For 30 years from the mid-1950s, Silverstone shared the honour of hosting the British Grand Prix, first with Aintree and then with the far more inspiring Brands Hatch. Brands remains beloved for both racing drivers and fans, but let’s face it, even by 1986 standards Formula 1 had begun to outgrow its wooded confines. Silverstone, in contrast, had the space to evolve and transform with the changing times.

Has it lost something along the way? Some would say yes. Then again in today’s cut-throat world of globalised race hosting, circuits must evolve or die and Silverstone is doing all it can to ensure it is not outflanked by competitors. Today, Silverstone is a true epicentre for British motor sport, and whatever your view of the track’s modern iteration, it often tends to host the best F1 races of the year.

On that point, the anniversary spurred us to consider Silverstone’s best British Grands Prix, and limit it to 10. Not easy, given that there have been 56 in the world championship era since 1950. But in the name of provoking a bit of (good-natured) debate, here’s our (entirely subjective) rundown from 10 to 1.

10 – 1951 Ferrari’s cherry pop

For best, also read significant – and few British GPs have carried greater resonance. He’d already claimed pole position with Silverstone’s first 100mph lap, now José Frolián González beat Fangio to score Ferrari’s maiden points-scoring Formula 1 victory. The Pampus Bull diced with and saw off the Maestro as V12 grunt defeated the dominant Alfetta 159 that was finally beginning to wheeze in its old age. A passing of the baton.

9 – 1975 What a shower

Tom Pryce on pole, a brief Tony Brise cameo, James Hunt leading for Hesketh… Whatever next? Intermittent and localised showers triggered an afternoon of British GP mayhem, until a final heavy squall caused a 12-car pile-up at Stowe and Club and an early bath for the already drenched survivors – after just 1hr 22min. Emerson Fittipaldi kept his head amid the chaos to win for McLaren, his last top-step visit in F1.

8 – 2020 Hamilton’s three-wheeler

We almost included the second Silverstone F1 race that took place in a single week from this weird Covid-ravaged season. But Max Verstappen’s shock victory was in the 70th Anniversary GP, not a genuine British GP – so let’s go for the first (and official) one. But it only makes the cut for the nail-biting finish. Lewis Hamilton was cruising to his 87th F1 win when his left-front Pirelli began to unravel on the last lap. Verstappen chased – but a three-wheeling Hamilton just made it. A shame it was behind closed doors.

7 – 1973 When Revson was all made up

Jody Scheckter’s infamous pile-up is described on page 78, but once it restarted this one still had plenty more to give. Jackie Stewart’s cornfield excursion (see page 49) is seared into British GP lore, then it was McLaren versus Lotus until a light shower aided Peter Revson – heir to the Revlon cosmetics empire – in his bid to defeat Ronnie Peterson for a surprise first win.

6 – 1981 Wattie’s home joy

A race of bizarre attrition, but what drama. And no one was about to begrudge John Watson his second grand prix win, nearly five years since his first. René Arnoux’s failing Renault finally went kaput eight laps from the end… and the crowd went wild. Also a landmark for new Ron Dennis-era McLaren and carbon-fibre composite F1 design.

5 – 2008 Hamilton’s finest

He’s won a record eight British GPs, but the first one stands out – arguably among all of Lewis Hamilton’s astonishing 103 career wins. This race was far from a wheel-to-wheel thriller, but we rank it so high because the drive was that special – a wet-weather masterclass for the ages. Hamilton was only 23, and in his sophomore season we knew he was good. But how he obliterated his rivals, to beat next-best Nick Heidfeld by 1min 8sec… A marker for a new generation.

4 – 2022 Sainz of the times

A modern classic that had it all. Zhou Guanyu’s crash was scary, but the outcome was happy. Then once they got going there were thrilling wheel-to-wheel battles more akin to a Formula Ford Walter Hayes Trophy than a British GP. There was also intra-team strategy intrigue as Ferrari let down Charles Leclerc in his title bid (on an off-day for Red Bull), in favour of Carlos Sainz Jr – a popular first-time winner. More of this come July 9, please.

3 – 1969 The closest duel

Good friends, the best of rivals. Jackie Stewart vs Jochen Rindt, Matra vs Lotus, was near-perfect. Lap after lap they went at it, leaving the rest in their wake – until the spell was broken. On lap 63 of 84 Stewart indicated to his friend that an errant rear wing endplate was threatening to puncture a tyre and Rindt was forced to pit. But what magic while it lasted.

2 – 1965 Clark wins clever

He was coasting, as usual. But this time it was too easy as the Climax in the back of Jim Clark’s Lotus 33 began to lose its oil. He had a 34sec lead, but this would need smart management if he was to win his home GP on a fourth successive occasion. So he began switching the sick V8 off in the corners to prevent oil-surge, then flicked it back on for the straight bits. Graham Hill, nursing fading brakes, closed, closed, closed… until they were 3.4sec apart at the flag. Phew!

1 – 1987  Mansell sells his dummy

Nelson Piquet had nearly 30sec on the other Williams of Nigel Mansell, after vibrations caused by a lost wheel balance weight had forced the home hero to pit. But now Mansell was on a charge. The gap came down as Red Five lowered the lap record time after time, until they were together. Then Mansell sold his audacious dummy, Piquet bought it and the FW11s swung into Stowe inches apart. Cue hysteria. Only at Silverstone.