The best Formula One driver in history is a frequent topic of debate among F1 fans. Personal opinions aside, we dig into the statistics since the data doesn’t lie. Here are the 10 greatest Formula One drivers of all time.
10. Niki Lauda: 25 wins
Austrian racing driver Niki Lauda (1949-2019) was a three-time Formula One World Drivers’ Champion (1975, 1977, 1984) and the only F1 driver in history to win championships for both Ferrari and McLaren. He competed in 171 races, capturing 25 wins and 24 pole positions. His career points are 420.5. He worked in managerial positions for Ferrari, Jaguar, and Mercedes.
9. Jackie Stewart: 27 wins
Scottish/British racing driver Jackie Stewart won three World Drivers’ Championships (1969, 1971, 1973), twice finishing as runner-up over nine seasons. He was the only British driver to win three championships so until Lewis Hamilton in 2015. Stewart competed in ninety-nine races, winning 27 and capturing 17 pole positions. His career points are 360. Stewart pioneered many safety changes for motorsport.
8. Nigel Mansell: 31 wins
British racing driver Nigel Mansell won the Formula One World Championship (1992) and the CART Indy Car World Series (1993). He competed in 187 races, winning 31 and capturing 32 pole positions. Mansell finished second in the championship three times. His career points are 482. Mansell is considered one of F1’s “unlucky” drivers. Reliability issues plagued his career.
7. Fernando Alonso: 32 wins
Spanish racing driver Fernando Alonso (born 1981) currently competes for Aston Martin in Formula One. He won the F1 championship twice (2005, 2006). Despite suffering a significant amount of bad luck, Alonso has racked up a total of 2,315 career points. Alonso has competed in 395 races thus far, winning 32 and capturing 22 pole positions.
6. Ayrton Senna: 41 wins
Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna (1960-1994) had an astonishing career in his short life that ended from injuries he sustained at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. He won the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship three times (1988, 1990, 1991). Senna competed in 161 races, winning 41 and capturing 65 pole positions. His career points are 610.
5. Alain Prost: 51 wins
French racing driver Alain Prost won Formula One World Drivers’ Championships (1985, 1986, 1989, 1993). Prost competed in 199 races, winning 51 and capturing 33 pole positions. His career points are 768.5. He is also remembered for his bitter feuds with Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet, and Nigel Mansell. Prost retired after his fourth and final championship in 1993.
4. Sebastian Vettel: 53 wins
There was a time when German racing driver Sebastian Vettel (born 1987) was virtually unbeatable. He won four consecutive Formula One World Drivers’ Championships (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) and holds the record as the youngest F1 champion ever. Vettel competed in 300 races, winning 53 (the fourth-most ever), and captured 57 pole positions. His career points are 3,098.
3. Max Verstappen: 61 wins
Belgian/Dutch racing driver Max Verstappen (born 1997). He was the youngest driver to compete in Formula One. Verstappen has won three consecutive three Formula One World Drivers’ Championship titles (2021, 2022, 2023). He has competed in 200 races, winning 61 and capturing 40 pole positions. Verstappen has 2881.5 total career points.
2. Michael Schumacher: 91 wins
German racing driver Michael Schumacher (born 1969) holds the joint record of seven World Drivers’ Championship titles (tied with Lewis Hamilton). He won two consecutive titles (1994, 1995) and five consecutive titles (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004). Schumacher competed in 308 races, winning 91 and capturing 68 pole positions. His career points are 1,566.
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1. Lewis Hamilton: 105 wins
British racing driver Lewis Hamilton (born 1985) holds the joint record of seven World Drivers’ Championship titles (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020). He’s tied for the record for most Grand Prix titles with Michael Schumacher. Hamilton has competed in 347 races, winning 105 and capturing 104 pole positions. His career points are an astonishing 4,793.5.
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