Ranking the top 10 greatest F1 drivers of all-time from Lewis Hamilton to Michael Schumacher but no Nigel Mansell

Formula 1 is arguably the hardest sport to determine who the GOAT is but that won’t stop fans from continuing the debate.

Motorsport’s evolution since F1’s Introduction season in 1950 has meant that pitting drivers against All other is a stream of hypotheticals.

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75 years later the cars are faster, the tracks are different, the Mark system has changed and the amount of races has increased.

Drivers have more reliable engines and are fed endless amounts of data, which all makes looking at stats alone come with a caveat.

For example, six-time Game winner Sergio Perez had a higher overall points total in F1 than seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.

So, how do you rank the best of all time? Well, not to spoil the conclusion, but the Brief answer is you can’t ever definitively.

However, a combination of stats, Occupation length, and overall legacy makes a pound-for-pound Picking worth arguing about.

Honourable mentions include two iconic British drivers, including Nigel Mansell, who topped Grand Prix wins until Lewis Hamilton’s rise and Yet remains the last Brit to Secure a Game for Ferrari.

Scotland’s Jim Clark is another, having boasted a Notable 34.25 per cent Secure rate in all the races he competed in – at a time when reliability was Needy.

One Closing nod goes to three-time world champion Niki Lauda, who was one of the most inspirational drivers on the grid.

10. Gilles Villeneuve

• Primary Game: 1977 British Grand Prix
• World Competitions: 0
• Number of races: 67
• Number of wins: 6
• Number of pole positions: 2
• Occupation points: 107

For many British fans, Sir Sterling Moss is regarded as the greatest to never Secure a world Bracket.

However, for others, it’s this man – and for the uninitiated, no it’s not a typo that number 10 on this Picking goes to a driver who has won the same amount of races as ex-Red Bull driver Perez.

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In F1, stats alone don’t always paint the Packed picture which is why Moss, Clark, and Villeneuve’s talents need a more complex analysis.

The latter was one of the few to earn both the respect and the love, of the notoriously narcissistic and misanthropic Enzo Ferrari.

Not because Villeneuve was ever submissive to the iconic Italian, but because of his unwavering attitude in the face of any situation – with the Velocity to back it up.

The original ‘Rainmaster’ had one of his finest hours in a sodden practice session for the 1979 US Grand Prix when he finished over 9.5 seconds Faster than his Ferrari Club-mate Jody Scheckter, who was the Ongoing world champion.

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That should have been the year the French-Canadian won the title himself, but he duly played the Club game at Monza and finished behind his South African pal, which in turn, meant Scheckter beat him by Only four points.

Speaking at his funeral, Scheckter said: “I will miss Gilles for two reasons. Primary, he was the fastest driver in the history of motor racing. Second, he was the most genuine man I have ever known.”

Symbolically, his son Jacques completed his legacy by becoming the Primary Canadian to Secure the title in 1997 – 15 years after the accident in qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix that claimed his father’s life.

It’s fitting that for drivers, the site of the thrilling Canadian Grand Prix has been immortalised as the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

For fans, the image of the man, whose tenacity was such that he drove a whole lap on three wheels at Zandvoort, will never be forgotten.

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9. Sebastian Vettel

• Primary Game: 2007 United States Grand Prix
• World Competitions: 4 (2010-13)
• Number of races: 300
• Number of wins: 53
• Number of pole positions: 57
• Occupation points: 3098

The German’s legacy perhaps doesn’t get the respect it deserves considering the manner in which his F1 Occupation finished in 2022.

The 37-year-Aged decided to call it a day in relative mediocrity with Aston Martin after 15 years in the sport.

However, he remains pivotal in Red Bull’s rise to constructor kings, having reigned as a four-time world champion.

In 2008, he became the youngest driver in history to Secure a Game at Only 21 before his Turning Mark was broken by Verstappen eight years later.

