Words by: Tim Bowdler
Photos by: Getty Images
Motorsport magazine F1 Racing has revealed the top 100 grand prix drivers, voted for by its readers.
Now, here's the thing. Lewis Hamilton came in at number 15, ahead of fellow Brits Graham Hill (18), Damon Hill (19), James Hunt (20), John Surtees (26) and Mike Hawthorn (53) - all of whom were F1 world champions.
So, has Hamilton-mania gone overboard? Surely it's a bit early to start putting a bloke, who has only done one season of F1, alongside multiple world champions?
We have every right to celebrate Hamilton - he's a Brit after all - but who is the best home-grown driver ever? Here's our take.
5. Damon Hill
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Championships 1, GPs contested 122, wins 22
Hill was under-rated as a driver and suffered the same problem as Moss - he happened to be racing the same time as the most successful driver in the sport, Michael Schumacher.
Hill arrived at the wrong time. His F1 debut was in a Brabham - a quite useless vehicle - and then learned the ropes at Williams before taking over as team leader after Senna's death at Imola in 1994. He responded admirably and took the title to the wire in Adelaide until Schumacher barged him off the track. He was hopeless in 1995, and returned rejuvenated in 1996 to take the title. He was always regarded as second best to Schumacher, and he was, but that's no bad thing.
