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In this post, we will check out the top 10 greatest F1 drivers of all time.

Formula One (F1) is one of the most popular and prestigious forms of motorsport in the world.

The sport has seen some of the greatest drivers in history, competing in cutting-edge technology race cars at speeds of over 300 km/h. Over the years, F1 has been a platform for talent and determination, where drivers have pushed their limits and achieved greatness.

In this article, we will be taking a look at the top 10 greatest F1 drivers of all time. These drivers have earned their place in history with their exceptional driving skills, exceptional results, and contributions to the sport.

Their achievements have inspired generations of drivers, and their legacies will live on forever. Whether it’s their raw speed, incredible talent, or unyielding determination, these drivers have become legends in their own right.

Top 10 Greatest F1 Drivers of All Time

There are a few drivers that can lay claim to being the best of all time – and it’s a title that has been contested time and time again.

However, in the grand scheme of things, one driver stands head and shoulders above the rest – and that driver is Michael Schumacher.

The seven-time world champion is a driver that has inspired countless drivers to follow in his footsteps, and he will be remembered as one of the greatest drivers of all time.

Next up on the podium is Sebastian Vettel, who has won a total of four world championship titles. Lewis Hamilton is a seven-time world champion who has redefined the way we think of racing drivers, and Niki Lauda is a legend in his own right – a three-time world champion who is best known for his racing feats in the world championship.

So now without further delay, let’s go ahead and check out the top 10 greatest F1 drivers of all time.

10 Jim Clark

Jim Clark is one of the most iconic Formulae 1 driver of all time. He won two world championships, and 25 Grand Prix races, and held the fastest lap record for a long time.

He is a versatile driver, he contested in sports cars, touring cars, and in the Indianapolis 500, which he won in 1965.

Jim Clark was surely one of the most natural men to ever grace the game and arguably the most gifted driver of all time.

Clark set a total of 33 pole positions and won 25 of the 72 GP starts he made and had claimed numerous records.

His life was tragically cut short at 32 years old in a high-speed accident – but his legacy lives on through his amazing driving achievements.

If you’re a motorsport enthusiast or just a fan of great drivers, make sure to check out Jim Clark’s fantastic story.

9 Jackie Stewart

Jackie Stewart is one of racing all-time greatest drivers and one of the greatest racing legends of all time.

He was nicknamed the “Flying Scot”. He competed in Formula One between 1965 and 1973, winning three World Drivers’ Championships and twice finishing as runner-up over those nine seasons.

After graduating from high school in 1958, he moved to Europe to pursue racing car competitions and quickly found success as well as fame on many levels.

Racing circuit wins; world championship titles with Dunlop; vice president for sport for Ford Motor Company (FOCA) – first non-American driver to hold this position; awarded Officers Cross of the Order of Mer – all speak to his extraordinary racing talent.

Born on June 11, 1939, Jackie quickly became a driving sensation by winning international race events at an early age.

He won a total of 27 races during his career, which makes him one of the most successful F1 drivers ever.

Jackie is one of only a few drivers to have won world championship titles in different racing categories – Formula 1, sportscar racing, and endurance racing. He is number 7 in our list of the top 10 greatest F1 drivers of all time.

8 Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso is one of the best racing drivers of all time, and he’s not just a one-hit-wonder. He’s a skilled driver with a lot of experience, which is a great choice for those interested in racing.

He won the series’ World Drivers’ Championship in 2005 and 2006 with Renault and has also driven for McLaren, Ferrari, and Minardi.

With Toyota, Alonso won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, in 2018 and 2019, and the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2018–19. He also won the 24 Hours of Daytona with Wayne Taylor Racing in 2019.

He became only the third driver in history after Niki Lauda and Michael Schumacher – to wield the acceptable force of personality over Scuderia Ferrari to build the team convincingly around himself when he joined them in 2010.

Alonso had won a total of 32 Grands Prix, 22 pole positions, and 1,899 points from 311 starts. He is currently the only Spanish Formula One driver to have won either a Grand Prix or the World Championship. 

If you’re a racing enthusiast or simply looking for a great driver to watch, Fernando Alonso is a great choice. He is number 8 in our list of the top 10 greatest F1 drivers of all time.

7 Niki Lauda

Niki Lauda was a three-time F1 World Drivers’ Champion, winning in 1975, 1977, and 1984. He is the only driver in F1 history to have been champion for both Ferrari and McLaren.

Niki Lauda was a motorsports legend not only for his great driving skills but also for his remarkable personal life.

He is widely considered to be one of the greatest drivers in history, and his achievements have set him apart as a motorsports legend.

