Choose your most memorable British Grand Prix

What British Grand Prix has been the most memorable so far this year and the 2025 season starting at Silverstone this week? BBC Sport is responding to this inquiry.

1969 epic duel between Stewart and Rindt

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Jackie Stewart was the man to beat in Formula 1 as the 1960s came to an end. The Scot was the favorite to win when round six arrived in Britain after winning four of the first five races of the 1969 season.

Stewart’s Matra was ahead of Jochen Rindt, an Austrian who drove for Lotus. The two drivers then engaged in a titanic battle that would frequently see the race’s lead change hands once the flag was raised, though.

1976 was Hunt’s win that he lost.

James Hunt drives his McLaren during the 1976 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch Getty Images

One of the most contentious races in Formula One history took place at Brands Hatch in 1976 as the host of the British Grand Prix.

James Hunt won that July contest, but the home driver would lose it two months later.

A red flag was displayed in Hunt’s first-lap collision with Clay Regazzoni’s Ferrari. The stewards initially forbade him from the restart after he returned his damaged McLaren to the pits using a shortcut. The partisan and sultry crowd, however, was upset, so Hunt was allowed to participate and the decision was reversed.

1987: Mansell mania reigns

Nigel Mansell drives his Williams at Silverstone in 1987Getty Images

The moustachiose Nigel Mansell is claiming the pole position at Silverstone in 1987, his Williams team-mate Nelson Piquet taking the title.

Mansell was two seconds away from Piquet on lap 35. However, the team decided to go with the Briton for new tires due to a wheel balance problem. With 29 laps left, Mansell rejoined the action 28 seconds behind Brazilian Piquet due to a quick (for the time) 9.5-second stop.

With only three laps left, Mansell relentlessly hauled in Piquet, overtaking his rival into Stowe.

The crowds roared on to the track, joyfully and delirious. The British audience is amazing at this, according to the statement “and the British crowd break ranks”! Murray Walker, a commentator, cried.

Mansell and Senna hitch a ride in 1991.

Ayrton Senna hitches a ride on Nigel Mansell's Williams following the British Grand Prix in 1991 Getty Images

Mansell celebrated his dominant third victory of his career on home soil this weekend, but it is more remembered for the iconic, albeit slightly risky, act of sportsmanship.

Ayrton Senna, who had finished second behind Mansell, was given a fourth-place position in the championship after his McLaren ran out of fuel in the final lap.

When Mansell finished his cooldown lap, he noticed the Brazilian waiting for help and offered Senna a ride back to the pits by his side. Fans gave out enraged glances at the marshal Senna after he had brushed off in order to climb onto the Williams, which caused a riotous applause.

1995: Schumacher and Hill end up in the gravel.

Marshals attend to Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher after the two drivers collided in 1995 Getty Images

When a British driver competes in the title race, the Silverstone atmosphere intensifies, so Damon Hill’s position of dominance, only 11 points behind defending champion Michael Schumacher, gave the home crowd a boost as the 1990s approached the halfway point.

Schumacher was second and Willimas’ Hill was pole, but the German seized control with a one-stop plan.

Hill was in second place on new tires when he crossed the finish line with Schumacher in the Priory corner, attempting to overtake the Benetton driver for the lead. The pair ended up in the gravel on lap 46.

Hill claimed that the stewards believed there was “equal blame on both parts” for the collision after the race when fans clamored for his autograph.

2008 Hamilton’s wet-weather masterclass

Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after winning the 2008 British GP Getty Images

In 2008, the gloomy weather and rain hampered round nine of the campaign due to the great British summer.

Lewis Hamilton’s name was inscribed in British Grand Prix folklore at the age of 23 when he was still a student at McLaren. After failing to win any points in his previous two grands prix, he was under pressure to enter the race.

Hamilton passed team-mate and polesitter Heikki Kovalainen on lap five of the inside of Stowe, where Mansell had supplanted Piquet for the lead 11 years prior.

2020: Hamilton triumphs on three wheels.

Lewis Hamilton looks at his worn tyres after winning at Silverstone in 2020 EPA

Due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Silverstone has been silent, with no fans attending the circuit’s two consecutive race weekends in August.

The first race, which carried the traditional “British” title until the final lap, saw Lewis Hamilton’s puncture on the final lap. The second was the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.

Hamilton had watched as Valtteri Bottas’ race, which had been stopped by tire issues, came to an end two laps later. It appeared as though Hamilton’s record-breaking seventh home victory was about to pass when Max Verstappen, who was about 30 seconds behind, began to close in.

2021 drama-filled title race

Start of the British Grand Prix in 2021 Getty Images

When the pair started competing on the front row at Silverstone in 2021, Max Verstappen, the polesitter, was 32 points clear of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in a tense title race.

The drama began to play out as the opening lap of one of the fastest laps in Formula 1 took a dramatic turn into the 190-mph Copse corner, which saw Red Bull’s Verstappen spin out of the grand prix. Following the 51G impact, the Dutchman was taken for precautionary tests.

After passing Lando Norris and team-mate Valtteri Bottas, Hamilton had to pass Lando Norris and Valtteri Bottas before heading straight after race leader Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari. He was given a 10-second penalty for the collision with Verstappen. He completed his eight-second gap by 12 laps, passing Leclerc at Copse’s exit on lap 50 of 52.

Hamilton’s first win in 945 days – 2024

Lewis Hamilton kisses the British Grand Prix trophy after wining in 2024 Getty Images

After his truimph at Silverstone in 2024, Hamilton said, “I thought it was never going to happen again.” His triumph at Mercedes in his final year marked his unfathomable dry spell for one of the greatest drivers of all time.

In front of 164, 000 spectators, Hamilton defeated Lando Norris of McLaren and Verstappen in a fierce race-long fight. His ninth victory at home helped him break the record for wins in a single circuit.

