Special feature

Which eras do F1 drivers wish they could race in?

Ahead of the 1000th world championship race in China, Formula 1 drivers were asked to pick the eras they would race in if they could. Here are their answers.

Lewis Hamilton

"In just pure racing? Probably I like the early eighties, they'd be the cars that I'd choose – eighties or mid-eighties. The cars that I'd like the most. But I'd be old right now, so I'm quite happy being in this period of time!"

Alain Prost, McLaren MP4/4, Gerhard Berger, Ferrari

Alain Prost, McLaren MP4/4 leads teammate Ayrton Senna, McLaren MP4/4 and Ivan Capelli, March 881 at the start

Ayrton Senna, McLaren MP4/5, Martin Brundle, Brabham BT58

Riccardo Patrese, Williams FW12C, Nigel Mansell, Ferrari 640

Start action, Ayrton Senna, McLaren MP4/5, runs in Riccardo Patrese, Williams FW12C

Valtteri Bottas

"Well, I have to say last Saturday at Silverstone we were celebrating the motorsport history of Mercedes, being this year 125 years since motorsport started for Mercedes. So I got to drive the W125 from 1937. There was more than 600hp, it felt like a rocket on wheels: no proper brakes, no grip at all. And just imagining those drivers racing flat out on the kind of tracks they were using back then, I have a lot of respect from them. You need some big balls to do it, and every time you'd risk your life 100 percent every time you jumped in the car."

Max Verstappen

"From 2004 to 2008, and I would like to try an early 90s car. Before that, not interested. A bit too dangerous."

Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004 leads the start

Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004, leads Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren Mercedes MP4/19B

Michael Schumacher, Ferrari 248F1, Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault R26

Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber F1.06 battles with Michael Schumacher, Ferrari 248 F1

Michael Schumacher, Ferrari 248 F1 leads the start

Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren Mercedes MP4/21 collided with Vitantonio Liuzzi, Scuderia Toro Rosso STR01

Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Toro Rosso STR03

Felipe Massa, Ferrari F2008 leads at the start

Fernando Alonso, Renault R28 leads Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber F1.08

Kimi Raikkonen

"I've gone back for the second one any more. I guess in the past, I would look at seventies, sixties, late sixties, seventies. For sure it would have been more fun, more relaxed, more pure racing but obviously much more dangerous but that's normal at that time."

Graham Hill,Lotus 49B-Ford, leads Jackie Stewart, Matra MS10-Ford

1969 Matra MS80-Cosworth at Silverstone 70th Anniversary Parade

Jacky Ickx, Brabham Jackie Stewart, Matra Jochen Rindt, Lotus Denny Hulme, McLaren

Jackie Oliver, Owen Racing Organisation, Pedro Rodriguez, Reg Parnell Racing, Jacky Ickx, Brabham

Alex Albon

"I haven't really thought about that. I'd say old school, 1950s. I want to see how the sport was back then. I know it's dangerous so maybe I will bring my HANS device with me and we will see but I think that kind of racing is cool and I'd like to try it out."