Few drivers have made a British crowd roar like Nigel Mansell. The man in Red 5 won 31 Grand Prix, took the 1992 Formula 1 world title with Williams and then won the CART IndyCar championship at his first attempt. In 2026 he is still speaking his mind, saying he agrees with fans who feel some overtakes under F1's new hybrid rules look "false".
Here is how the lad from Worcestershire built one of motor racing's great careers. Browse our Formula 1 collection for more legends.
Nigel Mansell Fact File
| Full name | Nigel Ernest James Mansell |
|---|---|
| Date of birth (age) | 8 August 1953 (age 73) |
| Place of birth | Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, England |
| Discipline | Formula 1 and IndyCar driver |
| Nationality | British |
| Current status | Retired |
| Car number | Red 5 |
| Nickname | "Il Leone" (The Lion) |
Career History
| Season | Team | Entries | Wins | Poles | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980–1984 | Lotus | 61 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 10th (best) |
| 1985 | Williams | 15 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 6th |
| 1986 | Williams | 16 | 5 | 2 | 72 | 2nd |
| 1987 | Williams | 14 | 6 | 8 | 61 | 2nd |
| 1988 | Williams | 14 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 9th |
| 1989 | Ferrari | 16 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 4th |
| 1990 | Ferrari | 16 | 1 | 3 | 37 | 5th |
| 1991 | Williams | 16 | 5 | 2 | 72 | 2nd |
| 1992 | Williams | 16 | 9 | 14 | 108 | Champion |
| 1994 | Williams | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 9th |
| 1995 | McLaren | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| Total | F1 | 191 | 31 | 32 | 480 | 1 title |
Figures are Formula 1 World Championship entries only (187 starts). Season points are as scored; the career total shown is the official 480-point figure, which differs slightly from the simple sum of the seasons. His CART seasons (1993 title, five wins) are not included.
Early Years
Mansell started in karting before stepping up to Formula Ford, against his father's wishes. In 1977 he won the British Formula Ford 1600 title, taking 33 of 42 races, despite breaking his neck in a qualifying crash at Brands Hatch. Formula Three followed, then a Lotus test role and a Grand Prix debut in Austria in 1980.
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The Williams Breakthrough
Five seasons at Lotus brought podiums but no wins, so the move to Williams in 1985 changed everything. That year he won his first Grand Prix, the European GP at Brands Hatch. In 1986 he went to the Adelaide finale as title favourite, only for a tyre to explode with 19 laps left. At Silverstone in 1987 he hunted down team-mate Nelson Piquet and swept past late on, one of the great British Grand Prix drives. Two Ferrari years followed, starting with victory on debut in Brazil and earning him the tifosi's nickname "Il Leone".
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Red 5 and the 1992 Title
In 1991, after winning the British Grand Prix, Mansell stopped on his slowing-down lap to give the stranded Ayrton Senna a ride back to the pits on the side of Red 5, one of F1's most loved images. Then came 1992. In the Williams-Renault FW14B he took a record nine wins and 14 poles, clinching the title in Hungary aged 39.
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American Glory and Legacy
Mansell then joined Newman/Haas Racing and won the 1993 CART title as a rookie, also finishing third at the Indianapolis 500. Back at Williams in 1994 he won the Adelaide finale aged 41, his 31st and final Grand Prix victory. He later won the 2005 Grand Prix Masters series and raced at Le Mans in 2010 with his sons.
Honours
Championships
- Formula 1 World Champion: 1992
- CART IndyCar Champion: 1993
- British Formula Ford 1600 Champion: 1977
- Grand Prix Masters Champion: 2005
Awards and Recognition
- BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 1986, 1992
- OBE, and CBE in the 2012 New Year Honours
- International Motorsports Hall of Fame: 2005
- Motorsports Hall of Fame of America: 2006
Away From the Track
Mansell is president of the charity UK Youth, and his 2012 CBE was for services to young people. He lives in Jersey with his wife Rosanne, and their sons Leo and Greg both raced. He has also served as an F1 driver steward.
FAQs
How old is Nigel Mansell?
Nigel Mansell was born on 8 August 1953, so he is 73 years old.
Where was Nigel Mansell born?
He was born in Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, England.
What teams did Nigel Mansell drive for in F1?
Lotus, Williams, Ferrari and McLaren in F1, plus Newman/Haas Racing in CART.
How many Grand Prix wins did Nigel Mansell have?
He won 31 Grand Prix and took 32 poles from 187 starts.
Why did Nigel Mansell give Ayrton Senna a lift?
At the 1991 British Grand Prix, Senna's McLaren stopped on the final lap, so race winner Mansell carried him back to the pits on his Williams.
Did Nigel Mansell win the IndyCar championship?
Yes, he won the 1993 CART title in his first season.
Shop the Nigel Mansell Collection
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Ayrton Senna Career Story: Three Titles, 41 Wins, 65 Poles and Alain Prost Career Story: The Professor's Four World Titles.
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