Formula 1 is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year since the sport was officially established as a world championship.
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone, held in 1950, marked the very first race of the newly formed Formula 1 World Championship. The event has remained a constant fixture on the calendar every year since, though its location has changed over time.
Let`s look back at some memorable moments from 75 years of this iconic race.
The inaugural race took place in May 1950 at Silverstone, a circuit built on a former airfield. Italian driver Giuseppe `Nino` Farina dominated the weekend, securing pole position, fastest lap, and the race win.
Driving for Alfa Romeo, Farina went on to win the first-ever F1 World Championship, which consisted of just seven races that season.
The paddocks of early British GPs featured some familiar names, including Pirelli, who were involved from the start, although teams initially had a choice of tyre manufacturers.
By 1956, Argentine legend Juan Manuel Fangio was already a three-time world champion. He secured his only British Grand Prix victory that year driving for Ferrari.
Fangio finished his career with five world championships, a record that stood for many years until it was surpassed first by Michael Schumacher (seven titles) and later matched by Lewis Hamilton (seven titles).
From 1955 to 1963, the British Grand Prix alternated between Silverstone and Aintree near Liverpool. Aintree is notable as potentially Britain`s only purpose-built Grand Prix circuit. The 1957 race was held at Aintree.
In a unique moment in 1957, Vanwall teammates Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks shared the driving duties (and consequently the victory trophy) at Aintree.
As F1 cars increased in speed, safety concerns grew regarding Aintree`s limited run-off areas. This led F1 to move the race south, eventually incorporating Brands Hatch.
From the mid-1960s until 1986, Brands Hatch shared hosting duties for the British Grand Prix with Silverstone.
In 1966, three-time world champion Jack Brabham, the first Australian F1 winner and founder of the Brabham team, lined up on pole position.
The Brabham team later came under the ownership of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone during the 1970s.
Desiré Wilson made her sole appearance in an F1 World Championship race at the 1980 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. Earlier that year at the same circuit, she had become the only woman to win a post-war Formula 1 race (a non-championship event).
However, due to setup changes and using an uncompetitive Williams FW07 different from her test car, she finished last in qualifying and did not start the race.
Wilson went on to achieve success in other endurance racing series. Today, a grandstand at Brands Hatch is named in her honour.
Brands Hatch also hosted the European Grand Prix on a couple of occasions, an event whose location varied annually.
However, 1986 marked the final F1 Grand Prix held at Brands Hatch. Like Aintree before it, the circuit became less suitable as cars grew larger and faster, leaving Silverstone as the only UK circuit capable of hosting the event.
Over the decades, the British Grand Prix has produced countless memorable moments, but a fan favourite remains Nigel Mansell giving Ayrton Senna a ride on his Williams FW14.
In the 1991 race, Mansell achieved a dominant `grand slam` (pole, fastest lap, leading every lap, and win). After running out of fuel on the final lap and stopping on track, Senna famously hitched a ride back to the pits on the side of Mansell`s victorious car, much to the delight of the crowd (and apparent surprise of the stewards).
Neither driver faced any apparent penalty for this spontaneous act.
Fernando Alonso, who would go on to win his second world championship later that year, claimed victory at the British Grand Prix in 2006. He won the race again in 2011.
Silverstone circuit has undergone significant changes since this aerial view from 2006, and further modifications may come.
With strong desire for the British Grand Prix to continue and no obvious alternative host circuits in the UK, F1 boss Stefano Domenicali expects Silverstone to remain on the calendar for the foreseeable future.
Recent contract extensions for circuits like the Red Bull Ring and Miami, running until 2041, highlight the long-term commitments being made in the sport.
The modern era brought the dominance of Lewis Hamilton…
Lewis Hamilton is statistically F1`s most successful driver, holding records for seven world titles, 105 race wins, and 104 pole positions. He also holds the record for most wins at the British Grand Prix (all at Silverstone) with nine victories.
Hamilton`s remarkable success at Silverstone culminated in a stunning victory at the 2024 British Grand Prix – his last with Mercedes – ending a winless streak stretching back to 2021.
Now driving for Ferrari in the 2025 season, Hamilton is still seeking his first podium finish as the British Grand Prix arrives at the season`s midpoint.
Dominic Ashworth