The world’s premier motor sport has seen some truly remarkable men in the last century of all nationalities, many with different impacts—but whose record stacks up the best?
Statistically, German Michael Schumacher is the greatest F1 driver, with seven world championships, including most constructers (car makers) titles, race victories, pole positions, points scored and biggest title winning margins. He has won the most races in a single season—and remains the only F1 driver to have a full season of podium finishes in 2002.
While motor purists would argue that the German’s competition was not fierce—it was his turning around of Ferrari in the late nineties that began his legend. The traditional heavy v12 of the Ferrari struggled against the smaller more efficient v10’s of other cars, and the performance of the pit crews were inferior to the then big teams of Benetton (whom he won titles with in 1994 and 1995) and Williams.
He proclaimed that the new model Ferrari 412T would win championships—and in 1999 Ferrari won the constructers title before Michael began his remarkable run of five consecutive world titles.
If the German iceman had one weakness, it was his attitude at times—and his desire to push the code of racing to the limits; with numerous drivers belligerent with his driving style, which would often run illegal lines to dominate on the track.
The Brazilian Ayrton Senna had similar traits. The three time world champion was the charismatic and had a daunting presence on and off the field and brought Formula One racing to an entire new audience.
Like Michael, he was an incredible wet weather driver—an attribute more the impressive for the glass like handling of the Formula beasts, especially when taking 200 km/ph turns. His death at the San Marino 1994 Grand Prix further increased the impact of the great man, and dominated sports media unlike any other event the world had seen.
The only man to match the Brazilian race for race in this era was the great French driver Alain Prost, whom maintained the greatest single rivalry the sport has ever seen. Prost won four world titles, with his last coming in 1993 as Schumacher came into the scene. The first technical driving specialist of the sport—some argue he was unlucky not to win the titles from 1982 to 1984.
18 comments Last one added 4 months ago — Leave a Comment
Billy Sexton 7 months ago
ahh the age old arguement of "Who is the best?"
In my opinion its Schumacher, nobody can argue with stats. However, if you put him in Fangio or Clark's machinery would he be as good as he was? Or had Ayrton Senna lived on in 1994 would he be a seven time world champion or one less, 6 times? So many questions can be asked and people have different opinions.
Modern drivers have a shout in the competition also. Alonso could turn out to be the greatest (and I think that is actually realistic) or Hamilton could dominate. Some even say Kimi Raikkonen is the best... he is certainly the fastest.
Good article mate, keep it up.
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James Mortimer 7 months ago
Thanks Billy.
Although based on my research Fangio is a machine - I always had a soft spot for Schumacher.
There was something special about him and the devil red Ferrari they made F1 compelling to watch. Still enjoy the sport of course, but it's never been the same without him.
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Adam Poole 7 months ago
Aint going to be Alonso - read my latest article :D
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Michael Griffin 7 months ago
Good article mate, the never ending saga of the best eh?
I think it is Graham Hill, and the reason is that he won the f1 title, le mans, indy 500 AND monaco gp in his career. That is simply phenomenal, and no F1 driver today would dare attempt such versatility.
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Long John Silver 7 months ago
am gonna say Lewis Hamilton -
why not
for shits and giggles ....
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Michael Griffin 7 months ago
haha, nice one mate, so many seven year old kids will agree with you lol.
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James Mortimer 7 months ago
Yeah, Graham Hill was the first driver I remember racing - and when it comes to such versatility, he couldn't be matched.
Could you imagine Rossi or Hamilton trying to switch codes?
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Michael Griffin 7 months ago
I could imagine Rossi doing it, he should have in my view. Well, he has said that after two more years in Moto GP, he will switch to the WRC, amazing stuff really.
Hamilton? Not a chance, he'd kill everybody and himself haha! Although, he might be good in truck racing....
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L.J. Burgess 7 months ago
By that standard...Andretti.
IROC Champion
F1 Title w/ 12 Wins
Champ Car Title / 52 Wins
2nd at Le Mans
3 X Winner 12 Hours of Sebring
24 Hours of Daytona Winner
Indy 500 Winner
Daytona 500 Winner
Pikes Peak Hill Climb Winner
USAC Sprint Car Champ (Dirt)
Driver of the Year 3 Decades: '67, '78, '84
111 Wins in 11 Different Disciplines
AP 'Driver of the Century'
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Andrew Fletcher 7 months ago
The best drivers are always the old school ones who drove during the early history of the sport. I would have to go with the Michael Schumacher of the 50's, Alberto Ascari.
He won his very first race at the old school Nurburging and followed in up with a victory on the road course/oval version on Monza, finishing 2nd in the standings.
He then went and dominating the following two seasons including in 1952, where he won every points championship race and always had the fastest lap, scoring a total of maximum points. (Something Schumacher didn't do)
Total of wins in a row was 9, which was in France in 1953, but it didn't matter as he would win the championship again that year.
Stats
33 Career Races
13 Wins
9 in a row
If he wasn't killed at Monza in '55, he could have easily taken more championships in that decade
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Jamie Arnold 7 months ago
How about Giles Villeneuve?
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L.J. Burgess 7 months ago
Oh please...
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Callum Wilson 7 months ago
Jack Brabham anyone?
No one else has driven their own car to a world championship.
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Ted Voulgaris 7 months ago
With regard to Graham Hill. When he won one of his world championships (I confess I can't remember which one it was, but I think it may have been his first) a journalist asked him, "How does it feel to be the fastest racing driver in the world?" Hill responded, "I'm not the fastest driver. Stirling Moss is." Hill was a great and versatile driver, but he was a bit far off the best of all time.
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L.J. Burgess 7 months ago
IROC Champion
F1 Title w/ 12 Wins
Champ Car Title / 52 Wins
2nd at Le Mans
3 X Winner 12 Hours of Sebring
24 Hours of Daytona Winner
Indy 500 Winner
Daytona 500 Winner
Pikes Peak Hill Climb Winner
USAC Sprint Car Champ (Dirt)
Driver of the Year 3 Decades: '67, '78, '84
111 Wins in 11 Different Disciplines
AP 'Driver of the Century'
Andretti
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Paul 7 months ago
Nice article! Juan has a shadow covering his being called the best. He raced in an era where the team leader, was the absolute ruler. As such the team could pull over the team mate and pass over the car to the leader. This situation arose and afforded Fangio not only a win, it also gave him a title. Not to mention that he drove for 5 teams in 8 seasons, was a clear indication that he just drove for the team with the fastest car.
While his numerical achievements are astounding, he is not in the same class as some others, including a driver from the same era, Alberto Ascari!
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Paul 7 months ago
My pick, Michael Schumacher
The best of the rest:
Clark, Ascari, Fangio, Prost, Senna!
Next level:
Stewart, Hill, Brabham, Piquet
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Paul 7 months ago
This of course if the line "best of all time" only includes the modern era (post 1949)
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kurt daniel 4 months ago
For me, there’s no doubt that Schuey had some amazing skills in new family car racing back in his day.
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