Who Is The Greatest F1 Driver Of All Time?

Max Verstappen is on the cusp of clinching a third consecutive F1 Drivers’ Championship title after dominating his rivals this season. The flying Dutchman is now 177 points clear of his closest rival, Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, with just 180 points left to play for. He has won 12 out of 15 races this year, leaving him on course for a record points haul. Verstappen is now being mentioned as one of the greatest drivers of all time, but where does he currently rank in the pantheon of legendary F1 superstars? Read on to find out where we have placed him in our rundown of the best drivers in history.

10. FERNANDO ALONSO

World Championships: 2 (2005, 2006)

Race Wins: 32

Pole Positions: 22

Career Points: 2,235

Alonso’s fearless, aggressive approach propelled him to back-to-back F1 titles in 2005 and 2006. He shot to superstardom in the 2005 season, when he ended Michael Schumacher’s record-breaking run of five straight titles with Ferrari. The Spaniard then finished 13 points clear of Schumacher in 2006, cementing his status as a world-class driver. His luck then ran out, but he finished runner-up on four occasions, often missing out on the title by agonizingly tight margins. Alonso’s brilliance extends beyond titles. His exceptional race craft, consistency and adaptability have earned him a place among the elite, and he is still going strong to this day.

9. SIR JACKIE STEWART

World Championships: 3 (1969, 1971, 1973)

Race Wins: 27

Pole Positions: 17

Career Points: 359

Stewart is a true F1 legend, widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers of all time. His career unfolding during the 1960s and early 1970s, culminating in three world titles. Aside from his skill, consistency and mental fortitude, Stewart is also lauded as a tireless advocate for safety. He pushed for several pioneering, critical reforms, which have ultimately saved countless lives within the sport.

8. MAX VERSTAPPEN

World Championships: 2 (2021, 2022)

Race Wins: 48

Pole Positions: 29

Career Points: 2,411.5

Verstappen currently ranks at No. 8 in our list, but he seems destined to soar far higher in the years ahead. In 2022, he broke Sir Lewis Hamilton’s record for the most points in a season when he racked up 454. The Red Bull driver is on course to shatter that record this year, as he already has 400 points, with six races remaining. He also clinched 10 consecutive wins this season, setting another F1 record, and the sky is the limit for the supremely talented 26-year-old driver. We expect to see many more Max Verstappen records set in the future.

7. NIKI LAUDA

World Championships: 3 (1975, 1977, 1984)

Race Wins: 25

Pole Positions: 24

Career Points: 420.5

Niki Lauda’s career was defined by his remarkable resilience and outstanding skill. He secured three world titles, and he was renowned for his fierce work ethic and analytical prowess. However, Lauda's enduring legacy is often attributed to his incredible recovery from a life-threatening accident in 1976. Just six weeks after a shocking crash at the Nürburgring, he returned to racing, demonstrating phenomenal levels of determination and courage. This remarkable comeback story, coupled with his technical ability, ensured Lauda’s place among the all-time F1 greats.

6. SEBASTIAN VETTEL

World Championships: 4 (2010-13)

Race Wins: 53

Pole Positions: 57

Career Points: 3,098

Verstappen still has some way to go in order to eclipse Vettel’s run of four consecutive F1 titles for Red Bull between 2010 and 2013. There are many similarities between them, as they were both blessed with an extremely powerful Red Bull car during a period of dominance for the Austrian team, while they both managed to outshine their teammates. Vettel’s dominance ended in 2014, when the regulation changes did not suit him or Red Bull, and he would only win 13 more races throughout his career. Yet he was still regarded as one of the best drivers in the business until he retired in 2022, and his legacy will endure.

5. AYRTON SENNA

World Championships: 3 (1988, 1990-91)

Race Wins: 41

Pole Positions: 65

Career Points: 610.5

We will never know how many world titles the prodigiously talented Brazilian driver would have earned if he had not died at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. He already had three under his belt by that point, and his raw talent and fearless style had earned him legendary status. He is still renowned as one of the most exciting drivers ever, but his career was sadly cut short.

4. ALAIN PROST

World Championships: 4 (1985-86, 1989, 1993)

Race Wins: 51

Pole Positions: 33

Career Points: 768.5

Prost’s F1 career is celebrated for his tactical brilliance and impressive consistency. He clinched four F1 Driver’s Championships – in 1985, 1986, 1989, 1993 and won 51 Grands Prix, making him one of the most successful drivers in history. Prost was renowned for his strategic approach, often outsmarting opponents through precise driving and pioneering tire management. His fierce rivalry with Senna in the late 1980s is legendary, as it showcased contrasting styles. Prost’s ability to adapt to various cars and teams over the years underlined his status as one of the sport’s greatest drivers, earning him the nickname “The Professor”.

3. JUAN MANUEL FANGIO

World Championships: 5 (1951, 1954-57)

Race Wins: 24

Pole Positions: 29

Career Points: 245

Fangio’s five titles in the 1950s set a record that stood for decades. His smooth driving style and strategic brilliance make him a legendary figure within the sport. El Maestro drove for Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Mercedes and Ferrari, earning 24 wins from just 51 starts during his career. That leaves him with the highest winning percentage in history. He dominated the first decade of F1 racing, and he will forever be remembered as an icon of the sport.

2. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

World Championships: 7 (1994-95, 2000-04)

Race Wins: 91

Pole Positions: 68

Career Points: 1,566

Schumacher secured back-to-back titles with Benetton in the mid-1990s and then dominated the F1 scene during his time with Ferrari at the turn of the century. He was known for his unrelenting competitiveness and his sheer athleticism, which was ground-breaking within the sport. Records tumbled in his wake, and many consider him the greatest driver of all time.

1. LEWIS HAMILTON

World Championships: 7 (2008, 2014-15, 2017-20)

Race Wins: 103

Pole Positions: 104

Career Points: 4,595.5

Hamilton finally equalled Schumacher’s record of seven world titles when he seized glory in 2020. He came within a whisker of eclipsing the German in 2021, only to be denied in controversial fashion on the final day of the season. That defeat to Verstappen still rankles, as the FIA World Motor Sport Council ruled that he was denied the chequered flag due to a “human error” from race director Michael Masi. Nevertheless, he still holds the records for the most career wins, pole positions and points, and there is still time for him to secure that elusive eighth world title, even if he is an underdog in the motor racing spread betting this season. However, he will need to fend off his Dutch rival, who will be intent on setting more Max Verstappen F1 records in the years ahead.