Formula One is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025, and throughout the sport's history, British drivers have dominated more than any other nation. In total, 10 different British drivers have claimed 20 Drivers' Championships, while 21 British racers share an astonishing 325 Grand Prix victories between them.
With such incredible depth of talent, narrowing down the best British F1 drivers of all time to just five is no easy task. But from the 168 British drivers who have started a Grand Prix since 1950, we've handpicked the legends whose skill, courage, and achievements have left an indelible mark on the sport.
1. Lewis Hamilton
No list of the best British F1 drivers would be complete without Lewis Hamilton. Born in Stevenage in 1985, Hamilton's meteoric rise began with go-karting success before famously approaching McLaren boss Ron Dennis in 1995, declaring he wanted to race for his team one day. Fast forward just over a decade, and Hamilton was making his Formula One debut for McLaren in 2007 - going head to head with reigning champion Fernando Alonso in one of the most explosive rookie seasons ever.
Hamilton won his first title in 2008, before moving to Mercedes in 2013 - a career-defining decision that led to a record-breaking run of success. With seven World Championships, 103 race wins, and a global fanbase, Hamilton is not only the most successful driver in Formula One history, but also the most famous British racing drivers of all time.
In 2025, he begins a bold new chapter with Ferrari. Regardless of whether or not this leads to more championship success in the future, Hamilton's past performances have done more than enough to have secured his place as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time.
2. Jim Clark
While Lewis Hamilton has used his place in the sport to become a global superstar, the quiet Scotsman Jim Clark shunned the limelight. However, his talent behind the wheel was unmatched, with many claiming that Clark should rightfully be considered the best British F1 driver of all time.
Having spent much of his youth driving agricultural equipment on the family farm, Clark developed a love of motoring and took part in numerous rallies and hill climbing events near his home. It was during one of these races that Clark's talent was first spotted by Lotus F1 boss Colin Chapman. The two would go on to form one of the strongest partnerships in motor racing, matching Clark's driving talent with Chapman's design genius. Chapman's innovative designs often gave Lotus an edge when it came to outright pace, but this came at the expense of reliability; a weakness that cost the pair multiple championship titles.
Nevertheless, Clark won two World Championships (1963 and 1965), the Indy 500 in 1965, and claimed pole position in 45% of the Grands Prix he started - an astonishing statistic that underlines his raw speed.
Tragically, Clark's life was cut short in 1968 at just 32 years old. Many, including his compatriot Jackie Stewart, still regard Clark as the most naturally gifted driver they have ever seen. His early death leaves us wondering how many more titles he might have claimed and whether he would have unequivocally established himself as the greatest British F1 driver of all time.
3. Jackie Stewart
Jackie Stewart's praise of Jim Clark doesn't do justice to the fact that he too is very worthy of being included in the discussion of the best British F1 drivers of all time. However, Stewart's approach was somewhat different from Clark's.
While both Scotsmen had a very smooth driving style, Clark would sometimes power slide his way out of corners in an effort to carry as much momentum as possible. Stewart meanwhile was far more clinical and precise, controlling the car just on the edge of exertion with almost undetectable inputs which ensured that the car would always be operating just below the point of entering into a drift. While this would sometimes be slower, it was a technique that was kinder on the equipment during a period where car reliability played a huge role in determining results.
Stewart has almost a sixth sense when it comes to detecting grip levels, a trait which served him well in wet conditions. This was no more in evidence than at the 1968 German Grand Prix at the notoriously dangerous Nurburgring, where Stewart took the checkered flag over four minutes clear of his nearest competitor. His performance on this day underlined the contrasts in Stewart's mindset, being capable of lapping at incredible speeds on such a dangerous circuit while still fighting an almost constant battle to get the sports organisers to improve the safety levels of the cars and circuits.
All of Stewart's success came with the Tyrrell team, with his ability to motivate colleagues proving to be one of the skills which set him apart. These talents rewarded him further when he founded his own F1 team in the late 1990s, creating the foundations for a team that would go on to dominate the sport in the new millennium under the guise of Red Bull
4. Nigel Mansell
If drama and determination define greatness, Nigel Mansell has his place secured. Known for his aggressive style and spectacular overtakes, Mansell was a fan favourite whose victory at the 1992 British Grand Prix inspired a track invasion the likes of which have never been seen again from the usually austere British spectators.
For a while, it felt as though Mansell would never achieve his dream of becoming F1 World Champion. The unfortunate tyre blow up in Adelaide 1986 and huge practice crash in Suzuka 1987 deprived him of titles his performances warranted. It would take until 1992 and the dominant Williams Renault FW14B for Mansell to finally get the monkey off his back. During this season he won 9 of the 16 races and firmly secured his position as the most successful British F1 drivers at the time in terms of race victories. He still lies 2nd in this list behind only Lewis Hamilton.
A disagreement with Williams over their decision to sign Alain Prost led to Mansell heading to Indycar rather than defending his F1 title in 1993. Winning the Indycar championship at the first time of asking is perhaps his most remarkable accomplishment. Against legendary drivers such as Mario Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi Mansell emerged victorious and became, for a time, the only driver to have held both the F1 and IndyCar titles simultaneously.
Mansell's combative style and vulnerability when it came to criticism meant that he never enjoyed the best of relationships with journalists. This often led to his raw ability being underplayed by pundits and the written press. However, this does not reflect reality with any fans who witnessed the Brit in his pomp being unable to deny his remarkable speed and even more remarkable tenacity.
5. Stirling Moss
No discussion of the best British F1 drivers is complete without Sir Stirling Moss - widely considered the greatest driver never to win a World Championship. Moss won 16 of his 66 Grand Prix starts (a win rate of over 24%) and triumphed in iconic events such as the Mille Miglia, Monaco Grand Prix, and 12 Hours of Sebring.
His sportsmanship was as famous as his speed. In 1958, Moss famously defended rival Mike Hawthorn against a penalty that would have cost him points, ultimately handing Hawthorn the title. That act of fairness denied Moss his best chance to become Britain's first World Champion - but cemented his reputation as a true gentleman of the sport.
Though his career ended prematurely in 1962 after a crash at Goodwood, Moss remains a towering figure in motorsport history.
See the Modern Day Greats in Action
From Hamilton's record-breaking dominance to Clark's raw speed, Mansell's bravery, and Moss's sportsmanship, the best British F1 drivers of all time have shaped the sport's legacy. And the story isn't over yet. Today, you can watch modern stars like Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, George Russell, and rising talent Oliver Bearman competing at the very top of Formula One.
At Elegant Resorts, we offer exclusive Formula One holiday packages, taking care of every detail. From flights and luxury accommodation, to VIP paddock passes. This could be your last chance to see Lewis Hamilton, the greatest British F1 driver of all time, in action, while also witnessing the next generation of British talent chasing glory.
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