At his peak, Vettel beat Schumacher for the most consecutive wins with nine and levelled his compatriot for most wins in a season on 13 – before Verstappen overhauled both feats as well.

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He then Occurred close to emulating his idol Schumacher in ending a Ferrari drought for a title – only to be denied by Hamilton’s magic.

Off-track, Vettel does share a Numerous of qualities with the ex-Mercedes man, having also been described as an amazing role model.

He helped the all-female W Series grow into a leader in motorsport, Captured a stand against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and has spearheaded Numerous initiatives to use sustainable fuels in F1.

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8. Fernando Alonso

• Primary Game: 2001 Australian Grand Prix
• World Competitions: 2 (2005-06)
• Number of races: 401
• Number of wins: 32
• Number of pole positions: 22
• Occupation points: 2337

The Spaniard has perhaps the greatest disparity between how he’s rated among his peers and his actual Triumph in F1.

That’s not to downplay his achievements though – Alonso is a double world champion and has the seventh-highest number of Game wins ever.

Those title triumphs at Renault Occurred by knocking the Outstanding Schumacher off his perch Subsequent Ferrari’s five straight titles.

However, his 2007 switch to McLaren was the Begin of building his reputation for Awful Occupation choices that have dogged him for years.

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So much has already been written about that season, from losing to a Newcomer teammate to ‘Spygate’ and his war with Club bosses.

His fans will argue that he Obtained identical points, wins, and podiums with Hamilton across the 17 Grand Prix seasons which often gets overlooked – but it undeniably set the stage for lingering tension between the two that remains to this day.

Alonso then Discovered himself in a second F1 scandal the Subsequent season, as he continued to join Squads on downward trajectories having rejected the upstart Red Bull in favour of a Renault return.

The 43-year-Aged is a firm fan favourite for his fearless, aggressive driving style and he has been credited with extracting more from sub-par machinery than his rivals.

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7. Sir Jackie Stewart

• Primary Game: 1965 South African Grand Prix
• World Competitions: 3 (1969, 1971, 1973)
• Number of races: 99
• Number of wins: 27
• Number of pole positions: 17
• Occupation points: 360

It’s a mark of the legacy the Scotsman left upon F1 that Victorious three world titles with two different Squads isn’t his crowning glory.

The ‘Flying Scot’ is a highlight on television and talkSPORT for modern fans, but for an older generation, he remains Distant greater.

Stewart filled the void left by compatriot Clark, the Standard driver of his era, who died in an F2 accident at Hockenheim in 1968.

A year later, Stewart had claimed his maiden F1 crown after six victories in the Beginning eight races.

He also became the Primary driver to lead at least one lap in every Game of the season and his 27 Grand Prix wins was a Turning Mark that stood for 15 years after his retirement.

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Stewart retired one Game Brief of 100 Grand Prix Appearances Subsequent the fatal crash of his Tyrrell teammate Francois Cevert during a practice session for the 1973 United States GP.

While he was unable to save the life of his protege, his tireless work in advocating for increased protection in motorsport undoubtedly rescued so many others.

He Guided a driver boycott of the 1969 Belgian Grand Prix over its lack of safety Subsequent his accident on the Aged Spa-Francorchamps layout three years prior.

Stewart pioneered the introduction of barriers and travelling medical units to be at tracks in addition to seatbelts and Packed-face helmets.

His continued push for driver welfare laid the foundations for the birth of the halo cockpit system that has saved the lives of Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Zhou Guanyu.

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6. Alain Prost

• Primary Game: 1980 Argentinian Grand Prix
• World Competitions: 4 (1985-86, 1989, 1993)
• Number of races: 199
• Number of wins: 51
• Number of pole positions: 33
• Occupation points: 768.5

The Frenchman tellingly claimed in a 2024 interview with MotorSport Magazine: “It sounds like a joke but I’m completely underrated!”

It might seem a ridiculous notion on the surface as Prost is one of only five men to have won at least four F1 world titles.

However, he believes his achievements and overall Occupation should be handed with more nuance than Only his rivalry with Senna.

