Who really is the best F1 driver ever has been an interesting discussion for a long time. You cannot compare the drivers of today with the big names of the past. However, we are going to make a statement about this. We give twice a top 5 of the best F1 drivers ever, but both are explained in a different way.
Top 5 best F1 drivers ever based on victories
The first top 5 we are going to discuss is based on wins. This way of explaining is most commonly used to define who is actually the best. Below are the top 5 best F1 drivers based on victories:
1. Lewis Hamilton – 103 wins (active)
- Race One: 2007 Australian Grand Prix
- World titles: 7 (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
- Number of starts: 305 (and increasing)
- Number of wins: 103
- Number of pole positions: 103
Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton took a first-class podium finish in 2007 and in 2020 equaled Michael Schumacher’s record to claim his seventh F1 world championship title. Hamilton was competing with Verstappen until the last race for the world title in 2021, but Max Verstappen took a decisive lead on the last lap. Hamilton started 305 GPs in F1 and won a whopping 103 races. he was on the podium 182 times.
2. Michael Schumacher – 91 wins
- First race: 1991 Belgian Grand Prix
- World Titles: 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
- Number of starts: 308
- Number of wins: 91
- Number of pole positions: 68
Michael Schumacher was the most dominant F1 driver in the 1900s and 2000s, setting several records. With seven world titles won with Benetton (1994 and 1995) and Ferrari (2000-2004), MSC will be forever remembered in Formula 1 history. Schumacher is in a respectable second place on this list, having completed 308 races and having won 91 races.
3. Sebastian Vettel – 53 wins (active)
- Race One: 2007 American Grand Prix
- World titles: 4 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
- Number of starts: 294 (and increasing)
- Number of wins: 53
- Number of pole positions: 57
At the age of 26, Sebastian Vettel won four consecutive World Championships with Red Bull and has secured many other records in the sport. The German racing driver no longer has much time to defend his records, as he has announced that he will retire from Formula 1 after the 2022 season. With 39 wins from 120 races for Red Bull, Vettel alone comes in 3rd place in this. list.
4. Alain Prost – 51 wins
- First race: 1980 Argentina Grand Prix
- World Titles: 4 (1985, 1986, 1989, 1993)
- Number of starts: 199
- Number of wins: 51
- Number of pole positions: 33
‘The Professor’ was one of the greatest F1 drivers of the 1980s and 1990s and owes this reputation largely to his memorable battle with Ayrton Senna. Alain Prost was active in Formula 1 from 1980 to 1991, then took a short break before returning to action in 1993. In 1997 he bought the French racing team Ligier, renamed it Prost Grand Prix and competed in the world championship until 2001.
5. Ayrton Senna – 41 wins
- First race: 1984 Brazilian Grand Prix
- World Titles: 3 (1988, 1990, 1991)
- Number of starts: 161
- Number of wins: 45
- Number of pole positions: 65
Ayrton Senna is one of the best-known figures in Formula 1. The three-time world champion (1988, 1990, 1991) took part in 161 races and won 41. Senna’s career was ended much too early by his tragic death in 1994. The Grand German Prix at the Nürburgring was canceled several times because of many accidents, but none as bad as Ayrton Senna’s. Ayrton Senna drove straight ahead at full speed after the straight in the Tamburello corner. He barely braked and hits the wall at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour. While the race continues, the Brazilian top driver is taken to hospital. It turns out that a suspension rod pierced his helmet and Senna died on May 1, 1994.
Top 5 best F1 drivers ever based on percentages
The second top 5 that we show is based on percentages. The percentages are calculated by dividing the number of wins by the number of races the driver has completed. This makes it easy to see what percentage of the races the top 5 drivers have won.
1. Juan Manuel Fangio – 46.15%
- First race: 1950 Great Britain Grand Prix
- World Titles: 5 (1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957)
- Number of starts: 52
- Number of wins: 24
- Number of pole positions: 29
The Argentine, nicknamed ‘El Maestro’, is the most successful F1 driver of all time. Fangio is more than just a five-time world champion with four different teams. Every season he took part in every race and was always 2nd or winner! Juan Manuel Fangio has driven 52 times in F1, won 24 races and finished on the podium 35 times. Impressive!
2. Alberto Ascari – 39.39%
- First race: 1950 Monaco Grand Prix
- World Titles: 2 (1952, 1953)
- Number of starts: 33
- Number of wins: 13
- Number of pole positions: 14
The two-time world champion from Italy was one of the biggest F1 stars of the 1950s, driving for Ferrari, Maserati and Lancia. Ascari won 13 of 33 races. Incidentally, along with Giuseppe Farina, there are only two F1 world champions from Italy. He is also the only Italian to win the world championship with Ferrari.
3. Lewis Hamilton – 34.45% (active)
- Race One: 2007 Australian Grand Prix
- World titles: 7 (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
- Number of starts: 305 (and increasing)
- Number of wins: 103
- Number of pole positions: 103
Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton also made it to this list of the best F1 drivers ever. He is now only in 3rd place instead of 1st. This is mainly because Hamilton has driven a lot of races compared to the other drivers in this list.
4. Jim Clark – 34.25%
- First race: 1962 Belgian Grand Prix
- World Titles: 2 (1963, 1965)
- Number of starts: 73
- Number of wins: 25
- Number of pole positions: 33
Scottish James Clark raced in Formula 1 from 1960 to 1968. In 1963 and 1965 he became world champion with Lotus. In total, Clark made 73 appearances and won 25 races, placing him fourth on this list. He died at the age of 32 in a tragic accident during the Hockenheim F1 Grand Prix. A broken tire or wheel hub was probably the reason that his car at 240 km per hour (almost at top speed) became uncontrollable and came to a stop against a tree.
5. Michael Schumacher – 29.55%
- First race: 1991 Belgian Grand Prix
- World Titles: 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
- Number of starts: 308
- Number of wins: 91
- Number of pole positions: 68
No list is complete without Michael Schumacher, of course this F1 legend also belongs on this list. He has also dropped slightly, from 2nd to 5th, for the same reason as Lewis Hamilton. Schumacher has also driven many races compared to the other drivers in this list.
Conclusion
Who is ultimately the best F1 driver ever? This may sound very simple, but it varies from person to person. One person likes Max Verstappen’s driving style and the other thinks Sebastian Vettel is a much better driver. Your own preference therefore also plays a major role and there is not ‘1 best f1 driver ever’ for everyone. This is more down to your own opinion than hard numbers.