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White House to host UFC event, says Trump

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US President Donald Trump says he plans to host a UFC event at the White House next year as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

Speaking at a rally in Iowa, Trump said UFC president Dana White will build the event which will feature a “championship fight” in front of “20,000-25,000 people”.

“We’re going to have a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there. Dana’s going to do it,” said Trump.

The UFC are yet to officially confirm the show but the promotion’s president White shared a video of Trump announcing the news on social media with the caption “this will be epic”.

The UFC’s Instagram account also shared the video, asking followers “who would you like to see headline the event? “

Trump is close friends with White, with the UFC chief becoming a key supporter during his 2024 election campaign.

He has attended a number of UFC shows during his two stints as president and was most recently at UFC 316 in New Jersey last month.

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Will Chelsea’s own ‘Little Messi’ end their Club World Cup hopes?

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Estevao Willian of Palmeiras will either play his final game against his former team on Friday or send Chelsea off to join his future employers for the Club World Cup.

The 18-year-old’s date with destiny comes after Chelsea paid an initial sum of $ 29.1 million for the Brazilian sensation last summer, with an additional $ 29.7 million due as add-ons, before allowing him to stay at his current club for another year.

Before joining Chelsea, the Blues also agreed to let Estevao play for the Sao Paolo outfit in the Club World Cup after defeating rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.

That left the possibility that Chelsea and Estevao could face off before he signed for the club, which will take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia when the two teams meet in the quarter-finals.

Abel Ferreira, the manager of the Palmeiras, whose side won the Copa Libertadores in 2021 to qualify for the tournament, said, “I hope he gives his best for the owners of Chelsea to see all the potential and quality he has.”

He will have an opportunity to demonstrate his level of skill. We anticipate his best, the best of his ability, an attack, defending, and announcing our fans’ goodbyes.

We encouraged him to develop both professionally and personally. In a fantastic game, it might be a good time to bid him adieu.

Maresca, the manager of Chelsea, said he has not spoken to Estevao and that despite meeting the player’s family, he has not yet had a conversation with him.

When this competition is over, Maresca said, “We can talk about the future.”

Estevao will be out to show his skills to a new group of Chelsea supporters on July 4 as the country prepares to observe its new Independence Day in a stadium that is expected to be crowded with almost 70 000 people.

Everyone in the negotiations knew this could occur, added Ferreira, adding that “we, him and the club.”

He will demonstrate his commitment to us. However, he is free to begin a new club once he accomplishes that.

Estevao only needs to give his best while he is with us, I promise. Because the agreements are complete, he won’t have to worry about anything. Because those agreements are already signed, he just needs to concentrate on helping us and playing well for Palmeiras.

Prior to the match, Palmeiras attempted to calm the noise around a young player who was increasingly in the limelight for one of the Brazilian club’s biggest matches in recent years. Estevao did not contact the media before the game.

However, Estevao, the young team-mate, was described as “a very respectful child” by striker Jose Manuel Lopez.

He has contributed to our team’s success by winning several titles with us, and he has also become significant to our team. Everyone is aware of what he can offer on the field.

Estevao, a midfielder, said: “He is a great player and friend. During training, there is a relaxation and we always make jokes. This, in my opinion, makes the atmosphere less opulent.

Palmeiras players throw Estevao Willian into the air in celebrationImages courtesy of Getty

Estevao’s position at Chelsea and who is he?

Estevao broke Neymar’s record of 12 goals and eight assists in a single season in Brazil’s Serie A last season, breaking the previous record set by him by scoring 12 times and adding eight assists. He also broke the previous record set by him under the age of 18.

Estevao has 11 goals and 5 assists in all 36 matches played during the new season in South America, which started in February.

He has twice won the Club World Cup’s Superior Player of the Match awards, and he has, fittingly, impressed against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, where he was previously dubbed “Little Messi” in Brazil.

Estevao’s performances have sparked apprehension among senior officials. In addition, a well-known player who works with Brazilian players claimed that Estevao is more talented than even Vitor Reis and Endrick from Manchester City or Real Madrid’s teenage forward.

However, it is also acknowledged that he will need to be eased in at first while learning English football.

Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, and new signings Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, and Jamie Gittens will all play for a star-studded attack at Stamford Bridge.

In fact, Joao Pedro is the 18th player to join Chelsea from their previous owners in just over three years.

Chelsea’s new £55 million signing, who signed from Brighton, will be eager to see his new signing for £55 million. The 23-year-old he striker signed from Brighton and trained with his new squad at Barry University in Miami.

This implies that Joao Pedro will at least be paired with the bench for the quarter-final. We’re happy with Joao, said Maresca, and we’ll check if we’ll give him some time.

The Blues will have 17 forward players on their books once Gittens agrees to join the organization after winning the tournament and leaves Borussia Dortmund.

No player is being forced out initially to make his arrival, but his ability to play either as a right-winger or number 10 is anticipated to put Madueke’s position in the longer run in the hands of players.

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Nielsen to return to Alpine as managing director

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Steve Nielsen will become the managing director of the Renault-owned Alpine team.

One of the most renowned and seasoned sporting managers in Formula 1 is the 60-year-old Briton, who is also a former World Cup champion.

Nielsen served as the team’s sporting director for ten years, working for Benetton, Renault, and Lotus, and won two world championships with Fernando Alonso.

He has also served as the sporting director for the Caterham, Toro Rosso, and Williams teams, as well as for the FIA, and for F1’s owners of commercial rights.

Alpine has recently undergone a number of management changes as it attempts to regain its competitiveness.

Oliver Oakes, the team’s most recent team principal, left in May after the Miami Grand Prix due to personal reasons.

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