Top Five Greatest Formula 1 Driver’s of all Time

Who do you think the top five formula one drivers of all time are? I believe that is an intriguing question. Formula One racing, which was set in 1950, has seen a number of skilled drivers and teams race each other for the world championship. The greatest F1 drivers sometimes seem to make racing almost look easy. To triumph in Formula One racing, you must have five vital qualities; a fast car, skill, determination, self-confidence and a good team. Here are the top five F1 drivers of all time, based on several measurable statistics. 

Here are the top five F1 drivers of all time, based on several measurable statistics.

 Why just five? Because there are only five fingers on my hands.

5. Ayrton Senna

    Championships: Three (1988, 1990, 1991)

    Number of Wins: 41

One of Formula one’s  most legendary figures, Ayrton Senna, of South American   origin, started     racing go-karts at the age of 13. In 1983, he won the formula three championship, joined the formula in 1984 finishing 9th place in the championship. In 1985, he ended the season     third on the rankings. His greatest success came with McLaren where he won the 1988 championship. In 1990, he won his second championship of his career in Japan at the expense of his former teammate Alain Prost. He followed it up with his third career championship in 1990. In 1994, he moved to Williams, but tragically died in a crash during the San Marino Grand Prix. He had a total of 41 wins  in his career.

4. Alain Prost

    Championships: Four (1985.1986,1989, 1993)

    Number of wins: 51

Alain’s F1 career started at McLaren in  1980 but ended on a disappointing note. His career took a positive turn in 1982 where he finished 4th on the drivers ranking. In ’83 he finished within 2 points of winning the title. In ’84 he battled Niki Lauda finishing within half  point of the championship back to back and later in ’89 he beat Senna to the title. At age 38, he signed off from formula one winning his fourth title.

3. Sebastian Vettel 

    Championships: Four (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

    Number of wins: 53

Vettel’s career F1 career began in 2007 while standing in  for Robet Kubica after the latter’s crash midway through the season. His first three seasons, though unsuccessful, saw him climb the podium nine times. Over the next four years he won consecutive championships and secured many records including the record of the youngest driver to win the championship. Vettel recently moved to Aston Martin, recording the team’s first podium in Azerbaijan in 2021.

2. Micheal Schumacher

    Championship: 7 (1994-1995, 2000-2004)

    Number of wins: 91

Micheal Schumacher had the combination of raw talent, bravery, focus, speed, judgement, character and arrogance. He is arguably the best the sport of F1 has ever seen. He was, until the rise of Hamilton, the face of domination. Every record book had and still has his name in it. He took his first two world titles with Benetton in ’94 and ’95. His best years were with Ferrari where he won five straight titles with his best-ever season coming in 2004 where he won 12 of the first 13 races. He retired in 2006,but returned in 2010 with Mercedes where he recorded his final podium in 2012.

1. Lewis Hamilton

    Championship: 7 (2008, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017-2020)

    Number of wins: 103

Hamilton debuted in 2007 and went on to finish one point behind winner Kimi Raikkonen by a single point. He was relatively quiet in the years that followed, but his career took a positive turn in 2014 when the regulations changed. Mercedes mastered the turbo-hybrid engines and that helped Hamilton to a championship double. In 2016, his teammate Nico Rosberg won the title and afterwards, Hamilton’s dominance flourished. Though he missed out on his eight title of his career, he’ll be back season fighting for the undisputed title of best Formula one driver of all time.