The very best F1 driver in historical past is a debate that has, and can proceed to, rage so long as Components 1 exists, however we take a look at who the very best drivers are statistically.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st place, celebrates on arrival in Parc Ferme
Photograph by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images
1. Lewis Hamilton – 103 wins
- First race: 2007 Australian Grand Prix
- World Championships: 7 (2008, 2014-15, 2017-20)
- Variety of races: 337
- Variety of wins: 103
- Variety of pole positions: 104
- Profession factors: 4658.5
When it comes to profession wins and complete profession factors, Lewis Hamilton is the very best Components 1 driver to have ever graced a circuit. The Brit has taken wins in 30 totally different international locations, gained a race in nearly each season he’s competed in, and is presently tied on world championships with Michael Schumacher, having narrowly missed out on taking an eighth world title in 2021 to Max Verstappen. Hamilton holds many of Formula 1’s records and, with a contract that runs to the end of 2023, he appears to be like to have the ability to push even additional forward on a lot of them.
Whereas he missed turning into champion in his first season by a single level, he turned the (then) youngest world champion the next yr. Fourteen years later he’s secured six extra titles, and is looking for an eighth.
Read more about Hamilton’s first 100 wins here.
Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004 celebrates with the Ferrari crew after successful his seventh world championship with Jean Todt and Ross Brawn
Photograph by: Motorsport Images
2. Michael Schumacher – 91 wins
- First race: 1991 Belgian Grand Prix
- World Championships: 7 (1994-95, 2000-04)
- Variety of races: 308
- Variety of wins: 91
- Variety of pole positions: 68
- Profession factors: 1566
When contemplating the very best F1 driver, Michael Schumacher instantly springs to thoughts. He was, till the rise of Hamilton, the face of domination in Components 1: seven titles (5 of them consecutive), a seemingly insurmountable variety of wins, unrelenting competitiveness – Schumacher modified the sport in F1 along with his mixture of dedication, ardour, and, in fact, uncooked expertise.
Whereas he took two titles with Benetton, he’s way more well-known for his time with Ferrari. He joined the crew in 1996 and, after some highs and lows within the following years, the mixture struck gold in 2000. What adopted within the subsequent 5 years had been 5 world titles, 48 wins, and a report e book that had Michael Schumacher’s title in nearly each area.
His second stint in F1 wasn’t as profitable as his first, yielding a single podium so as to add to his assortment. Nonetheless, his 91 wins, 155 podiums and 68 pole positions nonetheless put him excessive up in any statistical evaluation. See our top 10 Schumacher victories here.
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB18
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
3. Max Verstappen – 58 wins
- First race: 2015 Australian Grand Prix
- World championships: 3 (2021, 2022, 2023)
- Variety of races: 190
- Variety of wins: 58
- Variety of pole positions: 36
- Profession factors: 2696.5
Max Verstappen, son of former Components 1 driver Jos, spent only one yr in automobile racing earlier than making his F1 debut. Whereas he bought to grips with the single-seaters within the Florida Winter Sequence, his junior profession is finest remembered for his 2014 European Components 3 marketing campaign when he completed third within the championship behind Tom Blomqvist and title-winner Esteban Ocon.
This single season, through which he took 10 wins from 32 races, together with six consecutive wins, was sufficient to earn him the transfer as much as F1, taking a seat at Crimson Bull sister crew Toro Rosso for 2015 and turning into the youngest-ever grand prix driver. His inaugural F1 season returned some success in middle-of-the-pack equipment – 10 points-paying finishes from 19 races – however it was his second season the place he actually introduced his entry in F1.
Getting the decision as much as the senior Crimson Bull crew 5 races into the 2016 season, changing the beleaguered Daniil Kvyat, Verstappen took his first win instantly on the Spanish GP, aided by Mercedes team-mates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton crashing out collectively on the primary lap.
