Lewis Hamilton’s impending debut for Scuderia Ferrari is quick approaching, marking what’s going to undoubtedly be probably the most historic moments in Components 1 historical past.
The seven-time world champion is about to hitch essentially the most profitable group within the sport after a unprecedented 12-year tenure at Mercedes. Throughout his time with the Silver Arrows, Lewis Hamilton secured six titles between 2014 and 2020, solidifying his place as one of many biggest F1 drivers in historical past. Hamilton has signed a multi-year contract with Ferrari, possible his closing transfer within the sport, and at 40 years previous, he’s chasing his eighth world championship with the enduring Italian group.
Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari sees him looking for to copy the success of Michael Schumacher, striving to safe a title together with his iconic quantity 44 on the well-known purple automobile. Maurice Trintignant stays the one driver to have gained for Ferrari with the quantity 44, and Hamilton is set to grow to be the second.
By becoming a member of Ferrari, Hamilton turns into the twelfth British driver to race for the group and the primary to take action as a full-time driver since 1999. However how have his British predecessors fared over time? Right here’s a rating of each British Ferrari driver forward of Hamilton’s extremely anticipated debut.
11. Derek Bell
Derek Bell’s profession in motorsport spanned a number of years, however his time with Ferrari was temporary, with simply two F1 appearances in 1968. Competing at Monza and Watkins Glen that season, Bell was compelled to retire in each races. He briefly raced for McLaren in 1969, retiring once more, earlier than making sporadic appearances in F1 till his retirement in 1974.
10. Jonathan Williams
Jonathan Williams’ time with Ferrari was additionally extremely temporary. His solely F1 look for the group got here on the 1967 Mexican Grand Prix, the place he completed in eighth place. Williams left F1 shortly after, shifting to the European Components 2 Championship.
9. Oliver Bearman
Because the youngest British driver on this record, Oliver Bearman made his F1 debut with Ferrari on the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, stepping in for Carlos Sainz, who withdrew on account of appendicitis. At simply 18 years previous, Ollie Bearman impressed by securing pole place in F2 and qualifying eleventh in his Ferrari debut, narrowly lacking out on Q3. He completed the race in seventh, forward of Lando Norris and even Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari junior will race full-time for Haas in 2025, but it surely’s broadly anticipated that he’ll be part of Ferrari as a full-time driver within the close to future.
8. Cliff Allison
Cliff Allison joined Ferrari in 1959 after racing for Lotus the earlier 12 months. He made an instantaneous impression, scoring factors in his first season with Ferrari, together with a fifth-place end at Monza. His greatest end result got here in Argentina with a second-place end, however his promising profession was marred by a horrific crash at Monaco, leaving him with extreme accidents. Extremely, when he regained consciousness within the hospital, he was talking French—regardless of by no means having discovered the language. Allison would return to F1 in 1961 however finally retired after a crash in Belgium ended his profession.
7. Mike Parkes
Mike Parkes joined Ferrari in 1966 and shortly made a reputation for himself, securing two podium finishes that 12 months, together with a second place at each Reims and Monza. Though Parkes gained two non-championship races in 1967, his F1 profession ended abruptly after a critical accident in Belgium. He would later transition to an engineering function with Ferrari.
6. Tony Brooks
Tony Brooks was one in all F1’s prime skills within the late Nineteen Fifties, significantly with Vanwall, the place he gained 4 races. He joined Ferrari in 1959, profitable two races and difficult for the championship. Nonetheless, within the closing race of the season at Sebring, Brooks’ probabilities of securing the title had been dashed after an incident with Wolfgang von Journeys. He completed third, shedding the title by simply 4 factors. After leaving F1 in 1961, Brooks didn’t win one other race.
5. Nigel Mansell
Nigel Mansell, considered one in all Britain’s most interesting F1 drivers, gained the 1992 World Championship with Williams. Nonetheless, his time at Ferrari was much less profitable. Mansell joined the group in 1989, partnering with Gerhard Berger, however struggled with reliability points. Regardless of profitable on his Ferrari debut in Brazil, Mansell endured seven retirements and two disqualifications that season. In 1990, he was outclassed by teammate Alain Prost and confronted continued issues with the automobile. Regardless of profitable three races for Ferrari, Mansell’s time with the group was overshadowed by mechanical failures and inconsistency.
4. Peter Collins
Peter Collins joined Ferrari in 1956 and shortly earned the respect of Enzo Ferrari, particularly after serving to Juan Manuel Fangio win the championship. In a single memorable act of sportsmanship, Collins gave up his automobile to Fangio after the Argentine crashed, permitting him to complete second and safe the title. Collins gained two races for Ferrari in 1956, ending third within the standings. His third and closing win for the group got here at Silverstone in 1958 earlier than his tragic demise in a crash on the Nürburgring.
3. Eddie Irvine
Eddie Irvine joined Ferrari in 1996 after three years with Jordan and spent 4 seasons as Michael Schumacher’s teammate. His first 12 months with Ferrari was difficult, as he suffered 10 retirements in a season marred by mechanical points. From 1997 onwards, Irvine started to safe common podiums. In 1999, he turned Ferrari’s lead driver after Schumacher’s leg harm and got here near profitable the championship, battling Mika Häkkinen for the title however narrowly shedding by two factors. Irvine retired from F1 after racing for Jaguar.
2. John Surtees
John Surtees is the newest British driver to win a championship with the Maranello group, securing the 1964 title. John Surtees joined Ferrari in 1963 and gained his first race that 12 months on the Nürburgring. He went on to win two extra races in 1964, securing the title by only one level over compatriot Graham Hill. Surtees left Ferrari in 1966 after a falling-out with the group, and though he continued racing till the mid-Seventies, he later established his personal group.
1. Mike Hawthorn
Mike Hawthorn made historical past as the primary British driver to win the F1 World Championship, attaining this milestone in 1958 with the Italian aspect. Mike Hawthorn joined the Maranello group in 1953, incomes third place within the standings the next 12 months. After a quick departure in 1955, he returned to Ferrari in 1957, decided to safe the title. Hawthorn’s constant performances helped him win the 1958 championship by only one level, regardless of Stirling Moss profitable extra races. Tragically, Hawthorn retired from F1 after profitable the title and died in a street accident three months later.
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