On this day in Formula One history, two of the sport’s fiercest title fights were rocked by controversy. In our main story, we return to Brands Hatch in 1976, where James Hunt thrilled the home crowd with a stunning British Grand Prix win — only to have it stripped weeks later in a ruling that nearly derailed his championship bid.

We then head to Silverstone in 1981, where John Watson gave McLaren its first win in years and ushered in a new era of F1 design with the carbon fibre MP4/1.

Finally, we revisit the explosive 2021 British Grand Prix, when Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen collided at Copse Corner — a clash that ignited one of the most intense title battles in recent memory.

Three races. Two championship flashpoints. One day where Formula One’s margins were razor-thin.

Image: James Hunt British GP 1976 by Martin Lee licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

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On this day in 1971, Jackie Stewart delivered one of the most dominant drives of his illustrious career, crushing the field at the British Grand Prix and taking a commanding step toward his second world title. In this episode, we revisit that brilliant performance at Silverstone — from Clay Regazzoni’s early lead to Stewart’s relentless pace and Tyrrell’s growing might.

We also pay tribute to motorsport legends past and present:
🧠 Juan Manuel Fangio, the quiet genius who passed away on this day in 1995 and left a legacy that still shapes Formula One.
🏎️ Ferrari’s statement win at the 1954 British Grand Prix, as José Froilán González stunned the returning Mercedes.
🕊️ And we close with the story of Jules Bianchi — the rising star whose tragic passing in 2015 changed Formula One safety forever.

A day of domination, reflection, and remembrance — this is Chequered Past.

Photo: Jackie Stewart Tyrrell 003 Brands Hatch 1971 by Martin Lee license CC BY-SA 2.0

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On July 16th, British drivers delivered some of the most iconic home-soil triumphs in Formula 1 history. In this episode of Chequered Past, we relive Johnny Herbert’s emotional first Grand Prix win at Silverstone in 1995 — a victory born from chaos and crowned by resilience.

We also rewind to Stirling Moss’s breakthrough at Aintree in 1955, where he became the first British driver to win the British Grand Prix, and to James Hunt’s storming Silverstone success in 1977, a rare high point in a turbulent title defence.

It’s a day when the Union Jack flew highest and British pride took centre stage.

Original Image: Johnny Herbert - Benetton B195 at the 1995 British Grand Prix, Silverstone (49720286518)

By Martin Lee licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

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On this day in 1961, Ferrari stamped their authority on the British Grand Prix with a dominant 1-2-3 at a rain-soaked Aintree, as Wolfgang von Trips took a commanding win that would prove to be his last.

In this episode of Chequered Past, we revisit that decisive race, reflect on the remarkable life and career of Prince Bira — Thailand’s trailblazing Grand Prix pioneer — and relive Emerson Fittipaldi’s composed victory at Brands Hatch in 1972 that brought him one step closer to a maiden world title.

From legends lost to champions in the making, it’s a story of speed, style, and significance — all on 15th July.

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Silverstone, 1991: Nigel Mansell delivers one of the most dominant performances of his career — a Grand Slam on home soil that sends the crowd into raptures and ends with an unforgettable gesture of sportsmanship, offering a lift to a stranded Ayrton Senna.

In this episode of Chequered Past, we relive that extraordinary day and explore the events that shaped it — from the collision that ended Riccardo Patrese’s race on lap one to the wild track invasion that crowned Mansell a national hero.

We also rewind to 1979, when Clay Regazzoni gave the fledgling Williams team its first Grand Prix win, and to 1973, when Silverstone’s opening lap turned into a demolition derby in one of F1’s most notorious pile-ups.

Three British Grands Prix. One iconic circuit. And the kind of stories that remind us why we fell in love with Formula 1 in the first place.

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On this day in Formula One history, drama unfolded at every turn.

In our main story, we revisit the 1997 British Grand Prix, where Jacques Villeneuve overcame a disastrous pit stop and the might of Michael Schumacher to seize a vital victory at Silverstone. It was a race that defined his championship charge — and tested his resilience to the limit.

We also head back to 1986 and the final F1 race at Brands Hatch, where Nigel Mansell delighted the home crowd with a stunning win amid turbocharged tension and a terrifying first-lap pile-up that ended Jacques Laffite’s career. Behind the celebrations, resentment simmered in the Williams garage as Nelson Piquet questioned his role in the team’s title fight.

And we pay tribute to one of the sport’s earliest icons — Alberto Ascari — born on this day in 1918. A two-time world champion, Ascari brought precision and calm to the chaos of 1950s Grand Prix racing and became Ferrari’s first true legend.

From comeback wins to career-ending crashes, this episode captures the highs, lows, and legacies of July 13 in F1 history.

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In this episode of Chequered Past, we relive the move that lit up Silverstone—Nigel Mansell’s unforgettable overtake on teammate Nelson Piquet during the 1987 British Grand Prix. With fresh tyres, relentless pace, and a roaring home crowd behind him, Mansell produced one of the most iconic moments in Formula One history.

We also celebrate the birthday of Guy Ligier, the no-nonsense Frenchman who transformed from rugby bruiser to F1 team boss and built a team that became a national institution. And we revisit the controversial and confusing finish to the 1998 British Grand Prix, where Michael Schumacher somehow won while serving a penalty… in the pit lane.

It’s a story of daring drives, eccentric team owners, and one very peculiar chequered flag.

Original Image: Honda Racing Gallery 1987 Williams FW11B Nelson Piquet

Creator: BWard 1997

Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Image has been adapted

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On this day in Formula One history: a title fight is turned on its head, a fearless talent is lost too soon, and a new British Grand Prix venue makes its debut.

We look back at the 1999 British Grand Prix, where Michael Schumacher’s high-speed crash at Stowe broke more than just his leg — it shattered Ferrari’s championship plan and thrust Eddie Irvine into the spotlight. We also honour Pedro Rodríguez, the brilliant and courageous Mexican driver who died on this day in 1971, and revisit the 1964 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, where Jim Clark delivered a masterclass in the circuit’s first time hosting F1’s biggest event.

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