Silverstone, 1991: Nigel Mansell delivers one of the most dominant performances of his career — a Grand Slam on home soil that sends the crowd into raptures and ends with an unforgettable gesture of sportsmanship, offering a lift to a stranded Ayrton Senna.

In this episode of Chequered Past, we relive that extraordinary day and explore the events that shaped it — from the collision that ended Riccardo Patrese’s race on lap one to the wild track invasion that crowned Mansell a national hero.

We also rewind to 1979, when Clay Regazzoni gave the fledgling Williams team its first Grand Prix win, and to 1973, when Silverstone’s opening lap turned into a demolition derby in one of F1’s most notorious pile-ups.

Three British Grands Prix. One iconic circuit. And the kind of stories that remind us why we fell in love with Formula 1 in the first place.

Music by #Mubert Music Rendering

On this day in Formula One history, drama unfolded at every turn.

In our main story, we revisit the 1997 British Grand Prix, where Jacques Villeneuve overcame a disastrous pit stop and the might of Michael Schumacher to seize a vital victory at Silverstone. It was a race that defined his championship charge — and tested his resilience to the limit.

We also head back to 1986 and the final F1 race at Brands Hatch, where Nigel Mansell delighted the home crowd with a stunning win amid turbocharged tension and a terrifying first-lap pile-up that ended Jacques Laffite’s career. Behind the celebrations, resentment simmered in the Williams garage as Nelson Piquet questioned his role in the team’s title fight.

And we pay tribute to one of the sport’s earliest icons — Alberto Ascari — born on this day in 1918. A two-time world champion, Ascari brought precision and calm to the chaos of 1950s Grand Prix racing and became Ferrari’s first true legend.

From comeback wins to career-ending crashes, this episode captures the highs, lows, and legacies of July 13 in F1 history.

Music by #Mubert Music Rendering

In this episode of Chequered Past, we relive the move that lit up Silverstone—Nigel Mansell’s unforgettable overtake on teammate Nelson Piquet during the 1987 British Grand Prix. With fresh tyres, relentless pace, and a roaring home crowd behind him, Mansell produced one of the most iconic moments in Formula One history.

We also celebrate the birthday of Guy Ligier, the no-nonsense Frenchman who transformed from rugby bruiser to F1 team boss and built a team that became a national institution. And we revisit the controversial and confusing finish to the 1998 British Grand Prix, where Michael Schumacher somehow won while serving a penalty… in the pit lane.

It’s a story of daring drives, eccentric team owners, and one very peculiar chequered flag.

Original Image: Honda Racing Gallery 1987 Williams FW11B Nelson Piquet

Creator: BWard 1997

Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Image has been adapted

Music by #Mubert Music Rendering