F1 legends reunite at Goodwood for the 75th anniversary of the championship

The Goodwood Festival of Speed has always been a paradise for motorsport enthusiasts, but the 2025 edition, which will be held from July 10 to 13, promises to be particularly memorable: it will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first season of the Formula 1 World Championship, held in 1950.

A parade of stars for this special edition

Several F1 stars, both past and present, will be making their way to Goodwood House right after the British Grand Prix. Many of them will get behind the wheel of historic single-seaters for a spectacular hill climb, in front of thousands of fans.

Among the highlights of the weekend is a special gathering of F1 world champions scheduled for Saturday, with the announced presence of Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Mika Hakkinen, and Mario Andretti.

Mansell will drive the Williams FW11, the car with which he won his first British Grand Prix in 1986, while Prost will take to the track in the legendary McLaren MP4/4, which dominated the 1988 season.

Other big names will also be part of the event, such as Gerhard Berger (ten GP victories), former McLaren driver John Watson, and endurance legends Jacky Ickx and Emanuele Pirro.

Goodwood will also pay tribute to Derek Bell on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his first victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, achieved with a Mirage GR8.

On the side of current drivers, Haas representatives Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman will be present and will drive the VF-23. Gabriel Bortoleto, meanwhile, will take the wheel of a 2013 Sauber C32, now in the colors of the Stake F1 team.

The boss of Haas, Gene Haas, and his team director Ayao Komatsu will drive an F1 car in public for the first time, on the occasion of the team’s 10th anniversary in the championship. Williams director James Vowles will take the wheel of the iconic FW14B of Mansell.

Adrian Newey, the new technical director of Aston Martin, will also participate in the event at the wheel of a 1968 Lotus 49B as well as the Leyton House CG901, which he himself designed.

Many other classic F1 cars will be on display or in action throughout the weekend, such as the Jordan 198, the Benetton B191, the McLaren M23, and the Ferrari F2002. McLaren will also field the legendary F1 GTR, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its historic victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Finally, beyond F1, the Festival will pay tribute on Friday to Carl Fogarty, four-time Superbike world champion.

Alain Prost