British Formula 1 legend Sir Stirling Moss has died at the age of 90.

His wife Lady Moss confirmed the news, saying he died peacefully at his London home following a long illness.

"It was one lap too many," she said. "He just closed his eyes."

Image: He became the first British driver to win the British Grand Prix in 1955

Formula 1 described Moss as "one of the true greats", while Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix, posted a lengthy tribute on its website, describing him as the driver who "set the standards by which all other drivers are judged".

"In the history of motor racing, not just in his home country but also wherever he raced around the world, Sir Stirling held a unique status which continued throughout his life, long after he retired from his frontline racing career," their tribute said.


"Although he never won the World Drivers' Championship, Sir Stirling was universally recognised, following the retirement of the great Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio in 1958, as the racing driver who set the standards by which all other drivers were judged, whether in Formula 1 or international sports car racing.

"His versatility and competitive instincts made him a formidable competitor in any race, even if at times the cars at his disposal were not truly 'state of the art', however well prepared they may have been."

Stirling Moss was 'a legend and a genius'

The bare statistics of Moss's mainstream career "are extraordinary", they said.

Commentator and former F1 driver Martin Brundle also paid tribute on Twitter, writing: "RIP Sir Stirling Moss. A mighty racer and gentleman.

"He had a press on style on the track and in life. Remarkable man. Survived the most dangerous era of motorsport and died today aged 90. He had such great stories to tell, and it was a privilege to know him."

Sir Stirling Moss has died at the age of 90#F1 https://t.co/6pFBdXoEZm — Formula 1 (@F1) April 12, 2020

Today, the sporting world lost not only a true icon and a legend, but a gentleman. The Team and the Mercedes Motorsport family have lost a dear friend. Sir Stirling, we’ll miss you. pic.twitter.com/XEsDf68A7r — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) April 12, 2020

Fellow former British driver Johnny Herbert added on his account: "Sad sad news that legend Sir Stirling Moss has passed. World Champion in all our eyes."

Though Moss famously never won the Formula One title, he finished runner-up four times and came third three times in a career during which he won 16 Grands Prix.

His sportsmanship cost him the title in 1958, when he defended the actions of rival Mike Hawthorne following a spin at the Portuguese Grand Prix, sparing Hawthorne a six-point penalty.

Hawthorne went on to beat Moss to the title by a single point.

Moss's first Grand Prix victory came in 1955 at Aintree, as he became the first British driver to win the British event.

In an age when racing drivers competed in several different disciplines alongside Formula One, Moss won a total of 212 of the 529 races he entered.

He retired in 1962 after a heavy crash at Goodwood, which left him in a coma for a month.

He was knighted in the New Year Honours list in 2000 for services to motor racing.