LIGHTS TO FLAG: Anthony Davidson on racing for Minardi and Super Aguri, his Le Mans crash and his vital Mercedes role

Anthony Davidson’s F1 career can be split into two parts – his 24 Grand Prix starts with Minardi, BAR-Honda and Super Aguri, and his time as one of the most valuable test drivers in the sport. For our latest Lights to Flag feature, the Briton shares all about his time in the top echelon, as well as the rollercoaster ride that followed in sportscars and how he is still heavily involved in F1 today as a television pundit and Mercedes simulator driver.

Inspired by Walker and Hunt

Born in Hemel Hempstead, UK, in 1979, Davidson was introduced to F1 by his motorsport-loving family and, at the age of eight, started a karting career that would take him across Britain, Europe and North America – and yield plenty of trophies.

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“My first memories of motorsport are definitely watching it on TV, being weaned on Murray Walker and James Hunt [with their BBC commentary],” smiles Davidson. “I used to sit there, sucking my thumb as a little kid, next to my dad and my brothers. My dad never raced, but one of his biggest passions was watching F1.

“I remember going to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix in 1987, the year when Nigel Mansell overtook Nelson Piquet at Stowe. It was a mega time. My heroes growing up were Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mansell, Piquet, that kind of generation. I absolutely loved it and just couldn’t get enough of it.

“When I started karting myself, I chose my helmet design based on a list in Autosport magazine of all the current drivers. Eddie Cheever was the one that kind of stood out and I said to my dad, as an eight-year-old, ‘I like that one!’, so I have lots of fond memories as a kid following F1.”