Ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, we’re asking you: who is currently the nation’s best Formula 1 driver?
It’s a topic that wasn’t up for debate over the past decade and beyond with Lewis Hamilton dominating the sport, but George Russell and Lando Norris are now approaching the prime of their careers as the seven-time world champion nears the end of his.
Russell confirmed his pedigree with his performances as Hamilton’s team-mate from 2022-2024 and only appears to be getting better having become Mercedes’ lead driver.
Norris is Britain’s best hope for a Drivers’ Championship this year and showed his steel as recently at last weekend to claim a crucial Austrian Grand Prix victory.
Hamilton has endured a tough start to life at Ferrari, but what better occasion for the 40-year-old to offer a reminder of his brilliance than at an event he has made his own with a record nine victories.
Sky Sports’ digital journalists have put forward cases as to why each of the trio should be considered the top Brit. Take in our thoughts and then have your say by voting below.
The case for George Russell
George Russell snatches the position from Max Verstappen to take pole in Montreal
Forget being the best Brit in F1 right now, George Russell has to be seen as the driver currently closest to matching the sublime standard set by Max Verstappen.
He exceeded expectations by out-scoring Lewis Hamilton in two of their three seasons as team-mates and absolutely dominated the all-time great in qualifying during their final campaign together.
Russell appears to have embraced becoming de facto team leader at Mercedes, dragging the absolute maximum out of an inconsistent car to claim a victory and four further podiums across the opening 11 rounds of the season.
Highlights of the Canadian Grand Prix from the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montreal
He continues to live up the ‘Mr Saturday’ nickname he earned during his Williams days, with there being little doubt that he will snaffle any opportunity that arises to take a pole position or high grid slot.
But it’s on a Sunday where he appears to have really developed, with occasional errors or lapses in concentration seen in the past eradicated, at least to this point.
A Silverstone victory might be exactly what Russell needs to catapult himself into the domestic stardom he is destined for.
The case for Lando Norris
McLaren’s Lando Norris fought team-mate Oscar Piastri to take the win at the Austrian GP after a race-long battle
If we are literally answering the question of “right now”, you can’t look past F1’s most recent race-winner in Lando Norris…
Norris was given the joint-second best rating by Sky Sports for the 2024 F1 season alongside Charles Leclerc and behind world champion Max Verstappen.
The 24-year-old is widely seen to have endured a difficult season with a series of mistakes, particularly in qualifying when the pressure matters most, yet is still only 15 points behind the highly-rated Oscar Piastri.
Lando Norris takes pole in Monaco with a new track record pipping hometown driver Charles Leclerc
Norris’ task of shining against Piastri is significantly more difficult than Russell’s at Mercedes versus Kimi Antonelli. Granted, Hamilton has the toughest job at Ferrari with Leclerc as his team-mate, but he has been unable to get close to the Monegasque driver.
There is an argument that Norris is the fastest of the British drivers. He took the joint-most pole positions in 2024 and his race pace is generally stronger than Piastri’s.
He has a more cautious racing style than Russell but still has the punchiness to go for and pull off some great moves, like he did in Imola to pass Piastri and last weekend in Austria to reclaim the lead from his team-mate moments after being overtaken.
The case for Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton was emotional on team radio after a stirring win at the 2024 British Grand Prix
As the old phrase goes, form is temporary, class is permanent. So even at 40 years of age and being halfway through a challenging first season at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton shouldn’t be easily discounted in such a debate regarding the right here and right now despite the impressive 2025 candidature of his younger compatriots.
Of course, there’s absolutely no discussion required around who the most successful driver of the three leading Brits is – that’s clearly seven-time champion Hamilton, and still by a big margin right now as his glittering CV shows. Many say he is not only F1’s statistical GOAT, but the GOAT full stop.
His head-to-head with Russell in their final season together at Mercedes, and so far against Charles Leclerc in their first at Ferrari, points in the younger drivers’ favours (although Hamilton did pip Russell on points overall in their three seasons as team-mates). But Hamilton will be determined to ensure that this recent trend doesn’t become the baked-in one for the remaining autumn years of his career. And who could say for sure that it will?