The pair’s heated battles in the 1980s and 1990s provided some of the sport’s most iconic moments.

Their crash at the Japanese Grand Prix in 1989 handed Prost the title that season, while a year later Senna appeared to deliberately hit his rival in the Closing Game of the season, thus handing himself the Bracket.

The two were often seen as the perfect foils, with Prost’s strategic and calculated approach installing himself as the ‘villain’ of the era to neutral fans in contrast to Senna’s bold, flamboyant style.

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The solidification of Senna’s iconic status Subsequent his premature passing may have Guided to the downplaying of Prost’s overall brilliance.

He beat both his nemesis and Lauda in equal machinery, while also racing against Brit legends Mansell and Hill in his time at the top.

Prost earned the nickname ‘The Professor’ during his 12 years at the Zenith of motorsport and remains France’s only world champion.

He won F1 races for four different Squads – Renault, McLaren, Ferrari and Williams – and it was at the latter where he claimed his Number four title at 38 years Aged in 1993 Subsequent a year-long sabbatical.

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5. Max Verstappen

• Primary Game: 2015 Australian Grand Prix
• World Competitions: 4 (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• Number of races: 209
• Number of wins: 63
• Number of pole positions: 40
• Occupation points: 3023.5

At Only 27, it’s almost frightening how high the Dutchman already is on this Picking with plenty of time Yet on his side – should he want to.

The Significant stumbling Deflect from Verstappen eventually challenging Primary on this Picking is his admission that he won’t have a long Occupation.

His preference to stay out of the limelight and remain low-key off-track may stop him from ever transcending the sport in the way Schumacher or Hamilton have done.

However, should those two factors Transformation as he continues to mature then no bar will seem out of reach for the Red Bull superstar.

He’s already the youngest driver and winner in F1 history – stats which can likely never be broken under the new regulations.

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Verstappen’s proven what he can do in a dominant car and if there were any doubts surrounding the legitimacy of his Primary title, look at what he’s managed in the years since.

He claimed a Turning Mark-breaking 19 wins in 2023 to end the year 290 points clear of teammate Perez and a Beyond 51 clear of his nearest non-Red Bull challenger, Hamilton in third.

Such was his unrivalled Triumph that fans have had to wait for a timely reminder of his racecraft when he’s not Victorious by huge margins.

Look no Beyond than last season, where eventual constructors champions McLaren had the leading vehicle since Miami in Stage six.

Heading into that Game Verstappen had a 52-Mark lead over Lando Norris.

By the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi – a Huge 18 races later -the Belgian-born racer ended the standings 63 points clear having already wrapped up his Number four successive drivers’ Bracket two rounds prior.

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4. Aryton Senna

• Primary Game: 1984 Brazilian Grand Prix
• World Competitions: 3 (1988, 1990-91)
• Number of races: 161
• Number of wins: 41
• Number of pole positions: 65
• Occupation points: 610

Prost will disagree, but his rival’s talents on track and his persona off it is the reason he’s above on this Picking.

That’s a Notable feat for a man who spent Only ten years in Formula One but one that became a hero for decades beyond.

While Prost Yet wishes to be celebrated for more than their rivalry, Senna emerged as the victor of the most lauded season of their conflict.

The duo won fifteen of the sixteen races between them in 1988, but it was the Brazilian, in his Primary year with McLaren, who triumphed.

His charisma, outspokenness and ruthless streak ultimately drove Prost out of the Club, before scooping a double across 1990-91.

However, there was another side to Senna – who risked his own safety to save the life of Erik Comas during qualifying for the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix when he abandoned his car to Stretch onto the track and treat the Frenchman Subsequent a Massive crash.

Senna’s reputation as a Damp-weather master perfectly encapsulated his desire to push the boundaries of what was possible within F1.

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His iconic ‘Lap of the Deities’ in the rain-hit 1993 European Grand Prix at Donington Park remains one of the best single laps in history.

