Mansell exits F1 through the back door

©Twitter

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©Twitter

On this day in 1995, Nigel Mansell closed the door on his career in Formula 1 with an unremarkable drive in an unremarkable car at the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona.

Earlier in the year, for some daft reason, the Brit had accepted Ron Dennis' offer to come out of retirement and give F1 another go.

But the McLaren MP4/10 was ugly, slow and too small for Mansell who had missed the first two races of the season because he simply couldn't fit his frame into the uncompetitive car!

It was unfortunately a sad end for Britain and Formula 1's very own lion-hearted champion.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.