Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, where the fastest and most skilled drivers compete for glory and fame. The modern day F1 matadors have entertained spectators for more than 70 years and have defied death and injury to compete for the highest honor in motorsport.
But who is the greatest F1 driver of all time? This is a question that has sparked endless debates among fans, experts, and drivers themselves. There are many factors that could be considered to answer this question, such as statistics, achievements, skills, personality, and legacy.
In this article, we will explore some of these factors and present some of the candidates for the title of the best F1 driver ever.
How Do You Define The Best F1 Driver Ever?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as different people may have different opinions and criteria for defining the best F1 driver ever.
To find the answer as to who is the best F1 driver ever it is important to remove all of the emotion and to establish some objective criteria that we can use to score the famous drivers against.
The factors we use are
Who Is The Greatest F1 Driver Of All Time – The Racings Statistics
The number and percentage of race wins, pole positions, podiums, fastest laps, and championships achieved by the driver.
To work out the score we will simply add each of the metrics listed and arrive at a total value.
Who Is The Greatest F1 Driver Of All Time – The Drivers Consistency
The quality and consistency of the driver’s performance across different seasons, teams, cars, circuits, and weather conditions.
This is a little subjective, however we will score the drivers average finishing position in each race they completed. A First place equals a score of 20 and a DNF result 1.
Who Is The Greatest F1 Driver Of All Time – The Drivers Ability
The driver’s skill, talent, speed, intelligence, strategy, adaptability, and resilience in various racing situations.
This is a little subjective and therefore we will not put too much weight behind this value. We award a score out of 20.
The Drivers Contribution To The Sport
The driver’s contribution to the development and innovation of the sport, as well as their influence and legacy on other drivers and fans.
Once again, we award a score out of 20.
Who Is The Greatest F1 Driver Of All Time – The Drivers Popularity
The driver’s personality, character, sportsmanship, professionalism, and popularity among peers and public.
A driver’s popularity will be ranked subjectively based on the memories he has created.
Which Drivers Meet These Characteristics
Based on these factors, some of the drivers that are often regarded as the best F1 drivers ever by various sources are:
| Driver | Percentage Of Wins | Adjusted Score |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis Hamilton | 31.40% | 615.3 |
| Michael Schumacher | 24.30% | 346.3 |
| Alain Prost | 25.00% | 331.0 |
| Ayrton Senna | 27.80% | 323.4 |
| Juan Manuel Fangio | 46.15% | 185.0 |
Each of these drivers achievements can be found at the index links below.
Index
Of course, there are many other great drivers who could be considered for this list, such as
- Jim Clark
- Mike Hawthorne
- Jackie Stewart
- Niki Lauda
- Fernando Alonso
- Sebastian Vettel
- Max Verstappen
- Stirling Moss
- and many more
Ultimately, it depends on your personal preference and criteria for choosing the best F1 driver ever.