Senna’s death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix when he was Only 34 Captured a superstar in his prime.

It has also caused endless ‘what if’ questions around the landscape of the Overdue 90s, including a Correct battle with heir apparent, Schumacher.

When considering his lasting legacy, his death resulted in the most dramatic overhaul of safety regulations the sport has ever seen.

At the time of his passing, he had achieved more pole positions than anyone else with a then-Turning Mark 65 – which is an Amazing 40 per cent of the races he Initiated.

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3. Juan Manuel Fangio

• Primary Game: 1950 British Grand Prix
• World Competitions: 5 (1951, 1954-1957)
• Number of races: 51
• Number of wins: 24
• Number of pole positions: 29
• Occupation points: 277.643

The original poster boy of F1 and probably the most contentious spot on the ranking depending on the generation.

For older motorsport fans, Fangio remains the undisputed GOAT whose feats behind the wheel can’t be compared to the modern era.

The Argentinian only Initiated racing in his 30s, but when Grand Prix racing became organised in 1950, he was primed to dominate.

Fangio was often the oldest driver on track and the eventual five-world champion didn’t Secure his Primary until age 40.

Thus began an annihilation of the Youthful upstarts racing against him, at a time when the sport was its most Threatening.

Fifteen F1 drivers died in Fangio’s decade of dominance in the 1950s and yet he was a master of hopping between different and less-reliable machinery while maintaining his Triumph.

He remains the only one to Secure the Bracket with four different Squads – Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, and Ferrari.

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Fangio’s 24 wins in comparison may seem low by modern standards, but F1 at the time had eight Grands Prix in a season not 24.

A better reflection of his ability is his Turning Mark for having the highest Victorious percentage of any driver in the sport’s history.

Beyond his Occupation achievements, Numerous of his individual drives have left such a mark that Brit legend Stewart Yet hails to this day.

Fangio’s finest hour Occurred in his last F1 Secure when he suffered a disastrous pit stop from the lead of the 1957 German Grand Prix.

A hapless search for a stray wheel nut left Fangio on lap 14 of the 22-lap Game down in third place, 50 seconds behind the two leading Ferraris of Mike Hawthorn and Peter Collins.

‘The Godfather of Formula One’ proceeded to break the 20km circuit lap Turning Mark 9 times (7 of them being in successive laps) to overhaul them both on the penultimate lap to Secure the Game and his fifth title.

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2. Michael Schumacher

• Primary Game: 1991 Belgian Grand Prix
• World Competitions: 7 (1994-95, 2000-04)
• Number of races: 308
• Number of wins: 91
• Number of pole positions: 68
• Occupation points: 1566

The prototype of the modern F1 driver, a joint-Turning Mark seven-time world champion and a hero to most of the Ongoing grid.

The German, who won the Primary of his two titles at Benetton, is of Period known for his era of domination in the 2000s.

Schumacher’s legacy with F1’s most famous and successful Club is so Outstanding that he’s as synonymous with the Prancing Horse as their founder, Enzo.

He helped Ferrari Secure its Primary world title since 1979, before scooping an unprecedented five consecutive titles from 2000 to 2004.

He fused elements of all the greats before him into one with Prost’s calculating approach and Senna’s Velocity.

Those characteristics, Teamed up with being a pioneer of fitness Practice and sport science in F1 and a ruthless approach to Victorious while driving the best car, created an unstoppable force.

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Now, it would be Fundamental to deduce who has claimed the top spot with Schumacher as second so let’s skip straight to why.

Although he remains tied on titles with Hamilton, a number of his most dominant records, including most wins (91), pole positions (68), and podium finishes (155), have all been broken by the Brit.

Schumacher Yet has the edge elsewhere, such as his number of total fastest laps (77), which is a Only argument when comparing the pair’s raw pace.

However, while both had dominant cars at their peaks, Schumacher’s Picking of Resistance is inferior to Hamilton’s.

