The best F1 driver in history is a debate that has, and will continue to, rage as long as Formula 1 exists, but we look at who the best drivers are statistically.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, celebrates on arrival in Parc Ferme
Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images
1. Lewis Hamilton – 103 wins
- First race: 2007 Australian Grand Prix
- World Championships: 7 (2008, 2014-15, 2017-20)
- Number of races: 315
- Number of wins: 103
- Number of pole positions: 103
- Career points: 4461.5
In terms of career wins and total career points, Lewis Hamilton is the best Formula 1 driver to have ever graced a circuit. The Brit has taken wins in 30 different countries, won a race in almost every season he’s competed in, and is currently tied on world championships with Michael Schumacher, having narrowly missed out on taking an eighth world title in 2021 to Max Verstappen. Hamilton holds many of Formula 1’s records and, with a contract that runs to the end of 2023, he looks to be able to push even further ahead on many of them.
While he missed becoming champion in his first season by a single point, he became the (then) youngest world champion the following year. Fourteen years later he’s secured six more titles, and is hunting for an eighth.
Read more about Hamilton’s first 100 wins here.
Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004 celebrates with the Ferrari team after winning his 7th world championship with Jean Todt and Ross Brawn
Photo by: Motorsport Images
2. Michael Schumacher – 91 wins
- First race: 1991 Belgian Grand Prix
- World Championships: 7 (1994-95, 2000-04)
- Number of races: 308
- Number of wins: 91
- Number of pole positions: 68
- Career points: 1566
When considering the best F1 driver, Michael Schumacher immediately springs to mind. He was, until the rise of Hamilton, the face of domination in Formula 1: seven titles (five of them consecutive), a seemingly insurmountable number of wins, unrelenting competitiveness – Schumacher changed the game in F1 with his combination of dedication, passion, and, of course, raw talent.
While he took two titles with Benetton, he’s far more well-known for his time with Ferrari. He joined the team in 1996 and, after some highs and lows in the following years, the combination struck gold in 2000. What followed in the next five years were five world titles, 48 wins, and a record book that had Michael Schumacher’s name in almost every field.
His second stint in F1 wasn’t as…
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