Not every Formula 1 driver lives up to the hype that comes with reaching the pinnacle of motorsport. While some exceed expectations, others fall well short — sometimes spectacularly so. Getting to F1 is an achievement in itself, but staying there and performing at a competitive level is another challenge entirely.
We’ve taken a look back at the drivers who struggled the most and ranked the 15 worst performers of the modern era — from underwhelming rookies to seasoned veterans who just couldn’t cut it.
15. Stoffel Vandoorne
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Once billed as the next big thing after dominating GP2, Vandoorne’s F1 career at McLaren fizzled out quickly. He was comprehensively outperformed by Fernando Alonso and never looked capable of delivering on his early promise.
A classic pay driver, Latifi was routinely outclassed by George Russell and later Alex Albon at Williams. His legacy is largely defined by a crash in Abu Dhabi 2021 that inadvertently shaped the title fight — but his lack of pace was a constant issue.
Chandhok got a couple of chances in F1, but never stood out in any meaningful way. Often well off the pace of his teammates, his stint with HRT and Lotus left no real impression.
12. Roberto Merhi
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Thrust into F1 with Manor in 2015, Merhi was slow, inconsistent, and typically off the pace of Will Stevens and Alexander Rossi. He struggled with adapting to the sport and failed to make any kind of mark.
11. Luca Badoer
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A long-time Ferrari test driver who finally got his race chance in 2009 — and was shockingly poor. After a decade out of racing, he was over 1.5 seconds off the pace and lasted just two races before being replaced.
10. Nicolas Kiesa
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The Danish driver kept the car on the track, but never showed any speed. Partnered with Jos Verstappen at Minardi in 2003, he was invisible in every race and never received another opportunity.
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Despite stints with multiple F1 teams, Yamamoto never came close to showing true ability. He was frequently the slowest on the grid and even triggered a dangerous pitlane incident during a miserable final stint with HRT.
8. Rio Haryanto
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Backed by government funding, Haryanto made it to F1 with Manor in 2016 — but couldn’t justify his seat. He was thoroughly beaten by teammate Pascal Wehrlein and lost his drive once his financial support dried up.
7. Liam Lawson
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Thrust into a dream opportunity as a Red Bull rookie in 2025, Lawson has massively underdelivered in a race-winning car. Constant Q1 eliminations and a lack of points have made his performance one of the most disappointing in recent memory.
6. Narain Karthikeyan
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India’s first F1 driver, Karthikeyan had two separate stints in the sport but failed to deliver anything notable. His poor pace, awkward racecraft, and reputation as a moving chicane earned criticism from top drivers — including being labeled a “cucumber” by Vettel.
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Known more for his mullet than his racing, Mazzacane’s time in F1 was forgettable — with poor pace and only rare flashes of competence. His highlight was overtaking Mika Häkkinen, but even that was followed by a pitlane accident that injured his own crew.
4. Alex Yoong
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Yoong struggled from the start, failing to qualify for three races in 2002 due to the 107% rule. He was thoroughly outpaced by teammate Mark Webber and was even benched mid-season to recover confidence.
3. Taki Inoue
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F1’s cult clown, Inoue was a backmarker with no real pace — but his true legacy lies in bizarre incidents. He was hit by both a safety car and a marshal vehicle in separate races, symbolizing his chaotic and ineffective stint in the sport.
2. Nikita Mazepin
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Mazepin’s debut in 2021 was a disaster, marked by frequent spins and poor racecraft. He was consistently slower than Mick Schumacher, earned the nickname “Mazespin,” and his career ended abruptly following the fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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No one tops this list like Yuji Ide, the only modern F1 driver to have his super license revoked mid-season by the FIA. He lasted just four races in 2006, showing such a lack of control and awareness that he posed a danger to others on track — an unprecedented low in Formula 1 history.
