The 70th Anniversary Grand Prix was a unique addition to the Formula One calendar, a one-off race created to celebrate seventy years since the first World Championship race at Silverstone in 1950.
Held on 9 August 2020 at the historic Silverstone Circuit, the event formed part of a revised schedule shaped by the global COVID 19 pandemic. It was the second of two consecutive races at Silverstone, following the 2020 British Grand Prix one week earlier. With teams already armed with data from the previous weekend, most expected either a repeat or a more even playing field. Few predicted that the race would deliver the first crack in Mercedes’ dominance of the 2020 season.
What To Know?
- First non-Mercedes win of 2020: Max Verstappen delivered the only victory outside the dominant Mercedes team in the opening phase of the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season.
- Historic Silverstone milestone: The race marked 70 years since the first Formula One World Championship event at Silverstone Circuit in 1950.
- Honda’s long-awaited return to the top at Silverstone: It was the first Honda-powered win at the circuit since 1989, signalling the manufacturer’s resurgence in the hybrid era with Red Bull Racing.
- Hamilton equals Schumacher’s podium record: Second place for Lewis Hamilton saw him draw level with Michael Schumacher on 155 career Formula One podium finishes at the time.
List of Every 70th Anniversary Grand Prix Winner
| Year | Circuit | Driver | Constructor | Start | Win margin | Race time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silverstone | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda | 4 | 11.326s | 1hr 19m 41.993s |
70th Anniversary Grand Prix Winner: 2020
Victory went to Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing. Starting from fourth on the grid, the Dutch driver executed a bold one-stop strategy that allowed him to challenge the Mercedes pair through intelligent tyre preservation and relentless pace.
Unlike many of his rivals, Verstappen maintained competitive lap times while extending his opening stint. As the race unfolded and tyre degradation became increasingly severe, the Red Bull proved kinder to its rubber than the dominant Mercedes cars. Once in clean air, Verstappen controlled the pace and built a decisive advantage.
He crossed the line 11.326 seconds clear, securing not only his first win of the season but also the first non-Mercedes victory of 2020.
Ending the Silverstone Streak
The result was significant for several reasons. It was Red Bull’s first victory at Silverstone in the V6 turbo hybrid era and their first win at the circuit since 2012. It was also the first Honda-powered triumph at the venue since 1989, underscoring the steady progress of the Japanese manufacturer since its return to Formula One.
For Mercedes, racing on home soil proved more challenging. Both drivers struggled with tyre wear throughout the race. Despite finishing second, Lewis Hamilton’s podium appearance carried its own milestone, equalling Michael Schumacher’s long-standing record of 155 Formula One podium finishes at the time.
A Race with Historic Meaning
Beyond the on-track battle, the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix carried symbolic importance. Silverstone is regarded as the birthplace of the F1 World Championship, having hosted the very first points-scoring race on 13th May 1950. Staging a commemorative event at the same circuit seven decades later connected the sport’s modern era with its earliest chapter.
Although conceived as a one-off celebration, the race provided one of the most memorable moments of the compressed 2020 campaign. Verstappen’s victory interrupted what had looked like an unstoppable run for Mercedes, and in a season defined by uncertainty and adaptation, the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix delivered a reminder of Formula One’s enduring capacity for surprise, even at the circuit where it all began.
More F1 Race Winners
From Adelaide to Silverstone to Monza and Spa, we chart the full story of every F1 winner from each event’s first race to the last.
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