Before Hamilton, these British drivers who made Ferrari history

This season, Lewis Hamilton will become the 12th British driver to race for Scuderia Ferrari. AUTOhebdo reviews the most famous of his predecessors.

Published 18/01/2025 à 14:58

Julien BILLIOTTE

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Before Hamilton, these British drivers who made Ferrari history

Hamilton-Leclerc, here is a promising duo at Ferrari! / © DPPI

Before welcoming Sir Lewis Hamilton à Maranello In 2025, the venerable Scuderia Ferrari fielded 11 representatives from the United Kingdom. While some did not leave an indelible mark on the great history of the Prancing Horse, two conquered the supreme title in red.

Mike_Hawthorn_1958_Argentina_GP

Mike Hawthorn driving the Ferrari 246 during the 1958 Argentine Grand Prix. / © DR

Mike hawthorn

An elegant driver and always dressed to the nines, the dandy Mike Hawthorn joined Ferrari in 1953 and immediately distinguished himself by winning the French Grand Prix that year, beating the immense Juan Manuel Fangio (Maserati) in an epic duel at Reims-Gueux.

In 1954, Hawthorn came close to the title (3rd overall) with three podiums and a second victory in Spain. The following seasons were more disappointing at the wheel of uncompetitive machines. Returning to Ferrari in 1957, the Briton found himself in the fight for the crown the following season against Stirling Moss' Vanwall. The title was decided at the last GP of the season, held in Morocco.

Hawthorn's consistency allowed him to be crowned by a small point against Moss. He became the first world champion of Formula 1 British. The man who often flew with a bow tie retired shortly after, at just 29 years old. Just a few months later, Hawthorn was sadly killed in a car accident at the wheel of his Jaguar.

57C1-11957: Maranello, Before the Mille Miglia Enzo Ferrari & Peter Collins

Peter Collins under the eyes of Enzo Ferrari before the start of the 1957 Mille Miglia. / © DR

Peter Collins

The man Mike Hawthorn called "My Friend Mate" earned Enzo Ferrari's respect during his first season with the Scuderia in 1956, after giving up his own world title ambitions by handing over his car to Fangio at Monza (Italy). The finest of his three F1 victories, all with Ferrari, was certainly his last, which he took at Silverstone in 1958. Having emerged victorious from a Homeric duel with Stirling Moss' Vanwall, Collins died a few weeks later at the Nürburgring while chasing Tony Brooks. He was only 26 and seemed destined for a brilliant future.

Tony Brooks (left) 24 Hours of Le Mans 1957 with Aston Martin. / © DR

Tony Brooks

A teammate of Stirling Moss at Vanwall in 1958, Tony Brooks found himself at Ferrari the following year, where he succeeded his compatriots Mike Hawthorne and Peter Collins, both of whom had passed away. A winner at Reims and the Nürburgring, Brooks could have been crowned champion in 1959, but he had to settle for finishing runner-up to Jack Brabham (Cooper) after choosing to make an extra stop as a precautionary measure at the 1959 finale at Sebring (USA).

MOTORSPORT - F1 2010 - BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX - SAKHIR (BHR) - 12 TO 14/03/2010 - PHOTO: GILLES LEVENT / DPPI 60 TH ANNIVERSARY JOHN SURTEES AMBIANCE PORTRAIT

John Surtees poses with his world title Ferrari during the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix. / © GILLES LEVENT / DPPI

John Surtees

'Big John's' time at Maranello was tumultuous but successful. After driving exclusively British cars in his early years in F1, the former multiple world champion joined the Scuderia in 1963 where he immediately caused a sensation, notably winning at the fearsome Nürburgring.

Surtees did even better in 1964 with two victories (Germany and Italy) and a world championship title. To this day, he remains the only driver to win on two and four wheels. Unfortunately, the situation ended up turning sour between the driver and his team. Surtees slammed the door in the middle of the 1966 season, not without having added a last success in red at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium). Surtees is the last British driver to win with Ferrari, which is to say the challenge that awaits Hamilton from 2025.

MOTORSPORT - F1 1989 - BRAZIL GP - JAAREPAGUA - PHOTO: GILLES LEVENT / DPPI NIGEL MANSELL (GBR) / FERRARI 640 - ACTION - WINNER

1st race with Ferrari and 1st victory in Red for Nigel Mansell at the 1989 Brazilian GP. / © GILLES LEVENT / DPPI

Nigel Mansell

His flamboyant and generous style earned him the nickname “Il Leone” among fans. F1's most famous mustache made a dream debut with the Scuderia by winning his first race with the Reds, the 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix, at the wheel of the 640 with a semi-automatic gearbox designed by John Barnard.

Despite two other successes and 11 podiums in two seasons, Mansell never managed to fully adapt to his Italian mounts, which also suffered from very precarious reliability. The arrival ofAlain Prost at Maranello in 1990 made his task even more complicated and Mansell quickly found his favorite team Williams in 1991, before finally being crowned world champion the following year. His short stint in Italy still left its mark.

AUTO - F1 1999 - GREAT BRITAIN - SILVERSTONE 990711 - PHOTO: DPPI MICHAEL SCHUMACHER (GER) / FERRARI EDDIE IRVINE (IRL) / FERRARI PORTRAIT - ATMOSPHERE

Eddie Irvine was the teammate of Michael Schumacher in Maranello between 1996 and 1999. / © DPPI

Eddie Irvine

The Northern Irishman is the latest British pilot to have worn the holy red tunic. Recruited at the same time as Michael Schumacher (1996) to be his faithful lieutenant, Eddie the rebel fulfilled his role wonderfully and came very close to winning the prize in 1999.

After Schumi's injury at Silverstone, Irvine took over and led the charge in the championship against the Silver Arrows of Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. After winning four races, he narrowly lost to the Finn (76-74) before leaving the Scuderia to take on the Jaguar challenge. Other British drivers have driven for Ferrari in F1 but their mark on the annals is more modest: Peter Whitehead, Cliff Allison, Mike Parkes, Jonathan Williams, and Derek Bell, future Le Mans legend (five victories at La Sarthe).

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Julien BILLIOTTE

AUTOhebdo deputy editor-in-chief. The feather dipped in gall.

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1 Comment (s)

Yves-Henri RANDIER

18/01/2025 at 04:24 a.m.

Never 2 without 3, as the proverb says! So Sir Lewis is the 3rd British crowned World Champion with the Scuderia after Mike Hawthorn and Big John Surtees? To be continued in Melbourne from March

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