Martin Brundle takes you through all the best ways to win the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where last year, Lewis Hamilton claimed a record-breaking ninth win at one circuit
Do these current cars just not suit him whatever he tries? Will the 2026 rules change switch things back in his favour, particularly once he is completely settled in at Ferrari? Is there still magic in reserve to unleash if and when the big prizes – the regular wins, the world titles – he was so used to competing for before 2022 are realistically up for grabs again?
Who truly knows but, even if he has lost a smidge of outright pace or precision compared to his younger days – which, frankly, for any driver racing into their late 30s or 40s is surely inevitable at some point – as a challenging race like Silverstone 2024 showed, you still underestimate Lewis Hamilton at your absolute peril. He’s been there, done that.
Vote here!
Sky Sports F1’s British GP schedule
Thursday July 3
2pm: Drivers’ Press Conference
6pm: The F1 Show Special
Friday July 4
8.45am: F3 Practice
9.55am: F2 Practice
12pm: British GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.35pm: British GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show
Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the British Grand Prix
Saturday July 5
9.10am: F3 Sprint
11.15pm: British GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: British GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: BRITISH GP QUALIFYING*
4.55pm: F4 Race 1
5.40pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday July 6
8.15am: F4 Race 2
9.25am: F3 Feature Race
11am: F2 Feature Race
1.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: British GP build-up*
3pm: THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX*
5pm: Chequered Flag: British GP reaction*
6pm: Ted’s Notebook*
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Next up in the 2025 Formula 1 season is the big one, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone – live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Showcase with coverage from Thursday to Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Jurickson Profar apologizes to teammates for PED suspension, then homers in Braves win
ATLANTA — Jurickson Profar returned from an 80-day PED suspension Wednesday, did his first interview since the penalty was handed down four games into his first season with the Braves, and played his first game since that ignominious day.The interview didn’t go particularly well regarding his explanation for the positive test, but then Profar did the only thing he likely could do to win back fans: He contributed to a win.AdvertisementHe was 2-for-4 with a single and his first home run as a Brave in an 8-3 win against the Los Angeles Angels in his first home game at Truist Park. Profar turned the boos that he got after a first-inning bases-loaded strikeout to cheers when his towering leadoff homer in the seventh sailed inside the right-field foul pole. Fans gave him a loud ovation.“They did?” he said, smiling. “I […]
Clayton Kershaw records his 3,000th career strikeout: Dodgers pitcher is just 20th to hit benchmark
There is a new member of the 3,000-strikeout club. On Wednesday night, Los Angeles Dodgers icon Clayton Kershaw became the 20th pitcher in baseball history to record 3,000 career strikeouts, and only the fourth left-hander. He fanned Vinny Capra of the Chicago White Sox for the milestone strikeout in the top of the sixth.Here is Kershaw's historic 3,000th strikeout: The milestone pitch was an 85.3-mph slider that caught the outside corner for strike three against Capra. It was Kershaw's 100th and final pitch of the night -- the first time he'd registered 100 pitches in a start since 2023. Next came the Dodger Stadium curtain call: Overall, Kershaw on Wednesday went six innings and allowed four runs, all earned, on nine hits with three strikeouts and a walk. At the time of his exit, the Dodgers trailed 4-2 (CHW-LAD GameTracker). Kershaw on […]
Football Architects: Rebuilding Ajax’s famous academy in Johan Cruyff’s image
This is the first of a six-part series looking at figures who have played a pivotal role in a modern football success story.“People thought, when the Plan Cruyff started, that nobody cared anymore if the youth sides won,” says Jasper van Leeuwen. “That’s not true. If you walk through the gates of Ajax as a player, you have to want to win. That has to be in your DNA.“But you, as a coach, should not do everything in your power to win the match. I remember once joking with the under-15 coach. I said: ‘Look, if being under-15 champion is so important, then why is it never in the newspaper?’. It never is because it is not important. It’s important for you, but not for the world in general.Advertisement“What is important is for you to develop the super talent in […]
With Jenni Hermoso left out, who will be Spain’s star striker at Euro 2025?
