Alonso, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton

Top 20 Best F1 Drivers Ever (Ranked by Grand Prix Wins)

September 4, 2025 Aksel Kryhlmand

Comparing Formula 1 greats across eras is tricky, cars, rules and calendars change. This ranking follows P1 Travel’s method, ordered by career Grand Prix victories, with brief context on titles, podiums and signature achievements. From triple crowns to modern win machines, here are the top 20 drivers as presented in the source, distilled into a clean gallery.

20) Graham Hill, 14 Wins

Two-time world champion (1962, 1968) and the only driver to claim the Triple Crown, Monaco GP (five times), the Indy 500, and Le Mans.
176 Grands Prix, 36 podiums, Mr. Monaco earned his legend with class and versatility.
Born in London, drove for Hill-Ford late in his career, a benchmark of all-round racing success.

19) Jenson Button, 15 Wins

World champion in 2009 after a fairytale surge, then years of measured, silky racecraft.
309 Grands Prix, 50 podiums, 1,235 career points, last F1 win in Brazil.
Debuted in 2000 after rapid rises in karting, Formula Ford and F3, most associated with McLaren.

18) Stirling Moss, 16 Wins

The greatest driver never to win the title, runner-up four straight seasons (1955–1958).
66 starts, 24 podiums, first podium at Spa. A British icon on and off the track.
Mercedes honored him with the SLR McLaren Stirling Moss, a million-dollar tribute.

17) Mika Häkkinen, 20 Wins

Back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999 with McLaren-Mercedes at full flight.
161 starts, 51 podiums, capitalized on new regs and exceptional qualifying pace.
Debuted with Lotus (1991), took a sabbatical in 2002 and never returned to F1 racing.

16) Kimi Räikkönen, 21 Wins

World champion 2007 with Ferrari, the Iceman combined speed with unflappable calm.
352 Grands Prix, 103 podiums, 1,873 points, last raced for Alfa Romeo in 2021.
A prodigy from early karting days in Espoo, famous for straight talk and relentless race pace.

15) Damon Hill, 22 Wins

World champion 1996 with Williams after eight wins that season, 42 career podiums.
115 starts, later added a final win with Jordan before winding down his career.
Son of double champion Graham Hill, F1’s first father-son champion pairing (since matched by the Rosbergs).

14) Nico Rosberg, 23 Wins

2016 world champion with Mercedes, clinched the title over Lewis Hamilton.
206 starts, 57 podiums, 1,594.5 points, retired immediately after his crown.
Decades of preparation paid off, Wiesbaden native fulfilled a childhood dream.

13) Nelson Piquet, 23 Wins

Nelson Piquet Sr — Sardiniazoom / Shutterstock.com

Three-time world champion with sharp racecraft and tactical nous.
204 starts, 60 podiums, debuted in 1978 and built a legacy of clinical consistency.
Switched from tennis to karting as a teen, raced under his mother’s surname, Piquet.

12) Juan Manuel Fangio, 24 Wins

Juan Manuel Fangio after winning a race — Harry Pot / Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Five world titles (four consecutively), a record that stood for almost 50 years.
51 starts, 35 podiums, 29 poles, won 46% of his races, astonishing efficiency.
Mastered multiple teams, often into his forties, El Maestro defined the sport’s early era.

11) Niki Lauda, 25 Wins

Three-time world champion and one of F1’s ultimate comeback stories.
174 starts, 54 podiums, Ferrari star who later sealed glory with McLaren.
Debuted in 1971, resilience, intellect and discipline made him a legend beyond statistics.

10) Jim Clark, 25 Wins

Two-time world champion with breathtaking speed and precision for Lotus.
72 starts, 32 podiums, career and life cut tragically short at 32.
Widely regarded as one of the purest natural talents F1 has ever seen.

9) Jackie Stewart, 27 Wins

The Flying Scot, a three-time world champion and pioneer for driver safety.
100 starts, 43 podiums, famed for wet-weather mastery and metronomic pace.
Helped reshape F1’s safety standards while dominating on track.

8) Nigel Mansell, 31 Wins

World champion 1992, ferocious racer across 192 starts with 59 podiums.
Made his name with Lotus before peak years at Williams, short, dramatic stint at McLaren.
Also conquered IndyCar, proof of his raw speed and adaptability.

7) Fernando Alonso, 32 Wins

Two-time world champion with a career spanning 411 Grands Prix and 106 podiums.
Returned to F1 after 2018 sabbatical, since 2023, starring for Aston Martin.
Relentless racecraft and race-day intelligence keep him competitive across eras.

6) Ayrton Senna, 41 Wins

Three-time world champion, forever remembered for qualifying magic and Imola 1994.
162 starts, 80 podiums, fierce rivalry with Prost defined an era.
A benchmark of raw talent, commitment and wet-weather brilliance.

5) Alain Prost, 51 Wins

Four-time world champion, The Professor for his strategic, clinical approach.
202 starts, 106 podiums, the other half of the sport’s most fabled rivalry.
A master at managing races, tyres and points tallies over full seasons.

4) Sebastian Vettel, 53 Wins

Youngest double world champion, then four straight titles by age 26.
299 starts, 122 podiums, relentless qualifying pace and ruthless streak in peak Red Bull years.
Later stints at Ferrari and Aston Martin showed leadership and perspective.

3) Max Verstappen, 65 Wins

Four-time world champion and youngest F1 participant, a generational talent.
Around 218–219 starts, 116–117 podiums per the source, title sealed in Las Vegas last year.
Clinical speed, tyre feel and race management define his modern dominance.

2) Michael Schumacher, 91 Wins

Seven-time world champion, redefined fitness, team building and sustained excellence.
308 starts, 155 podiums, 1,566 points, titanic Ferrari era shaped the 2000s.
From karting prodigy to global icon, his competitive bar remains a touchstone.

1) Lewis Hamilton, 105 Wins

Seven-time world champion and all-time wins leader, now racing with Ferrari.
366 Grands Prix, 202 podiums, a career forged from karting prodigy to F1’s gold standard.
Pace, racecraft and relentless consistency made him the benchmark of the hybrid era.