Epic Duel Between Stewart and Rindt - 1969

The 1960s were coming to an end, and Jackie Stewart was the driver to beat in Formula 1. The Scot had won four of the first five races of the '69 season and was the favorite to take victory when round six landed in Britain. Austrian Jochen Rindt, driving for Lotus, took pole ahead of Stewart's Matra. As soon as the flag dropped, though, the two drivers began an epic duel that would see the lead of the race regularly change hands. In the closing stages, bodywork damage and a lack of fuel denied Rindt the chance of victory. Stewart triumphed, lapping the entire field, before toasting the win with his wife, Helen.

Hunt's Win That He Lost - 1976

Brands Hatch was the host of the 1976 British Grand Prix for one of the most controversial races in F1 history. James Hunt secured victory that day in July, but it would be taken away from the home driver two months later. Hunt was involved in a first-lap crash with the Ferrari of Clay Regazzoni, which resulted in a red flag. After he drove his damaged McLaren back to the pits via a shortcut, the stewards initially barred him from the restart. However, the partisan and sun-baked crowd were outraged, so the decision was reversed and Hunt was able to participate. Following his win, Ferrari protested the result, arguing that Hunt had not completed the full race distance because of the shortcut. Hunt was officially disqualified in September, giving Lauda the race victory.

Mansell Mania Takes Over - 1987

The year is 1987, and the mustachioed Nigel Mansell is starting in second place at Silverstone, as his Williams teammate Nelson Piquet claimed the coveted pole position. On lap 35, Mansell was within two seconds of Piquet. But a wheel balance issue meant the team elected to pit the Briton for fresh tires. Following a quick (for the time) 9.5-second stop, Mansell rejoined the action 28 seconds behind Brazilian Piquet with 29 laps left. Hopes were fading for a British win, but Mansell relentlessly hauled in Piquet, eventually overtaking his rival into Stowe with only three laps remaining. The fans swarmed onto the track, delirious with joy. "And the British crowd break ranks - they're marvelous at this!" cried commentator Murray Walker. "I can think of no other crowd in the world that would do that."

Senna Hitches a Ride with Mansell - 1991

This weekend is not necessarily remembered for the victory, despite Mansell celebrating a dominant third win of his career on home soil, but more for the iconic, albeit slightly dangerous, piece of sportsmanship. Championship leader Ayrton Senna, who started next to Mansell in second, was classified in fourth place after his McLaren ran out of fuel on the final lap. As Mansell completed his cooldown lap, he noticed the Brazilian waiting for assistance, so he beckoned Senna over and gave him a lift back to the pits on the side of his car. Cue rapturous applause from the fans, but disapproving glances from the marshal Senna had brushed off in order to climb on the Williams. "On your way, Nigel, says Senna, with a tap on the helmet," said Walker in commentary.

Schumacher and Hill End Up in the Gravel - 1995

The Silverstone atmosphere amplifies when a British driver is involved in the title race, so as the 1990s reached the midway point, Damon Hill being only 11 points behind defending champion Michael Schumacher put the home crowd on a high. Williams' Hill was on pole with Schumacher second, but the German took the lead on a one-stop strategy. On lap 46, Hill in second was on fresher tires when he made contact with Schumacher, trying to overtake the Benetton driver for the lead through the Priory corner, with the two cars ending up in the gravel. After the race, as fans clamored for his autograph, Hill said the stewards felt there was "equal blame on both parts" for the collision. There was celebration for the home crowd, though, as Johnny Herbert - Schumacher's Benetton teammate - took his first career win that day after 74 attempts.

Hamilton's Wet-Weather Masterclass - 2008

The great British summer was in full effect in 2008 as gloomy conditions and rain hampered round nine of the campaign. Lewis Hamilton was 23 years old and in his second year at McLaren when he wrote his name into British Grand Prix folklore. He had been under pressure coming into the race, after failing to score points in the previous two grands prix. Starting in fourth, Hamilton's natural wet-weather driving talent saw him pass teammate and polesitter Heikki Kovalainen on lap five up the inside into Stowe - the same place Mansell had overtaken Piquet for the lead 11 years earlier. The stunning victory - his maiden win in Britain - by more than a minute put Hamilton in a three-way tie for the championship lead with Ferrari duo Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.

Hamilton Wins on Three Wheels - 2020

Silverstone fell silent because of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, with no fans present for back-to-back race weekends at the circuit in August. The first event, carrying the traditional 'British' title (the second was the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix), was a largely routine affair until the final moments, when leader Lewis Hamilton suffered a puncture on the last lap. Hamilton had watched on as Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas' race was ended two laps earlier by tire issues. So when Max Verstappen, who was about 30 seconds behind, began to close in, it looked like a record seventh home victory was about to slip through Hamilton's fingers. With his left-front tire in dire straits, Hamilton managed to reach the line to take the checkered flag. "That was close," he said, his relief evident.

Drama-Filled Title Race - 2021

Polesitter Max Verstappen was ahead of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton by 32 points in a tense title race when the pair started alongside each other on the front row at Silverstone in 2021. It did not take long for the drama to unfold, as the opening lap took a dramatic twist into the 190mph Copse corner - one of the fastest in F1 - when the two rivals made contact at high speed, sending Red Bull's Verstappen spinning out of the grand prix. The Dutchman was taken to hospital for precautionary tests after the 51G impact. Hamilton - who was given a 10-second penalty for causing the collision with Verstappen - had to pass Lando Norris and teammate Valtteri Bottas before setting after race leader Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari. He had 12 laps to close an eight-second gap and did so, getting past on lap 50 of 52 when Leclerc ran wide at the exit of Copse. Hamilton's victory, his eighth on home soil, cut Verstappen's lead at the top of the drivers' championship to eight points.

Hamilton's First Win in 945 Days - 2024

"I thought it was never going to happen again," said Hamilton after his triumph at Silverstone in 2024. His victory in his final year at Mercedes was his first win in an astonishing two years, seven months, and two days - an unfathomable dry spell for one of the all-time F1 greats. Hamilton won an intense race-long fight with Verstappen and McLaren's Lando Norris in wet-dry conditions in front of 164,000 people. The victory was his ninth at home to become the record-holder for wins at a single circuit. "I can't stop crying," he said straight after climbing out of his car. Later, he remarked: "That might be the most emotional ending to a race I think I have probably ever had."