last year, Max Verstappen what crowned 2021 Formula One World Champion in dramatic circumstances. On the final lap of the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, he grabbed the points he needed to secure the title. In doing so, the Flying Dutchman joined the ranks of some true F1 hall of famers. But who are the most successful Formula 1 drivers of all time?
The most successful Formula 1 drivers of all time
It is difficult to compare the best drivers in the history of F1 with current drivers. Therefore, our top 10 is based on the percentage of races won compared to race starts. The results might surprise you…
01
Alain Prost – 25.25 percent
Alain Prost is one of the most successful F1 drivers, ever
© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
‘The Professor’ was one of the greatest F1 drivers of the 1980s and 1990s. Especially during his memorable battle against Ayrton Senna. Alain Prost was active in Formula 1 between 1980 and 1991 and competed again in 1993. In 1997, he took over the traditional French racing team Ligier and renamed it Prost Grand Prix to compete in the Formula 1 World Championship until 2001.
cheers competed 202 times in Formula 1 and achieved 51 race victories. During his active career, he was crowned F1 world champion four times (1985, 1986, 1989 and 1993).
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02
Ayrton Senna – 25.46 percent
Ayrton Senna is an icon of the sport
© GEPA pictures / Red Bull Content Pool
Ayrton Senna is one of the greatest names Formula 1 has ever produced. the three-time world champion (1988, 1990 and 1991) competed 161 times in the premier class, claiming 41 victories before his career was ended far too soon by his tragic death in 1994.
03
Jackie Stewart – 27.00 percent
Sir Jackie Stewart, F1 legend
© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Sir Jackie Stewart was active in Formula 1 between 1965 and 1973 and competed in exactly 100 races. Hey won 27 of them. But even after his end as an active driver, Stewart remained faithful to Formula 1. In 1997 he even entered his own racing team, which was later sold to Jaguar. in 2005, Red Bull Racing emerged from the Jaguar team.Red Bull Racing on the road: the ‘Red Bull Racing Road Trips‘Take drivers and teams to exciting locations around the globe. Things can get pretty cool, like the ice duel between Max Verstappen and Franky Zorn.
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04
Michael Schumacher – 29.55 percent
Michael Schumacher talks to Sebastian Vettel
© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Michael sSchumacher was the most dominant Formula 1 driver of the 1990s and 2000s and secured several records during his active time. With seven world championship titles for Benneton (1994 and 1995), and Ferrari (between 2000 and 2004), MSC will forever hold a place in the Formula One history books.
Despite being one of the most successful Formula 1 drivers of all time, his race wins-to-race starts ratio is only enough for 7th place in this list. Schumacher raced 308 times in Formula 1, winning 91 races.
05
Bill Vukovich and Lee Wallard – 33.33 percent
Bill Vukovich at the 1952 Indianapolis 500
© IMS
The two Americans Bill Vukovich other Lee Wallard share 5th place in our list, as both were able to win a third of the races they entered. Both were active in the 1950s and competed much less often than any of the other riders on our list.
Vukovic has made six Formula 1 starts, of which he won two races. Wallard, on the other hand, only competed three times and won one Grand Prix.
06
Jim Clark – 34.25 percent
Jim Clark driving for Lotus
© lotus
The great Scot Jim Clark was active in Formula 1 between 1960 and 1968, when he died in a tragic accident at the F1 Grand Prix of Hockenheim, aged just 32. In 1963 and 1965 he was crowned champion while driving for Lotus. In total, Clark Jr. competed 73 times, winning 25 races. Rank 4 in our list.
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07
Lewis Hamilton – 35.76 percent
F1 icon Lewis Hamilton with his fierce rival Max Verstappen
© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Sir Lewis Hamilton is a giant of F1 and the most successful driver in the sport’s recent history. He has started 288 Grands Prix in Formula 1 and has won an incredible 103 races, finishing on the podium 182 times.
He first raced F1 in the 2007 season and equaled Michael Schumacher’s record in the 2020 season by being crowned Formula One World Champion for the seventh time.
In 2021, Hamilton was very close to securing an eighth title before Max Verstappen snatched victory on the last lap of the final race of the season.
08
Alberto Ascari – 39.39 percent
the two-time World Champion from Italy was one of the biggest F1 stars of the 1950s and was active for Ferrari, Maserati and Lancia. Ascari won 13 of his 33 races.
At the same time, Ascari is one of only two F1 World Champions from Italy, along with Giuseppe Farina, and the only Italian to win the world championship for Ferrari.
09
Juan Manuel Fangio – 46.15 percent
Juan Manuel Fangio
©Mercedes
Born in 1911, Argentinean driver Juan-Manuel Fangio was known as ‘El Maestro’, and for good reason. hey is the most successful Formula 1 driver of all time. Fangio became world champion five times for four different teams, and never finished a Grand Prix in lower than second place.
In 52 Formula 1 races, he took 24 race wins and finished on the podium 35 times.
