[Fred Pink]

I have been thinking about this topic and came up with two lists for the greatest British title winners and then the same list with non title winners included.

British World Champions
1) Jim Clark – the acknowledged master racer
2) Jackie Stewart – consistant and complete
3) Graham Hill – maybe lucky to get two titles but wins at Le Mans and Indy 500 show what an allrounder he was, did what mattered.
4) Nigel Mansell – great entertainer in a very strong era, deserved at least 2 titles.
5) John Surtees – mechanically sympathetic and coudl have been multiple champ if he had stayed at Ferrari.
6) Lewis Hamilton – naturally fast and will certainly add another title and rise up the list.
7) Damon Hill – hard working and dedicated under difficult circumstances, could have added a second title at Williams had he stayed.
8) James Hunt – natural talent, had he been more dedicated he could have won more races, unfairly thought of as a “lucky” champion but a courageous driver.
9) Jenson Button – smooth and talented, could add to his tally when McLaren find form, his future rating very much depend on the next few years results.
10) Mike Hawthorn – the original fight pilot driver, also won at Le Mans. maybe lucky but a great talent in a strong era.

British Grand Prix Drivers non champions included

1) Jim Clark
2) Stirling Moss – the golden boy of British racing, great allrounder, if he had been at Ferrari a triple world champion.
3) Jackie Stewart
4) Graham Hill
5) Nigel Mansell
6) John Surtees
7) Tony Brooks – great talent, maybe too thoughtful to really fulfil his potential. Narrowly missed out on title.
8) Peter Collins – again a great talent who surely would have been a champion if not for his death.
9) Lewis Hamilton
10) Damon Hill

Both lists look a bit mad now I reread them but I am interested to getting a debate going. Interesting to compare how 50’s and 60’s drivers who tended to have less GP wins but also diversified into sport cars races so won a broad range of different competitions to the modern racers who specialise in F1 but have many more wins. Also honourable mention to John Watson who is doomed to always languish outside these types of lists and is a bit of a forgotten man in British GP history as well as Johnny Herbert and Martin Brundle.

[Author]

Posts