Nigel Mansell

The Lion: A driver who survived broken bones to win 31 Grands Prix and hold two world titles simultaneously.

via Wikipedia: Nigel Mansell · see source

Nigel Mansell is a British former racing driver who competed in Formula One from 1980 to 1995. He won the World Drivers' Championship in 1992 with Williams and secured 31 Grand Prix victories across 15 seasons. While he later achieved historic success in American open-wheel racing, his career began with significant struggles at Lotus before moving to other teams.

Quick Facts

Birth name: Nigel Ernest James Mansell
Born: 8 August 1953
Birthplace: Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, England
Spouse: Roseanne (1975)

Lore & Background

Mansell's path to the top was paved with physical peril and financial risk. After quitting his job as an aerospace engineer in 1976, he financed his own rise through Formula Ford, winning 33 of 42 races in 1977 despite suffering a broken neck at Brands Hatch that doctors claimed would end his career. He returned to racing just weeks later. His Formula One debut in 1980 with Lotus was marred by burns from a fuel leak and mechanical failures. Throughout the 1980–1984 period, he struggled with unreliable cars and an often strained relationship with teammate Elio de Angelis, finishing only 24 of his 59 starts with the team. Despite these hardships, he secured five third-place finishes and his first pole position in 1984 before leaving Lotus for Williams.

Reader's Guide

Nigel Mansell's career is defined by resilience and record-breaking achievements. He holds 31 Grand Prix victories, placing him eighth on the all-time list behind Lewis Hamilton. He was the only driver to simultaneously hold the Formula One World Drivers' Championship (won in 1992 with Williams) and the American open-wheel National Championship (won in 1993 with Newman/Haas Racing). His dominance included setting a record for most pole positions in a single season, which stood until Sebastian Vettel broke it in 2011. Mansell remains the last driver to win a Grand Prix over the age of 40, achieving this at the 1994 Australian Grand Prix. Beyond Formula One, he won the Grand Prix Masters series in 2005 and competed in sports car races with his sons, including the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Did You Know?

Doctors told Mansell he would never drive again after a broken neck in a 1976 qualifying session, yet he discharged himself and returned to racing weeks later.
In 1982, team principal Peter Warr noted that Mansell was out-qualified by teammate Elio de Angelis ten times to three.