He will be remembered for his racing skills and his compassionate nature, which was evident in his time spent as a racing driver and later as a driver and team owner.

6 Juan Manuel Fangio

Juan Manuel Fangio nicknamed El Chueca or El Maestro was an Argentine racing car driver. He overpowered the first decade of Formula One racing, winning the World Drivers’ Championship five times.

Juan is one of the greatest Formula One driver of all time, and for a good reason. He was a master of racing and had a knack for winning.

Juan was known for his speed and skill, had 5 world championship titles, and the fastest lap ever recorded at a Formula One race of 203.654 km/h or 126.7 mph.

He holds the highest winning percentage in Formula One at 46.15%, winning 24 of 52 Formula One races he entered.

Fangio was also a master of car control, which helped him win a majority of races he entered. He was a true racing champion, and his legacy will live on for years to come.

5 Alain Prost

Alain Prost was A four-time Formula One Drivers’ Champion, from 1987 until 2001. He also held the record for most Grand Prix victories until Michael Schumacher surpassed Prost’s total of 51 victories at the 2001 Belgian Grand Prix.

Alain Prost was a motorsport champion and one of the greatest drivers of all time. He is best known for his time driving for Formula One racing champion McLaren-Honda, winning 24 races in total.

Alain Prost was a dark horse candidate for the best driver ever, and his influence on the sport is still felt today.

A champion of motorsport, Alain Prost is a true motorsport icon and a true legend. He is number 5 in our list of the top 10 greatest F1 drivers of all time.

4 Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel has won four World Drivers’ Championship titles, which he won consecutively from 2010 to 2013.

Vettel is the youngest World Champion in Formula 1. He also has the third-most race victories (53) and podium finishes (122) and fourth-most pole positions (57).

He also holds the records for most podium finishes in a season, most wins in a season, most pole positions in a season, most laps led in a season, most consecutive wins, most consecutive grand slams, and most wins from pole position in a season.

Sebastian Vettel is a driver of sheer talent and skill. He has won world championship titles in Formula One racing and NASCAR – a testament to his extraordinary abilities.

3 Ayrton Senna

Ayrton Senna was a Brazilian racing driver who won the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship in 1988, 1990, and 1991.

Senna is one of three Formula One driver from Brazil to win the World Championship and won 41 Grands Prix and 65 pole positions.

He was a motorsport legend who is considered one of the greatest drivers in history. Senna is best known for his time racing in Formula One, where he won three world championships – twice with McLaren and once with Williams.

Ayrton Senna’s death in a racing accident at the age of 34 remains a tragedy to this day, and his legacy of racing will continue to inspire drivers and fans for years to come.

2 Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher is a German former racing driver who contested in Formula One for Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, and Mercedes.

Schumacher has a joint record of seven World Drivers’ Championship titles (tied with Lewis Hamilton). He also held many records including most wins (91), pole positions (68), and podium finishes (155)—which have since been broken by Hamilton.

Michael Schumacher had everything which makes him one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time: speed, focus, courage, determination, consistency, and audacity.

Michael Schumacher is one of the greatest drivers of all time and one of the most celebrated athletes of all time. He is a seven-time Formula One world champion and one of the most decorated drivers in history.

He first came to prominence as a racing driver when he won his first championship title in 1984. After a successful career in Formula One, Schumacher retired from racing in 2006 but continued to participate in other races until he suffered a skiing accident that ended his career.

He is one of the most popular drivers of all time and a symbol of excellence in sports. Born on January 3, 1969, in Hürth-Hermülhein, West Germany, Schumacher is a racing driver who will always be remembered for his incredible achievements.

1 Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton is one of the world’s greatest racing drivers, and his accomplishments are nothing short of spectacular.

In Formula One, Hamilton has won a joint-record seven World Drivers’ Championship titles (tied with Michael Schumacher) and holds the records for the most wins (103), pole positions (103), and podium finishes (183), among others.

Changes to the regulations for 2014 directing the use of turbo-hybrid engines saw the start of a highly flourishing period for Hamilton.

During the turbo-hybrid engine era, he won a total of six titles. He won Consecutive titles in 2014 and 2015 during an intense rivalry with teammate Nico Rosberg.

Following Rosberg’s retirement, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel became Hamilton’s tightest rival in two extreme championship battles, in which Hamilton twice toppled mid-season point deficits to proclaim consecutive titles again in 2017 and 2018.

He has won multiple world championships, and his resume includes numerous record-breaking performances. He is number 1 in our list of the top 10 greatest F1 drivers of all time.