, and possibly many more to come. Given that there is interest in the British Grand Prix remaining, but there is no clear rival host, Silverstone is expected to remain on the calendar predictably, according to F1 boss Stefano Domenicali. The Red Bull Ring and the Miami circuit signed contracts this year until 2041, the longest so far.

Enter the Lewis Hamilton era… Hamilton is statistically the most successful F1 driver with seven world titles, 105 race wins and 104 pole positions. He also holds the record for wins at the British Grand Prix (Silverstone) with nine…

Hamilton’s winning record at Silverstone continued until last year’s Grand Prix, his last year with Mercedes, when he achieved an impressive victory against all odds to end a win drought dating back to 2021. Hamilton, now with Ferrari, has yet to reach the podium in a race, as the British Grand Prix marks the halfway point of the 2025 season.