Lewis Hamilton’s impending debut for Scuderia Ferrari is fast approaching, marking what will undoubtedly be one of the most historic moments in Formula 1 history.
The seven-time world champion is set to join the most successful team in the sport after an extraordinary 12-year tenure at Mercedes. During his time with the Silver Arrows, Lewis Hamilton secured six titles between 2014 and 2020, solidifying his place as one of the greatest F1 drivers in history. Hamilton has signed a multi-year contract with Ferrari, likely his final move in the sport, and at 40 years old, he is chasing his eighth world championship with the iconic Italian team.
Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari sees him seeking to replicate the success of Michael Schumacher, striving to secure a title with his iconic number 44 on the famous red car. Maurice Trintignant remains the only driver to have won for Ferrari with the number 44, and Hamilton is determined to become the second.
By joining Ferrari, Hamilton becomes the 12th British driver to race for the team and the first to do so as a full-time driver since 1999. But how have his British predecessors fared over the years? Here’s a ranking of every British Ferrari driver ahead of Hamilton’s highly anticipated debut.
11. Derek Bell
Derek Bell’s career in motorsport spanned several years, but his time with Ferrari was brief, with just two F1 appearances in 1968. Competing at Monza and Watkins Glen that season, Bell was forced to retire in both races. He briefly raced for McLaren in 1969, retiring again, before making sporadic appearances in F1 until his retirement in 1974.
10. Jonathan Williams
Jonathan Williams’ time with Ferrari was also incredibly brief. His only F1 appearance for the team came at the 1967 Mexican Grand Prix, where he finished in eighth place. Williams left F1 shortly after, shifting to the European Formula 2 Championship.
9. Oliver Bearman
As the youngest British driver on this list, Oliver Bearman made his F1 debut with Ferrari at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, stepping in for Carlos Sainz, who withdrew due to appendicitis. At just 18 years old, Ollie Bearman impressed by securing pole position in F2 and qualifying 11th in his Ferrari debut, narrowly missing out on Q3. He finished the race in seventh, ahead of Lando Norris and even Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari junior will race full-time for Haas in 2025, but it’s widely expected that he will join Ferrari as a full-time driver in the near future.
8. Cliff Allison
Cliff Allison joined Ferrari in 1959 after racing for Lotus the previous year. He made an immediate impact, scoring points in his first season with Ferrari, including a fifth-place finish at Monza. His best result came in Argentina with a second-place finish, but his promising career was marred by a horrific crash at Monaco, leaving him with severe injuries. Incredibly, when he regained consciousness in the hospital, he was speaking French—despite never having learned the language. Allison would return to F1 in 1961 but ultimately retired after a crash in Belgium ended his career.
7. Mike Parkes
Mike Parkes joined Ferrari in 1966 and quickly made a name for himself, securing two podium finishes that year, including a second place at both Reims and Monza. Although Parkes won two non-championship races in 1967, his F1 career ended abruptly after a serious accident in Belgium. He would later transition to an engineering role with Ferrari.
6. Tony Brooks
Tony Brooks was one of F1’s top talents in the late 1950s, particularly with Vanwall, where he won four races. He joined Ferrari in 1959, winning two races and challenging for the championship. However, in the final race of the season at Sebring, Brooks’ chances of securing the title were dashed after an incident with Wolfgang von Trips. He finished third, losing the title by just four points. After leaving F1 in 1961, Brooks did not win another race.
5. Nigel Mansell
Nigel Mansell, regarded as one of Britain’s finest F1 drivers, won the 1992 World Championship with Williams. However, his time at Ferrari was less successful. Mansell joined the team in 1989, partnering with Gerhard Berger, but struggled with reliability issues. Despite winning 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 faced continued problems with the car. Despite winning three races for Ferrari, Mansell’s time with the team was overshadowed by mechanical failures and inconsistency.
4. Peter Collins
Peter Collins joined Ferrari in 1956 and quickly earned the respect of Enzo Ferrari, especially after helping Juan Manuel Fangio win the championship. In one memorable act of sportsmanship, Collins gave up his car to Fangio after the Argentine crashed, allowing him to finish second and secure the title. Collins won two races for Ferrari in 1956, finishing third in the standings. His third and final win for the team came at Silverstone in 1958 before his tragic death in a crash at the Nürburgring.
3. Eddie Irvine
Eddie Irvine joined Ferrari in 1996 after three years with Jordan and spent four seasons as Michael Schumacher’s teammate. His first year with Ferrari was challenging, as he suffered 10 retirements in a season marred by mechanical issues. From 1997 onwards, Irvine began to secure regular podiums. In 1999, he became Ferrari’s lead driver after Schumacher’s leg injury and came close to winning the championship, battling Mika Häkkinen for the title but narrowly losing by two points. Irvine retired from F1 after racing for Jaguar.
2. John Surtees
John Surtees is the most recent British driver to win a championship with the Maranello team, securing the 1964 title. John Surtees joined Ferrari in 1963 and won his first race that year at the Nürburgring. He went on to win two more races in 1964, securing the title by just one point over compatriot Graham Hill. Surtees left Ferrari in 1966 after a falling-out with the team, and although he continued racing until the mid-1970s, he later established his own team.
1. Mike Hawthorn
Mike Hawthorn made history as the first British driver to win the F1 World Championship, achieving this milestone in 1958 with the Italian side. Mike Hawthorn joined the Maranello team in 1953, earning third place in the standings the following year. After a brief departure in 1955, he returned to Ferrari in 1957, determined to secure the title. Hawthorn’s consistent performances helped him win the 1958 championship by just one point, despite Stirling Moss winning more races. Tragically, Hawthorn retired from F1 after winning the title and died in a road accident three months later.
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