How Many Famous Formula 1 Drivers Can You Name?

One of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time, Michael Schumacher won the world championship on no less than seven occasions including five times in a row for Ferrari from 2000 to 2004.

Certainly one of the most aggressive drivers currently on the circuit, Lewis Hamilton is not only an excellent overtaker, but he also excels at single-lap qualifying, ensuring he starts high up the grid. Not only has he won four Formula One championships, but he also holds the record for the most pole positions as well.

Many consider Ayrton Senna to be the greatest modern racing driver ever. Senna won the world championship three times but died in an accident during the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.

Sebastian Vettel of Germany has won the Formula One championship on four occasions, each time riding for Red Bull Racing. He is considered by many to be the natural successor to Michael Schumacher.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya raced in Formula One for a period of six years from 2001 to 2006. During this time, in spells at Williams and McLaren, Montoya was known as a fearless overtaker, if what a little rash at times. He won seven races and was on the podium on 30 other occasions.

‘The Professor’ as he was known, Alain Prost was a four-times Formula One world champion, winning the title in 1985, 1986 and 1989 and 1993. He won 51 races and was on the podium on 106 other occasions in 199 starts.

Fernando Alonso quickly established himself in the world of Formula One and along with Renault broke Ferrari’s five-year dominance in the sport when he won the World Championship in 2005. He followed that up again in 2006. Alonso has raced for several teams including Ferrari and McLaren.

The son of Joss Verstappen, a Formula One driver in the 1990 and once a team-mate of Michael Schumacher, Max Verstappen is one of the hottest properties in Formula One. He is the youngest driver ever to feature in the sport, competing in his first race in 2015 aged just 17. He holds many records in Formula One because of his young age including the youngest driver to ever win a race. He has three victories to his credit thus far.

Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo has been part of Formula One since 2011 racing with HRT, Toro Ross, and Red Bull. Ricciardo has won 7 races and scored 29 podium finishes. He is known for his celebration called a ‘schoey’ where he drinks champagne from his racing boot should he win a race!

Valtteri Bottas has raced in Formula One since 2013, first with Williams and then Mercedes. Bottas is an extremely talented driver and hails from Finland.

Although he was never a world champion, Felipe Massa came close to the crown in 2008 when Lewis Hamilton pipped him to the title in Brazil at the last race and last corner of the season. Massa raced for most of his career with Ferrari and won 11 times in his career.

Damon Hill, son of former champion Graham, won the Formula One world championship in 1996. The pair are the first father/son duo to achieve this feat.

The son of Giles Villeneuve, Canadian Jacques Villeneuve raced in Formula One from 1996 to 2006, winning the championship with Williams in just his second year in 1997. He won 11 times during his career.

A three-time Formula One world champion, Brazil’s Nelson Piquet won 23 races in his 204 starts in the sport. He was crowned champion in 1981, 1983 and 1987.

Niki Lauda, now an advisor to Mercedes, is a three-time Formula One world champion having won the title in 1975, 1977 and 1984. Lauda was involved in a horrific accident in 1976 where he was badly burnt.

Nico Rosberg has Formula One in his blood with his father, Keke, being a champion in 1982. Rosberg followed in his dad's footsteps to be crowned champion in 2016, making them the second father/son pair to achieve this feat. He then promptly retired.

James Hunt won the Formula One world championship in 1976. No doubt a talented driver, Hunt seemed more fixated on the playboy lifestyle that was often associated with the sport than on racing itself. Those who knew him, however, often speak of his racing ability.

Mario Andretti won the Formula One championship in 1978, but also the NASCAR championship, IndyCar championship, and World Sportscar championship, one of only two drivers to ever do so.

A four-times world champion on two-wheels, John Surtees added the Formula One championship in 1964 driving for Ferrari. He remains the only person to ever be a champion on two and four wheels, a feat that will probably never be equaled.

Hailing from Australia, Mark Webber was never a Formula One champion but formed part of a formidable Red Bull team along with Sebastian Vettel, although the two drivers never saw eye to eye. In 215 starts in the sport, Webber claimed nine victories.

