Hawthorn Memorial Trophy


The Hawthorn Memorial Trophy is an annual award honouring the achievements of a British or Commonwealth driver in Formula One motor racing. It was launched on 1 May 1959 by the Royal Automobile Club as an appeal for a national memorial for Mike Hawthorn, the racing driver who died in a road accident soon after becoming the first British Formula One World Drivers' Champion in. The award, a gilt and silver trophy on a wooden base created by the Goldsmiths Company freeman K. Lessons, is presented to the most successful British or Commonwealth driver of the previous year's Formula One World Championship. The winner was at first given the trophy at an annual ceremony held in the RAC's headquarters and club in London, but it is currently presented by Motorsport UK at the following year's British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit. The award is considered prestigious in the motor racing world.
The inaugural winner was the Australian driver Jack Brabham who won the championship. He went on to win the title, and thus, became the first competitor to retain the accolade. The first British winner was Stirling Moss in, and the inaugural recipient from New Zealand was Denny Hulme who won the championship. The only Canadian to have won the award was Jacques Villeneuve following his championship win in. The least successful driver over the course of a season to have earnt the trophy was Jenson Button, who finished in ninth position in the season. British racers have won the trophy 50 times, followed by Australians with seven victories, New Zealanders with three wins and one Canadian recipient. The winner was the six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has the most victories of any other driver with nine.

List of winners

YearImageWinnerNationality
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Statistics

NameWins
9
7
5
5
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2

NationalityWinners
50
7
3
1