Blog

Following another memorable British Grand Prix, there's no better time to look back at five moments that defined one of motorsport's greatest events. 

5. 2020 – Winning on Three Wheels

Lewis Hamilton somehow found another way to make Silverstone history.

Leading comfortably on the final lap of the 2020 British Grand Prix, Hamilton suffered a dramatic front-left tyre failure.

With Max Verstappen rapidly closing behind, Hamilton nursed his Mercedes around almost an entire lap on three wheels, somehow crossing the finish line just seconds ahead.

The image of the damaged Mercedes limping to victory instantly became one of Formula One's most unforgettable photographs and secured Hamilton his seventh British Grand Prix victory at the time. 

4. 1976 – James Hunt's Most Controversial Victory

The 1976 British Grand Prix remains one of the most controversial races Formula One has ever seen.

After a huge first-lap accident at Brands Hatch, home favourite James Hunt returned to the pits via an access road instead of completing the full circuit before the red flag. Initially excluded from the restart, Hunt was eventually allowed back into the race following intense pressure from the crowd.

He crossed the finish line first, sparking celebrations around the circuit.

But the drama wasn't over.

Ferrari immediately lodged a protest and, two months later, Hunt was disqualified, with victory instead awarded to Niki Lauda. The decision became another dramatic chapter in one of Formula One's greatest championship battles. 

See the full story unfold

Duke Video's F1 1976 British Grand Prix captures every twist and turn of one of Formula One's most infamous afternoons.

3. 2008 – Lewis Hamilton Masters the Rain

Great drivers often produce their finest performances in difficult conditions.

Lewis Hamilton's 2008 British Grand Prix was exactly that.

In torrential rain, the McLaren driver delivered a masterclass that left the rest of the field trailing in his wake. Hamilton finished more than a minute clear of Nick Heidfeld, while only a handful of drivers even completed the race on the lead lap.

It wasn't just a victory.

It was one of the most dominant wet-weather drives Formula One has ever seen and cemented Hamilton's reputation as one of the sport's greatest rain specialists.

2. 1987 – Nigel Mansell's Charge Stuns Silverstone

Few British Grand Prix victories have generated celebrations quite like Nigel Mansell's triumph in 1987.

After an unscheduled tyre stop left him almost 30 seconds behind Williams team-mate Nelson Piquet, victory looked impossible.

What followed became one of Formula One's greatest comeback drives.

Mansell produced qualifying lap after qualifying lap to hunt down Piquet before making a daring move into Stowe Corner with just two laps remaining. The Silverstone crowd erupted as their home hero completed one of the most memorable overtakes in British Grand Prix history.

It remains one of the defining moments of Mansell's career and one of Silverstone's loudest ever celebrations.

1. 1950 – Formula One Begins at Silverstone

There could only ever be one number one.

On 13 May 1950, Silverstone hosted the first race of the inaugural Formula One World Championship, making the British Grand Prix the birthplace of modern Formula One.

The former RAF airfield welcomed more than 100,000 spectators, with members of the Royal Family in attendance as history was made. Giuseppe Farina dominated for Alfa Romeo. leading home team-mate Luigi Fagioli and British driver Reg Parnell to complete a clean sweep of the podium for Alfa Romeo.

Few sporting venues can claim to have witnessed the birth of an entire championship. Every Formula One season since owes something to that afternoon at Silverstone.

Want to relive where it all began?

The Birth of Formula One from Duke Video takes you back to that historic day with rare archive footage and tells the story of how Formula One's World Championship first came to life.

Why the British Grand Prix Continues to Deliver

The British Grand Prix has always had a habit of producing moments that are talked about for decades.

It gave Formula One its very first championship race. It produced one of the sport's greatest controversies. It has delivered unforgettable home victories, remarkable comeback drives and dramatic last-lap finishes.

With every new generation of drivers adding another chapter to Silverstone's remarkable story, the British Grand Prix continues to earn its place as one of Formula One's most iconic events.

If this year's race has left you wanting more, Duke Video's extensive Formula One archive lets you revisit many of the moments that made the British Grand Prix legendary - from the very beginning in 1950 to unforgettable races like the dramatic 1976 British Grand Prix.