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.^[1][2] The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) launched it on 1 May 1959 as a memorial for Mike Hawthorn,^[3] a racing driver who retired immediately after becoming the first British Formula One World Drivers' Champion in the 1958 season as a result of the death of his teammate Peter Collins.^[4][5] The gilt and silver trophy,^[6] created by K. Lessons of the Goldsmiths Company in 1960,^[7][6] is mounted on a wooden pedestal and features chequered flags and the Union Flag.^[8] It is presented to the most successful British or Commonwealth driver of the previous year's Formula One World Championship.^[9] The trophy was initially presented at an annual ceremony held at the RAC's headquarters and club in London,^[10][11] but Motorsport UK currently awards it at the following year's British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit.^[12][13] The award is considered prestigious in the motor racing world.^[9][14]

Hawthorn Memorial Trophy

Sport	Motorsport
Competition	Formula One
Awarded for	The most successful British or Commonwealth driver in Formula One in a particular year.
History
First winner	Jack Brabham (1959)
Most wins	Lewis Hamilton (11)
Most recent	George Russell (2022)

The inaugural winner was the Australian driver Jack Brabham who won the 1959 championship. He went on to win the 1960 title, and thus, became the first competitor to retain the accolade.^[1] The first British winner was Stirling Moss for the 1961 season,^[15][16] and the inaugural recipient from New Zealand was Denny Hulme after winning the 1967 championship.^[17][18] The only Canadian recipient was Jacques Villeneuve following his winning the championship in the 1997 season.^[16][19] The least successful winner over the course of a season was Jenson Button, who finished in ninth position in the 2005 standings.^[20][21] British racers have won the trophy fifty-two times, followed by Australians with seven victories, New Zealanders with three wins and one Canadian winner. Of the nineteen recipients, all but six have gone on to win the World Championship, with a total of 25 wins between them.^[17] The winner of the 2022 edition was George Russell, who finished fourth in that season's World Drivers' Championship.^[22][23]