“No door is closed to any player.”Those were the words of Spain’s head coach Montse Tome at a news conference in May as she announced yet another squad without Jenni Hermoso.It was the fourth time in a row that Hermoso, Spain’s all-time top scorer with 57 goals, was left out. She was La Roja’s starting centre-forward as they lifted the 2023 World Cup but has not appeared in any squad for her national team since October.Advertisement“I am clear about what I want from the team, what I want from the players when they are off the pitch: that camaraderie, that poise,” Tome said in November 2024, when she omitted Hermoso for the first time. “We want to launch that line of work and that is where we are going to focus.”Back then, Hermoso was left out along with Irene Paredes […]
What it takes to lead Manchester United’s academy: ‘DNA’, talent-spotting and toast tutorials
Leading Manchester United’s academy is no ordinary backroom role. The club’s heritage of developing young talent is unparalleled in English football, so whoever is tasked with running it has expectations which far outweigh those at other clubs.“It’s not a football club, it’s an institution,” says Nicky Butt, who was United’s head of academy between 2016 to 2019, having also graduated through the system as a player by winning the FA Youth Cup in 1992. “You have to have some knowledge of the history, and what it means to represent the football club.”AdvertisementUnited now need a new man to take on that unique responsibility. Nick Cox, who took over from Butt six years ago, is leaving United to become technical director at Everton once his replacement is found. It is another major task for United’s director of football Jason Wilcox.Heading United’s academy is […]
Jednička i dvojka. Čeští hokejisté zářili na speciálním draftu do kanadských juniorek
Týmy kanadských juniorských soutěží, pod které spadají OHL, WHL a QMJHL, si ve středu večer vybíraly největší talenty z Evropy v takzvaném import draftu. Tomáše Poletína zvolila Kelowna Rockets jako jedničku, což se mu podařilo jako prvnímu Čechovi od roku 2014 (Pavel Zacha). Benák šel jako druhý do Brentfordu.Oba před pár dny uspěli také při výběru nováčků NHL, kde byli také blízko sebe. Benáka si jako 102. celkově vybrala Minnesota, Poletín šel o čtyři místa za ním do New Yorku Islanders. Do první desítky import draftu kanadské juniorky se dostali ještě Daniel Pekař (7. do Kelowny), Ondřej Ruml (8. do Ottawy 67’s) a Tobiáš Tvrzník (10. do Wenatchee).Letošním výběrem nejlepších nováčků prošlo hned 35 Čechů, z toho šest brankářů. Tomáš Poletín by se v týmu dokonce mohl objevit se svým mladším bratrem Františkem. Toho si Kelowna vybrala ve třetím kole jako 132. celkově. Sourozenci se spolu letos představili na mistrovství světa hráčů do […]
Related
Jurickson Profar apologizes to teammates for PED suspension, then homers in Braves win
ATLANTA — Jurickson Profar returned from an 80-day PED suspension Wednesday, did his first interview since the penalty was handed down four games into his first season with the Braves, and played his first game since that ignominious day.The interview didn’t go particularly well regarding his explanation for the positive test, but then Profar did the only thing he likely could do to win back fans: He contributed to a win.AdvertisementHe was 2-for-4 with a single and his first home run as a Brave in an 8-3 win against the Los Angeles Angels in his first home game at Truist Park. Profar turned the boos that he got after a first-inning bases-loaded strikeout to cheers when his towering leadoff homer in the seventh sailed inside the right-field foul pole. Fans gave him a loud ovation.“They did?” he said, smiling. “I […]
Clayton Kershaw records his 3,000th career strikeout: Dodgers pitcher is just 20th to hit benchmark