He’d take an additional 9 wins by the top of the 2020 season, earlier than the tweaked technical laws for the 2021 season resulted in Crimson Bull producing a automobile actually able to preventing for the world title. With the Crimson Bull a lot nearer to the beforehand dominant Mercedes automobile, Verstappen and Hamilton engaged in an arduous, season-long battle for the title. The combat got here right down to the ultimate lap of the ultimate race, with Verstappen simply taking the honours forward of the seven-time world champion for his first title since karting in 2013.
The 2022 championship was a a lot simpler time for the Dutchman by comparability. Although he failed to complete two of the opening three rounds because of reliability bother, Verstappen sailed to the title behind the wheel of the RB18, along with his win in Suzuka proving sufficient to take the title. His run to the 2023 title was imperious, breaking information for wins and factors with relative ease. With a second and third crown to his title, it stays to be seen what number of extra he can add to his tally.
Sebastian Vettel, Crimson Bull RB9 Renault
Photograph by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
4. Sebastian Vettel – 53 wins
- First race: 2007 United States Grand Prix
- World Championships: 4 (2010-13)
- Variety of races: 300
- Variety of wins: 53
- Variety of pole positions: 57
- Profession factors: 3098
Whereas his type in Components 1 slowed in the direction of the top of his profession, there was a time when Sebastian Vettel was nearly unbeatable.
Vettel’s F1 profession began in 2007 and, in his first three years, he took 9 podiums and 5 wins, although this was nothing on what was to return. Over the following 4 years he turned the face of F1, successful 4 consecutive championships and turning into the youngest world champion within the course of (taking the accolade from Lewis Hamilton). He additionally secured the information for many podium finishes in a season, most wins in a season, most pole positions in a season, most laps led in a season, most consecutive wins, most consecutive grand slams, and most wins from pole place in a season.
Sadly for Vettel the regulation modifications in 2014 didn’t go well with Red Bull (or him), and the crew rapidly fell again by means of the pack. He went from 9 consecutive wins within the remaining 9 races of the 2013 season to not successful a single race till 2015, and since that 2013 season he’s ‘solely’ taken 14 wins. Regardless of that he was nonetheless extensively considered probably the greatest drivers on the grid till his retirement on the finish of the 2022 season, and his listing of information is more likely to stand for a lot of extra seasons.
Read more about Sebastian Vettel’s top 10 wins here.
Podium: Second positioned Elio De Angelis, Lotus, race winner Alain Prost, McLaren, third positioned Thierry Boutsen, Arrows
Photograph by: Sutton Pictures
5. Alain Prost – 51 wins
- First race: 1980 Argentinian Grand Prix
- World Championships: 4 (1985-86, 1989, 1993)
- Variety of races: 199
- Variety of wins: 51
- Variety of pole positions: 33
- Profession factors: 768.5
It was Alain Prost‘s meticulous type that allowed him to go up in opposition to Ayrton Senna – the bitter feud that he’s finest remembered for. His secret weapon was brainpower, in addition to pace, and he possessed a pure precision in his driving that allowed Prost to grow to be France’s first world champion in 1985.
Race of my life: Prost on the 1990 Mexican GP
In 1987 he beat Jackie Stewart‘s report of 27 wins and a yr later McLaren gained 15 out of 16 races throughout the season, which is testomony to each Prost and Senna’s ability. Prost remained on the prime of his sport till his retirement, taking his fourth and remaining title for Williams at 38 years previous.
Ayrton Senna, McLaren MP4-8
Photograph by: Ercole Colombo
6. Ayrton Senna – 41 wins
- First race: 1984 Brazilian Grand Prix
- World Championships: 3 (1988, 1990-91)
- Variety of races: 161
- Variety of wins: 41
- Variety of pole positions: 65
- Profession factors: 610
Certainly one of motorsport’s most legendary figures, Ayrton Senna stays the benchmark for uncooked expertise and charisma.
His depth of dedication to a lap and his fixed want to push the boundaries for extra has meant that Senna has a particular place within the hearts of many motorsport followers. His three titles give a way of what might have been had he not died on the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994. A mixture of pure pace and stressed ambition gave Senna an edge not often seen.
