Mike Hawthorn was Britain's first F1 world champion driving for Ferrari in 1958. Stirling Moss won more races that year, but Hawthorn was a more consistent points scorer. Mike won his first GP at Reims in 1953 after a thrilling high speed duel with Fangio. In 1958 Hawthorn was partnered at Ferrari by Luigi Musso and Peter Collins, fate dictated that both would tragically die in their cars that year. Peter Collin's death at the Nurburgring hit Hawthorn very hard, as the two were very great friends, and a devastated Hawthorn retired at the end of the season. Tragically Mike Hawthorn was killed the very next year when he crashed his Jaguar road car on the Guildford bypass in England.
Nationality - British
Born 10 Apr 1929
Died 22 Jan 1959
First GP Belgium 1952
Total GP's 45
Wins 3
Poles 4
Fastest laps 6
Total points 127
Teams
BRM
Ferrari
Vanwall
Claim to fame
1st British World Champion
1958
