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Best of the best: Eason’s top ten
Where does Jenson Button’s world-title
triumph put him on the grid of past
British Formula One champions?
assessment of their qualities and ranks
them from one to ten. You can read his
list of the top 50 drivers the world has
5 Jenson Button
Born: January 19, 1980
Grands prix: 169
Kevin Eason makes his controversial seen at www.timesonline.co.uk/f1
Wins: 7
World Championships: 1 (2009)
Just ask the experts: they all drool over
Button’s car control and intelligence in the
cockpit. Had to overcome demons to win his
long-awaited championship but could be
released now, with Ross Brawn’s guidance, into
being a truly great champion
10 Mike Hawthorn
Born: April 10, 1929 8 Damon Hill
Born: September 17, 1960
4 Graham Hill
Died: January 22, 1959
Grands prix: 45
Wins: 3
Grands prix: 115
Wins: 22 6 James Hunt
Born: August 29, 1947
Died: June 15, 1993
Born: February 15, 1929
Died: November 29, 1975
Grands prix: 176
World Championships: 1 (1996)
World Championships: 1 (1958) Grands prix: 92 Wins: 14
Unfortunate to have to race
Britain’s first champion and the quintessential against Schumacher at his most Wins: 10 World Championships: 2 (1962, 68)
English racer with his dashing looks. But won and respect for holding the World Championships: 1 (1976) One of Clark’s adversaries whose
his title in controversial circumstances when Williams team together after Flamboyant, intelligent and jokey exterior belied a ruthless streak.
Enzo Ferrari ordered Phil Hill, his team-mate, to the death of Ayrton Senna and with a surprisingly high strike Came to motor racing late in life but,
pull over so that Hawthorn could beat Stirling did prove himself by winning
2
rate. Hunt was the ultimate over a seven-year period, was a Sir Jackie Stewart
Moss to the championship an epic race for Jordan at Spa playboy driver who took his leading light, winning Monaco five Born: June 11, 1939
reckless spirit on to the track. times. Killed when the light plane he
9 John Surtees His bravery was outstanding, was piloting crashed on a golf course Grands prix: 99
though, and his dramatic single Wins: 27
Born: February 11, 1934
Grands prix: 111
Wins: 6
7 Lewis Hamilton
Born: January 7, 1985
Grands prix: 51
title made him a favourite for
millions
World Championships: 3 (1969, 71, 73)
The first millionaire racing driver,
who set the template for those who
World Championships: 1 (1964) Wins: 11 came later. A forensic mind for detail
Only man to be world World Championships: 1 (2008) allied to immaculate car control and
champion on two and four bravery marked out the little Scot as a
Youngest world champion
wheels, feisty Surtees was his
3
who had, arguably, his best Nigel Mansell true genius. Ended his career early,
own man who made up the otherwise there would have
season this year when made to Born: August 8, 1953
British quartet, including been more titles
struggle with a difficult
Stewart, Clark and Graham Hill, Grands prix: 187
McLaren. Splits opinion like few
who dominated Formula One in Wins: 31
others but nobody can doubt
the Sixties
the raw talent and utter World Championships: 1 (1992)
self-belief of a young man who The greatest box office draw in
will be a multiple champion Formula One — ever. Utterly divides
opinion, except among fans who adored
his swashbuckling style. The Everyman
of motor racing won his title in 1992 and
promptly won the IndyCar title at his first
attempt the following year
1 Jim Clark
Born: March 4, 1936
Died: April 7, 1968
Grands prix: 72
Wins: 25
World Championships: 2 (1963, 65)
The greatest, arguably, of all F1 drivers,
though his life was cut tragically short in a
minor Formula Two race at Hockenheim.
Could drive anything — and very fast. Even
his rivals were in awe of him at a time when
grand prix racing was hugely competitive
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