PLUS: Senna’s 10 greatest Formula 1 races
Such is his legacy that even practically thirty years after his loss of life, Senna’s cars and the way he won his greatest F1 title are nonetheless talked about.
Race winner Fernando Alonso, Renault celebrates on the rostrum
Photograph by: Sutton Pictures
7. Fernando Alonso – 32 wins
- First race: 2001 Australian Grand Prix
- World Championships: 2 (2005-06)
- Variety of races: 385
- Variety of wins: 32
- Variety of pole positions: 22
- Profession factors: 2298
Fernando Alonso is a two-time world champion with a fame as a fearless, aggressive racer, although his profession may be outlined as a lot by what didn’t come as the 2 titles he gained.
The Spaniard spent three years in Components 1 earlier than scoring the primary of his two consecutive crowns, taking the title with a snug 21 level lead over Kimi Raikkonen. His second title the yr later was a 13-point lead over the good Michael Schumacher, although that is the place Alonso’s luck appeared to expire.
A transfer to McLaren in 2007 to accomplice then-rookie Lewis Hamilton noticed him end the season in third, only one level behind winner Kimi Raikkonen and behind Hamilton, who had the identical factors however extra wins. His 2010 transfer to Ferrari appeared like it might repay as he entered the ultimate race of the season within the lead, however a mixture of him getting caught behind Vitaly Petrov and a win for Sebastian Vettel meant Alonso needed to accept second. He missed the 2012 title by simply three factors (once more to Vettel), and was second once more in 2013 (although was 155 factors the German).
He moved again to McLaren in 2015 – simply in time for the disastrous McLaren-Honda relationship – and after 4 robust years he left on the finish of 2018 – simply earlier than McLaren made their approach again in the direction of the entrance of the grid.
Even the 2021 season was unkind to Alonso – racing for the midfield Alpine crew he secured a fourth place on the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix (the very best he’d completed for seven years) whereas his crew mate Esteban Ocon went on to win, although a long-awaited 98th podium lastly got here in Qatar.
A shock transfer to Aston Martin for the 2023 season proved to be a masterstroke, because the crew rocketed up from midfield to the entrance of the pack. Alonso opened the season with two third locations – giving him his prestigious a hundredth profession podium within the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Regardless of the horrible luck that Alonso has exhibited in Components 1 he’s nonetheless taken 32 wins, 22 pole positions and 23 quickest laps, and is a agency fan favorite. You can read more about his greatest races here.
Race winner Nigel Mansell, Williams FW11B Honda
Photograph by: Motorsport Images
8. Nigel Mansell – 31 wins
- First race: 1980 Austrian Grand Prix
- World Championships: 1 (1992)
- Variety of races: 187
- Variety of wins: 31
- Variety of pole positions: 32
- Profession factors: 482
Nigel Mansell was one other one in every of Components 1’s ‘unfortunate’ drivers. His profession was dogged by reliability points, and his whole 1988 season consisted of two second-place finishes, two races missed because of rooster pox, and 12 retirements.
He managed to complete in second place within the championship thrice – lacking out on the title by two factors in 1986 – and as he entered his twelfth full-time season in Components 1, it appeared like he would possibly go down as yet one more sensible driver to overlook out on the title. Fortunately for the Brit although, this didn’t occur.
PLUS: Mansell’s greatest F1 and Indycar drives
Mansell took 5 consecutive wins to begin the 1992 season, occurring to say 4 extra and taking an extra three second-place finishes. This was sufficient for ‘Il leone’ to take the title on the age of 39 years previous, turning into the fifth-oldest particular person to take action.