There is a new member of the 3,000-strikeout club. On Wednesday night, Los Angeles Dodgers icon Clayton Kershaw became the 20th pitcher in baseball history to record 3,000 career strikeouts, and only the fourth left-hander. He fanned Vinny Capra of the Chicago White Sox for the milestone strikeout in the top of the sixth.Here is Kershaw's historic 3,000th strikeout: The milestone pitch was an 85.3-mph slider that caught the outside corner for strike three against Capra. It was Kershaw's 100th and final pitch of the night -- the first time he'd registered 100 pitches in a start since 2023. Next came the Dodger Stadium curtain call: Overall, Kershaw on Wednesday went six innings and allowed four runs, all earned, on nine hits with three strikeouts and a walk. At the time of his exit, the Dodgers trailed 4-2 (CHW-LAD GameTracker). Kershaw on […]
Football Architects: Rebuilding Ajax’s famous academy in Johan Cruyff’s image
This is the first of a six-part series looking at figures who have played a pivotal role in a modern football success story.“People thought, when the Plan Cruyff started, that nobody cared anymore if the youth sides won,” says Jasper van Leeuwen. “That’s not true. If you walk through the gates of Ajax as a player, you have to want to win. That has to be in your DNA.“But you, as a coach, should not do everything in your power to win the match. I remember once joking with the under-15 coach. I said: ‘Look, if being under-15 champion is so important, then why is it never in the newspaper?’. It never is because it is not important. It’s important for you, but not for the world in general.Advertisement“What is important is for you to develop the super talent in […]
With Jenni Hermoso left out, who will be Spain’s star striker at Euro 2025?
“No door is closed to any player.”Those were the words of Spain’s head coach Montse Tome at a news conference in May as she announced yet another squad without Jenni Hermoso.It was the fourth time in a row that Hermoso, Spain’s all-time top scorer with 57 goals, was left out. She was La Roja’s starting centre-forward as they lifted the 2023 World Cup but has not appeared in any squad for her national team since October.Advertisement“I am clear about what I want from the team, what I want from the players when they are off the pitch: that camaraderie, that poise,” Tome said in November 2024, when she omitted Hermoso for the first time. “We want to launch that line of work and that is where we are going to focus.”Back then, Hermoso was left out along with Irene Paredes […]
What it takes to lead Manchester United’s academy: ‘DNA’, talent-spotting and toast tutorials
Leading Manchester United’s academy is no ordinary backroom role. The club’s heritage of developing young talent is unparalleled in English football, so whoever is tasked with running it has expectations which far outweigh those at other clubs.“It’s not a football club, it’s an institution,” says Nicky Butt, who was United’s head of academy between 2016 to 2019, having also graduated through the system as a player by winning the FA Youth Cup in 1992. “You have to have some knowledge of the history, and what it means to represent the football club.”AdvertisementUnited now need a new man to take on that unique responsibility. Nick Cox, who took over from Butt six years ago, is leaving United to become technical director at Everton once his replacement is found. It is another major task for United’s director of football Jason Wilcox.Heading United’s academy is […]
Jednička i dvojka. Čeští hokejisté zářili na speciálním draftu do kanadských juniorek
Týmy kanadských juniorských soutěží, pod které spadají OHL, WHL a QMJHL, si ve středu večer vybíraly největší talenty z Evropy v takzvaném import draftu. Tomáše Poletína zvolila Kelowna Rockets jako jedničku, což se mu podařilo jako prvnímu Čechovi od roku 2014 (Pavel Zacha). Benák šel jako druhý do Brentfordu.Oba před pár dny uspěli také při výběru nováčků NHL, kde byli také blízko sebe. Benáka si jako 102. celkově vybrala Minnesota, Poletín šel o čtyři místa za ním do New Yorku Islanders. Do první desítky import draftu kanadské juniorky se dostali ještě Daniel Pekař (7. do Kelowny), Ondřej Ruml (8. do Ottawy 67’s) a Tobiáš Tvrzník (10. do Wenatchee).Letošním výběrem nejlepších nováčků prošlo hned 35 Čechů, z toho šest brankářů. Tomáš Poletín by se v týmu dokonce mohl objevit se svým mladším bratrem Františkem. Toho si Kelowna vybrala ve třetím kole jako 132. celkově. Sourozenci se spolu letos představili na mistrovství světa hráčů do […]
Be the first to leave a comment