Nigel Mansell: Records, Titles, Best Seasons & More

Nigel Mansell is one of the most iconic Formula 1 champions who fought back after one of the most dramatic last-race failures in the sport's history to win a world title.

Famed for his trademark moustache and fierce competitive spirit, Mansell ended a 16-year wait for a British world champion after James Hunt's 1976 victory. 

He was the first driver to win nine F1 races in a season and the first to hold the F1 and Indy Car titles at the same time when he won the American championship at his first attempt.

Nigel Mansell career stats

Starts	187
Wins	31
Podiums	59
Pole Positions	32
Fastest Laps	30
Career Points	480

Nigel Mansell profile

Mansell started out in karting and funded his own entry into single-seater racing, winning his first race in the British Formula Ford championship in 1976 and winning the title the following season.

It took him three years to win his first Formula 3 race, in 1979, but he also suffered a major crash in which he broke his back. His speed caught the eye of Lotus F1 boss Colin Chapman, though, and Mansell set some fast times as a test driver for the British team.

He earned his first drive in F1 in 1980 and competed in the full season the following year, claiming his first podium finish in the Belgian Grand Prix.

Three more years with Lotus yielded four more podium finishes but Mansell's career really began to take off when he moved to Williams for the 1985 season.

He won his first F1 race in his 72nd start at the European Grand Prix at Brands Hatch and finished sixth in the championship in his first season with the team.

Mansell went agonisingly close to winning the 1986 world title but memorably his car suffered a spectacular tyre blowout in the final race of the season, and he was runner-up again in 1987, winning six races but finishing behind team-mate Nelson Piquet.

After a less successful 1988 season, he moved to Ferrari for two years, winning three races and being named Il Leone (The Lion) by Italian fans for his relentless driving style.

He finished second in the championship for a third time after returning to Williams in 1991.

Seemingly destined to be F1's nearly man, it all changed for Mansell in 1992. The Briton started the season with five straight victories and was crowned world champion at the Hungarian Grand Prix, securing the title with five races to spare.

A contract dispute led to Mansell leaving F1 and heading to America where he won the CART (Indy Car) championship as a rookie. He took pole and won his debut race and was third on his first attempt in the Indy 500.

At the end of the 1994 CART season, Mansell made a brief return to F1 with Williams, taking part in three races and scoring his final career victory in the Australian Grand Prix. 

He moved to McLaren for the following season but took part in only two races before retiring.

Mansell is also a keen golfer and he took part in the 1988 Australian Open.

Nigel Mansell titles

How many F1 World Championships has Nigel Mansell won?

Mansell won his one and only world championship in 1992 after several near-misses where he finished second in 1986, 1987 and 1991.

What other awards and titles has Nigel Mansell won?

Mansell was triumphant in the CART (Indy Car) championship as a rookie in 1993, winning five races and finishing on the podium 13 times.

Nigel Mansell's net worth

Nigel Mansell's net worth is reported to be around $90 million.

Nigel Mansell F1 records

Mansell still holds the record for the highest percentage of pole positions in a season (88%) which he achieved in 1992. His tally of 14 pole positions in that year remained the highest in an individual campaign until Sebastian Vettel surpassed him in 2011.

Also recognised as the driver with the most runner-up championship finishes before winning a title, the Briton did hold the record for most races before winning the Drivers' Championship (180) until Nico Rosberg (206) claimed the accolade in 2016.

Nigel Mansell best seasons

Nigel Mansell's title-winning season of 1992 is undoubtedly the Briton's finest campaign.

Mansell finally got his world title the following season at the age of 39, winning nine races in a dominant year for the team. 

His British Grand Prix success was the 28th of his career and took him past Jackie Stewart's record for a British driver. He took 14 pole positions that year but also set the record for most races before becoming world champion at 180, which was broken by Nico Rosberg in 2016.

Mansell also became only the fourth person to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year twice having previously won it for his near-miss in 1986.

Nigel Mansell best races

Mansell's love affair with Silverstone has since been overshadowed by the record-breaking affinity Lewis Hamilton shares with the circuit, but it doesn't make Mansell's relationship any less romantic.

In 1991, Mansell claimed pole, the fastest lap and an epic victory, with the Williams ace believing the adoring home crowd gave him a half-a-second advantage over the rest of the field.

Mansell was faultless throughout as he dominated from lights out through to the chequered flag, finishing 42 seconds ahead of Gerhard Berger in second.

If that year at Silverstone was special, 1992 was beyond comprehension. Storming to pole by an astonishing 1.9 seconds, trepidation set into the home crowd as Mansell relinquished his lead to teammate Riccardo Patrese at the first corner, but Mansell soon retrieved the lead and built an unassailable lead.

His success prompted wild scenes at the chequered flag as a euphoric home crowd invade the track to celebrate with their idol.

Away from Silverstone, Mansell's majestic showing at the 1989 Hungarian Grand Prix is amongst his very finest outings.

Conquering the indomitable McLaren pairing of Senna and Prost, Mansell fought from 12th on the grid at a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult and guided his Ferrari to a 25-second advantage at the finish line.

Nigel Mansell other racing series

Mansell has not been involved in F1 to any great extent since his driving days, but he took part in other series', including the British Touring Car Championship and the Grand Prix Masters, which he won in 2005.

He raced in the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans in a team with his sons, Leo and Greg, but their race lasted only four laps.