Silverstone showdowns: 5 iconic British Grands Prix | Digital TV

Jonathan Victoria • 03 Jul 2025 Features

All of F1 history stems from Silverstone.

As the Formula 1 circus rolls into Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, there's no better time to relive the moments that made it one of the sport’s most iconic races. 

From heroic home wins to collisions that shook the championship, these five unforgettable Grands Prix prove that when it comes to F1 theatre, Silverstone always delivers.

1950 – The first-ever F1 World Championship race

Credit: Colourised 1950 British Grand Prix released for F1's 75th anniversary (Independent Sport, YouTube)

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone in May 1950 marked the birth of the modern Formula One World Championship. 

It all started on a blustery former RAF airfield. The layout was primitive, the safety non-existent, and the speeds daring—but it was undeniably the spark that lit the F1 flame. 

Giuseppe Farina took victory that day in his Alfa Romeo, leading home a dominant 1-2-3 finish for the team. The crowd of over 100,000 included King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, lending a sense of regal occasion to a sport still emerging from the shadow of World War II. 

Farina’s win kicked off the first official F1 title campaign, which he would go on to win that year. Every race since has built on that foundation, making Silverstone hallowed ground for motorsport fans.

1987 – Mansell vs. Piquet Duel

Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet, teammates turned rivals at Williams, staged one of the most thrilling intra-team battles F1 had seen during the 1987 edition. 

After an early tyre change, Mansell trailed Piquet by nearly 30 seconds with just half the race remaining – but he came back with a vengeance. With fuel running low and the crowd on their feet, Mansell hunted down the Brazilian, setting multiple lap records along the way. 

His moment came late on, with an audacious dummy at Stowe corner – faking right then diving left – becoming an instant highlight reel moment. 

As Mansell crossed the line in first, the Silverstone faithful erupted in one of the loudest, most passionate celebrations the sport has ever witnessed. It was an epic home victory that cemented Mansell’s status as a national hero.

1998 – Schumacher Wins from the Pit Lane

Credit: Michael Schumacher pits on the last lap for his stop and go penalty - British Grand Prix (CBE, YouTube)

If there’s two things that many modern day F1 fans may not know, it’s that Michael Schumacher, while as successful as he was, was a sly competitor, and that Ferrari actually used to be very good at decision making.

A truly bizarre British Grand Prix in ‘98 saw Michael Schumacher win the race inside the pit lane in one of the most controversial finishes in F1 history.

Earlier in the race, the then-two-time Champion was handed a stop-go penalty for overtaking under the safety car. Usually, that penalty would be required to be taken immediately. But that rule was only employed after Schumacher’s exploit.

The German entered the pits to serve his penalty on the final lap, only to cross the finish line and take the chequered flag before stopping – because he had finished. 

The confusion stemmed from a delayed penalty notification, leading to a technicality that Ferrari exploited to perfection. The stewards were left scrambling while fans and commentators tried to make sense of what had just happened. 

While many cried foul, the result stood and the moment added a strange, rule-bending footnote to Schumacher’s career of calculated brilliance. It was classic Ferrari drama, Silverstone style.

2008 – Hamilton’s Wet Weather Masterclass

Credit: 2008 British Grand Prix | Short Highlights | Round 9/18 (Big Zeddie, YouTube)

With rain hammering down at Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton produced one of the greatest wet-weather drives the sport has ever seen. 

Starting fourth on the grid, he surged into the lead within five laps and never looked back, making seasoned rivals look like amateurs. 

While others spun or limped around the circuit, Hamilton danced through the puddles with astonishing control, eventually winning by 68 seconds, lapping everyone up to third. 

It was a spine-tingling performance in front of a soaked but ecstatic British crowd, and a huge statement in the middle of a tense title fight. More than a win, it was a masterclass in nerve, precision and pure talent. For many, it was the moment Lewis truly arrived as F1’s next great superstar.

2021 – Hamilton and Verstappen Collide

Credit: Hamilton wins British GP with TEN second penalty! | British Grand Prix Highlights (Sky Sports F1, YouTube)

It would be impossible to make this list without including one of the most contentious moments from one of the most contentious seasons in F1 history.

The intensity of the 2021 title battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen exploded for the first time properly that season in spectacular fashion at Silverstone. 

On the opening lap, the two championship contenders tussled for control of the lead before colliding at over 180 mph at the iconic Copse corner, sending Verstappen crashing heavily into the barriers and out of the race. 

The incident immediately divided the F1 world, sparking furious debate about blame, racecraft and safety. While Verstappen was in front, a gap was left on the inside of the corner for Hamilton to exploit. Unfortunately, the Brit would understeer slightly which led to the contact.

While Verstappen was taken to hospital for checks, Hamilton received a time penalty but recovered to win in dramatic fashion, triggering deafening cheers from a partisan home crowd.

His post-race celebrations under the Union Jack stoked even more controversy but also made for unforgettable sporting theatre. It was the spark that ignited one of F1’s fiercest modern rivalries.

Aside from that moment, the race was also significant for the being the first introduction of the Sprint. This was under the original format when introduced, with points only given to the podium finishers (three to first, two to second and one to third), and the Sprint itself replacing the standard qualifying, with the finishing order determining the starting grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.