Top 10 Formula 1 Drivers Ever: Achievements, Wins and Records

At number one, we have statistically the greatest driver ever, Sir Lewis Hamilton. In 2024, Hamilton ended a two-and-a-half-year drought and picked up two wins at the 2024 British and Belgian Grand Prix, tiling his win count to 105.

Hamilton’s success in the sport is undeniable, but in 2025, he will switch from silver to red and join Scuderia Ferrari at 40. Will Hamilton become the first eight-time Formula 1 champion at a team that has seen many drivers fail to deliver a championship? 

The British driver could stand alone in the world championships, the final piece of the jigsaw, ahead of Ferrari’s most successful driver, Michael Schumacher. 

Michael Schumacher’s place at number two saw him become the most successful Formula 1 driver before Lewis Hamilton eclipsed him. Schumacher won back-to-back world championships with Benneton before moving to a worse-for-wear Ferrari outfit and played a pivotal role in forming one of the most dominant periods ever seen by any driver. 

In 2000, the German star ended 21 years of Ferrari turmoil to become the driver's champion before completing four additional championships with the Italian giants. Schumacher is still the only driver to win five championships on the bounce from 2000 to 2004, with one of the most dominant car and driver combinations in history.

At number three is Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna. Many regard the three-time world champion as their greatest driver of all time. The three-time world champion’s speed and determination set him apart from other drivers because of his sheer speed.

His legacy is one of his defining attributes after his career was cut short at the 1994 Imola Grand Prix, where he had a fatal accident. Over 30 years, the world remembers fondly what was one of the best operators behind the wheel. 

Despite having fewer wins and championships than the three drivers behind him, the Brazilian driver has painted a legacy for himself that will always be overwhelmingly positive. However, 41 wins and three championships is not an unsuccessful career by any means.

The current formidable force in the sport is newly crowned four-time champion Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver has recently taken dominance to new levels in this regulation era, winning 19 out of 22 races from the 2023 season and 15 wins in 2022. 

The Dutch star has claimed numerous individual records, is now third in the most wins of all time and is in the running to equal Juan Manuel Fangio’s tally of five world championships before the new regulation change in 2026.

These achievements were all completed before his 28th birthday. Therefore, if the car permits, he is well on his way to setting more records. He is undoubtedly the best driver on the grid at present, but Red Bull’s performance drop in throughput in 2024 means work needs to be done to get back to its peak-level operation in 2023. 

Former four-time champion Sebastian Vettel occupies fifth on this list, though there are arguments he could be higher. Vettel became the youngest world champion in 2010, winning at 23 and went on to win four championships in a row at the age of 26. It seems impossible that this accolade will be beaten, and Vettel’s ability always seems to go under the radar.

The German star has delivered countless incredible moments and even won nine races in a row, a record that stood until Verstappen completed ten in a row. Vettel is Ferrari’s third-all-time leader in wins but doesn’t have a world championship despite coming short of Mercedes’ dominance in the hybrid era. 

Vettel is fourth on the all-time winners list, a record that will likely remain for a long time. However, he is joint third and fourth with the most wins in a single season with Red Bull in his 2011 and 2013 winning campaigns. 

Frenchman Alain Prost is seventh on this list. Like the two drivers above him, Prost was widely considered the most successful driver of all time in his era. He is a four-time champion. 

He could not eclipse Fangio in championships but had most of the other stats in his favour. Notably famous for his key rival with Senna, the duo shared championships from 1988-1991. Prost holds the records for most wins, fastest laps and podiums over Senna. 

However, one achievement that cements his greatness on this list was after being sacked by Ferrari for his criticism of the team’s car, which left him without a driver in 1992. Despite that, he returned for one final hurrah in 1993 with Williams and won his fourth and final championship before retiring. 

Niki Lauda//Getty Images

Niki Lauda is next on our list. The three-time Formula 1 champion has records many would be proud of. The Austrian racer transformed Ferrari and won two world championships with the team. 

He survived a near-fatal crash at the Nürburgring in 1976 and miraculously returned to racing six weeks later. He nearly won the championship before sticking to his principles, which granted rival James Hunt the championship title. But one more forgotten achievement was a comeback after retiring to accompany Prost at McLaren, where he won his third and final crown before packing up driving for good in 1985. 

The Austrians played a pivotal role in recruiting Hamilton to Mercedes later on, and they shared a great relationship until his passing in 2019. 

Sir Jackie Stewart is one of four Brits to feature on this. The successful Scottish driver was the most successful British driver until Hamilton’s dominance, having won three championships in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Despite his capabilities on track, Stewart played a pivotal role in the advancement of safety in the sport following the passing of his many competitors. He helped create safer cars, improve safety standards off track, and his legacy will always be remembered fondly due to this. 

After his retirement, Stewart was the most successful driver in the sport, with 27 wins and 43 podiums. He is currently the oldest living Grand Prix winner and was knighted in 2001 for his contributions to motorsport.

Jim Clark//Getty Images

To keep the Scottish theme going, next on our list is one of Stewart’s main rivals, Jim Clark. This Scottish driver is widely considered one of the greatest of all time, based on his statistics in his 72-race career. 

His career was cut short after a lethal crash at Hockenheim in 1968 from the injuries he sustained, but his iconic partnership with Lotus brought great success to himself and the team.

Two world championships, 25 wins, 33 pole positions, 28 fastest laps, and feats outside of Formula 1 recognise Clark as one of the best drivers. His smooth driving style stole the show, and he was among the paddock's most respected.

The third and final active driver on this list is Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard is the only driver to race in 400+ Grand Prix but doesn’t look as though he is ready to pack it up just yet. The two-time champion is set to embark on yet another season in the sport in 2025 with Aston Martin, the team that recently acquired technical genius Adrian Newey.

Alonso’s career can be summed up as what could have been despite winning 32 races and two championships. He came a few points away from winning the 2010 and 2012 championships and had dealt with unreliable cars for several years of his career.

However, while he is still going at the grand old age of 43, Alonso’s two-decade-long quest for a third title is slowly losing sight. Despite being motivated as ever, these next couple of years will define his legacy with the help of Newey heading into the following regulations.