Jackie Stewart, Tyrell 006 Cosworth
Photograph by: Motorsport Images
9. Jackie Stewart – 27 wins
- First race: 1965 South African Grand Prix
- World Championships: 3 (1969, 1971, 1973)
- Variety of races: 99
- Variety of wins: 27
- Variety of pole positions: 17
- Profession factors: 360
It may appear an intrinsic a part of F1 in the present day, however Jackie Stewart was one of many first drivers to show that racers can, and will, try for higher security requirements. As a triple champion and dominant drive within the sport, Stewart had the credibility wanted to alter the tradition round security in motorsport. After seeing too a lot of his buddies and colleagues killed doing what they cherished, Stewart was a key pioneer within the introduction of full-face helmets, seatbelts, travelling medical items, security boundaries, runoff areas and extra.
Outdoors his quest for security, Stewart was a prodigious expertise on monitor and was the person to beat all through his time on the grid, claiming three world titles with Ken Tyrrell’s eponymous crew as the 2 fashioned an irrepressible double-act within the late Nineteen Sixties and early Seventies.
Read more about Jackie Stewart’s best races here.
Niki Lauda, Ferrari 312T
Photograph by: Motorsport Images
=10. Niki Lauda – 25 wins
- First race: 1971 Austrian Grand Prix
- World Championships: 3 (1975, 1977, 1984)
- Variety of races: 171
- Variety of wins: 25
- Variety of pole positions: 24
- Profession factors: 420.5
Niki Lauda entered Components 1 as a pay driver although no person can deny that, whereas his cash helped him enter F1, it’s his expertise that saved him there.
With three seasons in F1 below his belt, Lauda joined Ferrari for the 1974 season and secured two wins and fourth place within the championship for 1974, having usually set the tempo however suffered misfortune. In 1975 Lauda took 5 wins and the primary of his three world titles, however it’s his 1976 season – and the notorious Nurburgring crash – that’s his most well-known.
He bounced again from a life-threatening crash on the Nurburgring to overlook out on the title by one level to James Hunt. He took his second title in 1977 and retired two years later, solely to return with McLaren in 1982. That yielded a 3rd crown in 1984, after an epic contest with Alain Prost, earlier than Lauda retired for good on the finish of 1985.
Whereas he proved his expertise on monitor, he later turned identified for his enterprise sense off it. He labored in managerial positions for Ferrari and Jaguar, although he’s most well-known for his half in Mercedes.
He was instrumental in bringing Lewis Hamilton to Mercedes for the 2013 season, and labored with the crew till he handed away in 2019.
Read more about Niki Lauda’s 10 best races here.
Jim Clark, Lotus 49 Ford
Photograph by: Motorsport Images
=10. Jim Clark – 25 wins
- First race: 1960 Dutch Grand Prix
- World Championships: 2 (1963, 1965)
- Variety of races: 72
- Variety of wins: 25
- Variety of pole positions: 33
- Profession factors: 274
Jim Clark shunned the limelight and was solely eager about successful. From 1962-65, the Scottish ace was arguably solely overwhelmed on this planet title when he encountered mechanical points and on the time of his loss of life in 1968 – tragically throughout an F2 race at Hockenheim – he held the report for essentially the most race wins.
An unrivalled expertise, Clark was eight miles away from the closest competitor within the torrential rain at Spa in 1963, highlighting the bravery of a driver racing in essentially the most harmful interval of motorsport’s historical past.
Read more about Jim Clark’s greatest drives here.
PLUS: Who is the greatest driver of all time?
F1 drivers ranked by wins
| Driver | Races Began | Wins | Championships |
| Lewis Hamilton | 337 | 103 | 7 |
| Michael Schumacher | 308 | 91 | 7 |
| Max Verstappen | 190 | 58 | 3 |
| Sebastian Vettel | 299 | 53 | 4 |
| Alain Prost | 199 | 51 | 4 |
| Ayrton Senna | 161 | 41 | 3 |
| Fernando Alonso | 382 | 32 | 2 |
| Nigel Mansell | 187 | 31 | 1 |
| Jackie Stewart | 99 | 27 | 3 |
| Niki Lauda | 171 | 25 | 3 |
| Jim Clark | 72 | 25 | 2 |