Nigel Mansell
One of only two drivers to hold both the F1 World Championship and the American open-wheel National Championship simultaneously.
Nigel Ernest James Mansell (born 8 August 1953) is a British former racing driver who competed in Formula One. Mansell won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship with Williams, and won 31 Grands Prix across 15 seasons. In American open-wheel racing, Mansell won the IndyCar World Series in 1993 with Newman/Haas Racing, and is one of only two drivers to have simultaneously held both the World Drivers' Championship and the American open-wheel National Championship, alongside Mario Andretti.
- role
- Driver
- team
- Williams
- championship_year
- 1992
- nationality
- British
- status
- Retired
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Mansell's career in Formula One spanned 15 seasons, with his final two full seasons of top-level racing being spent in the CART series. He was the reigning F1 champion when he moved to CART, becoming the first person to win the CART title in his debut season, and making him one of only two drivers to have held both the World Drivers' Championship and the American open-wheel National Championship simultaneously, the other being Mario Andretti. Mansell is one of the most successful British Formula One drivers of all time in terms of race wins with 31 victories, and is eighth overall on the Formula One race winners list. He held the record for the most pole positions set in a single season, which was broken by Sebastian Vettel. He was the last Formula One driver to win a Grand Prix over the age of 40 with his win at the 1994 Australian Grand Prix, until Lewis Hamilton's win at the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
In Their Own Story
The source details specific moments from his early career that defined his resilience. In 1976, he won six of nine races in Formula Ford, despite suffering a broken neck in a qualifying session at Brands Hatch just three weeks prior to the end of the season. Doctors told him he was perilously close to quadriplegia and would never drive again, yet Mansell discharged himself from the hospital and returned to racing. Later, while driving for Lotus in 1984, he famously collapsed while pushing his car to the finish line after a transmission failure on the last lap of the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix. He also overtook Alain Prost in a wet race at that same event before retiring due to losing control on slippery painted lines.
Reader's Guide
Mansell raced in the Grand Prix Masters series in 2005, and won the championship title. He later signed a one-off race deal for the Scuderia Ecosse GT race team to drive their number 63 Ferrari F430 GT2 car at Silverstone on 6 May 2007. He has since competed in additional sports car races with his sons Leo and Greg, including the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans, and was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2005.
Did You Know?
- Mansell is one of only two drivers to have simultaneously held both the Formula One World Drivers' Championship and the American open-wheel National Championship, alongside Mario Andretti.
- He was the last Formula One driver to win a Grand Prix over the age of 40 with his win at the 1994 Australian Grand Prix, until Lewis Hamilton's win at the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nigel Mansell?
Nigel Mansell is a British former Formula One driver who competed from 1980 through 1995. He is widely known by his nickname "The Lion" and is regarded as one of the greatest British racers of all time.
What was Nigel Mansell's role at Williams Racing?
Mansell served as a race driver for the Williams team, where he achieved his most celebrated result by claiming the 1992 World Drivers' Championship. His time at Williams represents the peak of his competitive career.
When did Nigel Mansell win the World Drivers' Championship?
He secured the title in 1992 while driving for Williams, a season that cemented his reputation as a global motorsport icon. It was the culmination of his tenure with the British team.
How many Grand Prix victories does Nigel Mansell have?
Over the course of 15 seasons, Mansell took 31 race wins in Formula One. That places him eighth on the all-time list of F1 race winners.
Why is Nigel Mansell important to Williams Racing's legacy?
His 1992 championship year is one of the defining moments in Williams' history, showcasing the team's dominance during that era. As a retired driver, he remains a symbolic figure associated with the team's golden period.
More in Drivers & Key Personnel
Related in Williams Racing
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Elsewhere in the Williams Racing universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record