How Britain dominates Formula One
Wednesday, July 25th, 2012 | Distractions, Thoughts
Given our recent blows in the sporting world (we’ve just lost at the European Cup, and by the time I publish this I’m sure Andy Murray will be out of Wimbledon too), it’s easy to think that we’re just rubbish at sport (as a nation).
But there is at least one sport were Britain dominates the world – Formula One. Although a lot of the key names thrown around are people like Vettel and Schumacher, when you look at the figures, Formula One simply revolves around this country. Here are some key figures.
- 8 of the 12 manufacturers are based in Britain
- 9 of the 14 technical directors are British
- 2 of the 4 engine manufacturers are based in Britain
- Britain has 3 drivers – only Germany has more (with 5), everyone else has less (Finland, Australia, Spain, France and Brazil have 2)
Here is a full breakdown of each team and where they are from. I’ve highlighed the British connections in yellow, though with hindsight, I probably should have highlighed the non-British connections!
Team
Nationality
Key people
History
Engine
Caterham
Malaysian, but based in British
Mike Gascoyne (technical director) and Mark Smith (technical director) are both British
Originally British, until Tony Fernandes bought Caterham Cars
Renault
Ferrari
Italian
Pat Fry (technical director) is British
Ferrari
Force India
Indian, but based in Britain
Andrew Green (technical director) are Paul di Resta (driver) are British.
Buy out of Eddie Jordan’s team.
Mercedes AMG
HRT
Spanish
Cosworth
Lotus
British
James Allison (technical director) is British
Originally Toleman Motorsport (British)
Renault
Marrusia
Russian, but based in Britain
John Booth (team principal) is British
Founded by Manor Motorsport and Wirth Research (both British). Taken on by Virgin Racing (British).
Cosworth
McLaren
British
Martin Whitmarsh (team principal), Neil Oatley (technical director), Jenson Button (driver), Lewis Hamilton (driver) are all British.
Founded by New Zealander Bruce McLaren.
Mercedes AMG
Mercedes
German, but based in Britain
Ross Brawn (team principal), Nick Fry (CEO) and Bob Bell (technical director) are all British.
Mercedes AGM is a separate company – a buy out of British engine manufacturers Ilmor.
Mercedes AMG
Red Bull
Austrian, but based in Britain
Christian Horner (team principal) and Adrian Newey (technical director) are both British.
Originally Stewart Racing, founded by British driver Sir Jackie Stewart
Renault
Sauber
Swiss
Ferrari
Toro Rosso
Austrian, but based in Italy
Ferrari
Williams
British
Sir Frank Williams (team principal) and Mike Coughlan (technical director) are both British.
Founded by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head.
Renault
…and this is before I’ve even founded Worfolk Racing.
Given our recent blows in the sporting world (we’ve just lost at the European Cup, and by the time I publish this I’m sure Andy Murray will be out of Wimbledon too), it’s easy to think that we’re just rubbish at sport (as a nation).
But there is at least one sport were Britain dominates the world – Formula One. Although a lot of the key names thrown around are people like Vettel and Schumacher, when you look at the figures, Formula One simply revolves around this country. Here are some key figures.
- 8 of the 12 manufacturers are based in Britain
- 9 of the 14 technical directors are British
- 2 of the 4 engine manufacturers are based in Britain
- Britain has 3 drivers – only Germany has more (with 5), everyone else has less (Finland, Australia, Spain, France and Brazil have 2)
Here is a full breakdown of each team and where they are from. I’ve highlighed the British connections in yellow, though with hindsight, I probably should have highlighed the non-British connections!
| Team | Nationality | Key people | History | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caterham | Malaysian, but based in British | Mike Gascoyne (technical director) and Mark Smith (technical director) are both British | Originally British, until Tony Fernandes bought Caterham Cars | Renault |
| Ferrari | Italian | Pat Fry (technical director) is British | Ferrari | |
| Force India | Indian, but based in Britain | Andrew Green (technical director) are Paul di Resta (driver) are British. | Buy out of Eddie Jordan’s team. | Mercedes AMG |
| HRT | Spanish | Cosworth | ||
| Lotus | British | James Allison (technical director) is British | Originally Toleman Motorsport (British) | Renault |
| Marrusia | Russian, but based in Britain | John Booth (team principal) is British | Founded by Manor Motorsport and Wirth Research (both British). Taken on by Virgin Racing (British). | Cosworth |
| McLaren | British | Martin Whitmarsh (team principal), Neil Oatley (technical director), Jenson Button (driver), Lewis Hamilton (driver) are all British. | Founded by New Zealander Bruce McLaren. | Mercedes AMG |
| Mercedes | German, but based in Britain | Ross Brawn (team principal), Nick Fry (CEO) and Bob Bell (technical director) are all British. | Mercedes AGM is a separate company – a buy out of British engine manufacturers Ilmor. | Mercedes AMG |
| Red Bull | Austrian, but based in Britain | Christian Horner (team principal) and Adrian Newey (technical director) are both British. | Originally Stewart Racing, founded by British driver Sir Jackie Stewart | Renault |
| Sauber | Swiss | Ferrari | ||
| Toro Rosso | Austrian, but based in Italy | Ferrari | ||
| Williams | British | Sir Frank Williams (team principal) and Mike Coughlan (technical director) are both British. | Founded by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head. | Renault |
…and this is before I’ve even founded Worfolk Racing.