A two-time Formula One champion (in 1963 and 1965), Jim Clark won 25 races during his career in which he raced over 70 times. He sadly died in an accident in German in 1968 in a non-F1 race.

Many pundits consider Juan Manuel Fangio to be the greatest Formula One driver ever. Fangio raced in the 1950s, at the birth of the official world championship and won it on five occasions including four years in a row from 1954 to 1957. He won 24 races during his career.

The ‘Iceman’ as he is affectionately known, Kimi Raikkonen has had a long career in Formula One. He was crowned world champion in 2007 while driving for Ferrari. Raikkonen is known for not suffering fools and often gives deadpan answers to silly interview questions. Raikkonen has scored 20 wins in his career.

Dane Kevin Magnussen is one of the new breed of Formula One drivers. He entered the sport in 2014, first at McLaren.

Britain’s Nigel Mansell won the Formula One world championship in 1992 and claimed 31 wins during his career. He also won the IndyCart series in 1993.

Graham Hill won the Formula One world championship in 1962 and 1968. His son, Damon, won it in 1996 making them the first father/son duo to achieve the feat.

The only South African to ever be crowned Formula One world champion, Jody Scheckter achieved the feat in 1979 while driving for Ferrari. He won 10 races during his career.

Australia’s Alan Jones had a single Formula One world championship to his name, achieved in 1980 driving for Williams.

Carols Sainz entered the world of Formula One in 2015, racing for Toro Rosso. He moved to Renault in 2017 but has yet to win a Grand Prix or finish on the podium. There is no denying his talent, however, as he is the son of two-times World Rally champion, Carlos Sainz.

Considered to be one of the most talented drivers on the Formula One grid over the last decade, Jules Bianchi was part of Ferrari’s young driver program and raced for Marussia during the 2013 and 2014 season. Sadly, he was severely injured in an accident with a support vehicle at the Japanese Grand Prix in 2014 and died in 2015 as a result of those injuries.

Compared to other drivers, Jackie Stewart had a relatively short Formula One career, racing from 1965 to 1973. During that time, however, he won three world championships, in 1969, 1971 and 1973. In his 99 starts in Formula One, Stewart won on 27 occasions and was on the podium on 43 other occasions.

Stirling Moss is widely regarded as the greatest driver not to win the Formula One world championship. He raced between 1951 and 1961, winning 16 races and finishing on the podium 24 occasions.

A triple world champion, Jack Brabham is the only driver to win a Formula One championship in a vehicle that he designed. Brabham was crowned champion in 1959, 1960 and 1966 and won 14 times during his 126 race career.

The father of Nico Rosberg, Keke Rosberg was the Formula One world champion in 1982. To date, they are the second father/son duo to achieve world titles.

In 2009, Jenson Button, who raced for Brawn at the time, surprised the racing world by winning the Formula One world title. The Brawn team was a one-off, rising from the ashes of Honda who had left Formula One in 2008. The Brawn concern was sold to Mercedes Benz in 2010.

One of the longest-serving drivers ever in the history of Formula One, Barrichello started in 322 races over a period from 1993 to 2011. His best years were spent with Ferrari where he raced with Michael Schumacher. Barrichello won 11 races and secured 68 podiums during his career.

Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg is a current F1 driver with Renault. He entered the sport in 2010 and has raced for Williams, Force India and Sauber as well. Hülkenberg is yet to score a win or a podium in the sport but is recognized as a talented driver.

Now a respected commentator, Martin Brundle had two stints in Formula One, first from 1984 to 1989 and then 1991 to 1996. He raced on 158 occasions securing 9 podium places but never a win.

Finland’s Mika Hakkinen was crowned Formula One world champion in 1998 and 1999 racing for McLaren. He raced in 165 Grand Prix, winning 20 and securing 51 other podiums.

Scotland’s David Coulthard raced for a number of teams during his 15-year career including Williams, McLaren and Red Bull. Coulthard raced in 247 grand prix winning 13 and gaining 62 other podiums. He was never crowned world champion, however.