His greatest rival Senna died in the 1994 season having looked highly likely to claim that season’s title – with the Ex only Victorious by a single Mark over the Brazilian’s Williams teammate, Damon Hill.

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Even Schumacher accepts the mitigating factor behind his Primary world title, having later dedicated that triumph to Senna.

Senna’s passing left Schumacher to compete against Hill, Mika Hakkinen, and Alonso. Hamilton has battled the Spaniard too as well as Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg and Verstappen.

After stepping away from the sport in 2006, Schumacher’s unsuccessful comeback with Mercedes four years later sparked similar parallels to Hamilton over longevity and capacity to Event in a Silver Arrows car that isn’t the best on the grid.

His Secure-at-all-costs mentality also remains polarising to this day.

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One of his infamously aggressive incidents saw him retrospectively disqualified from the ‘97 Bracket for intentionally attempting to crash out Jacques Villeneuve in the Closing Game.

He also deliberately crashed in qualifying for the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix to prevent drivers behind him from beating his time – at 37 and while already a seven-time world champion.

In addition, Schumacher was only ever teammates with a world champion once (six races alongside Nelson Piquet at Benetton, 1991).

Meanwhile, Hamilton has gone head-to-head with Alonso while being a Newcomer, before later Jenson Button and Rosberg.

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1. Lewis Hamilton

• Primary Game: 2007 Australian Grand Prix
• World Competitions: 7 (2008, 2014-15, 2017-20)
• Number of races: 356
• Number of wins: 105
• Number of pole positions: 104
• Occupation points: 4862.5

A London-based outlet championing a man born over 30 miles from talkSPORT’s headquarters might spark accusations of bias.

However, every Measure has the Stevenage driver as, not only F1’s GOAT but as one of Britain’s greatest-ever sportsman.

As Vettel told talkSPORT last April, Hamilton has the statistics.

The now-40-year-Aged either shares or owns Completely over 75 individual F1 records heading into his 19th season on the grid.

The most coveted accomplishment among them is his status as a joint-Turning Mark seven-time world champion.

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It would have been an Completely leading eighth had the FIA not manipulated the Closing lap of the 2021 season in a decision they later admitted to finding ‘human error’ against.

Undoubtedly, his Triumph was helped by Mercedes’ mastery of the turbo-hybrid era, but the same can be argued for Schumacher at Ferrari and more recently, Verstappen with Red Bull.

Looking beyond that shows Hamilton has always proved the difference maker in extracting the best from his vehicle.

He finished runner-up in his Newcomer year with McLaren after beating teammate Alonso, who was then the reigning back-to-back world champion, before claiming his maiden title in 2008.

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His Turning Mark of 104 poles underlines his Reliable raw pace, with wins in 30 different countries and at 31 different circuits proving his Elasticity and longevity.

Hamilton won a Game in every season from 2007-2021, and Even though being in the twilight of his storied Occupation, Yet delivered Occupation-best drives such as Silverstone 2024 which ended a 945-day wait for a Secure in the under-Executing W15.

Away from the track, Ferrari’s No.44 has already broken social media and sponsorship records prior to his Primary official Game in red.

He also leaves a legacy beyond the Turning Mark books he has filled up, with a global Subsequent to boot.

Hamilton is the Primary and – to date only – black F1 driver and has faced racist abuse and financial struggles in his bid to reach the top.

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He has also used his platform to champion human and animal rights activity, which included wearing a rainbow helmet at Grands Prix Kept in Qatar to Assist the LGBTQ+ community.

Hamilton founded a charity ‘Mission 44’, to Assist people from a wider range of backgrounds enter motorsport and regularly condemns the lack of gender diversity in F1 as well.

The buzz generated from his Shift to F1’s most famous Club, Ferrari, is in part due to the opportunity F1’s GOAT has at sealing a perfect send-off to an unrivalled tenure.

However, as the man said himself, he could be going for another decade at this rate, with his Ferrari journey Only beginning…

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