Lewis Hamilton joins long list of British Formula One champions

Great Britons - the nine home grown Formula One world champions:

Mike Hawthorn

1958 world champion

Aged 29

Blond, bow-tied hero from a dashing age. Saw too many friends killed on the track and retired after winning the title; killed in a road crash shortly thereafter.

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Graham Hill

1962 and 1968 world champion

Won first title aged 33

Slighted by some as a journeyman, but won in Monte Carlo five times and added victory in the Indianapolis 500 and Le Mans 24 hours to complete a unique triple crown.

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Jim Clark

1963 and 1965 world champion

Won first title aged 27

Perhaps the greatest natural talent in the sport of all time, would surely have won more world titles if not for his untimely death in an unimportant Formula Two race in 1968.

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John Surtees

1964 world champion

Aged 30

The only man ever to become world champion on two wheels and four, Surtees was a motorbike legend before switching to F1 with Ferrari. Later ran his own F1 team.

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Jackie Stewart

1969, 1971 and 1973 world champion

Won first title aged 29

Greatly gifted, determined and disciplined, Stewart was a pioneering campaigner for safety in the sport. Only F1 champion to later become a race winner as a team owner.

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James Hunt

1976 world champion

Aged 29

Charismatic wild boy made his name with the bubbly Hesketh team and became world champion with McLaren. Later a budgie breeder and popular TV commentator; sadly died young.

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Nigel Mansell

1992 world champion

Aged 39

"Our Nige" was regarded by his fellow drivers as the bravest of them all. Charismatically challenged off-track but a racer's racer. To Italian fans, will always be "Il leone".

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Damon Hill

1996 world champion

Aged 36

Former bike racer and gifted test driver who made the most of his late graduation to the grid. Only son ever to emulate an F1-title-winning father, but inherited no silver spoon.

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Lewis Hamilton

2008 world champion

Aged 23

Formula One's youngest-ever world champion, beating the record set by his Spanish rival Fernando Alonso. Talented go-karter with Senna-like speed, nurtured by the Mclaren machine.