The 7 Drivers Who Have The Best Formula 1 Records

 The 7 Drivers Who Have The Best Formula 1 Records

Formula 1 is getting a lot of coverage in the media these days, with Hamilton's recent win at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and his 27th Formula One championship title. The article takes a look at the numbers behind the seven best drivers to have ever contested on F1 tracks.

The Drivers:

There are many drivers who have had great Formula One records, but there are only a few who stand out above the rest. These drivers have dominated the sport for years and have shown no signs of slowing down. They are the best of the best and their records prove it.

1. Michael Schumacher: Schumacher is the most successful driver in Formula One history. He has won a record seven world championships and ninety-one races. He is also the only driver to win five races in a row.

2. Juan Manuel Fangio: Fangio is second on the all-time list with five world championships. He also holds the record for the most consecutive podium finishes with sixteen.

3. Ayrton Senna: Senna is third on the all-time list with three world championships. He also holds the record for most pole positions with sixty-eight.

4. Alain Prost: Prost is fourth on the all-time list with four world championships. He also holds the record for most Grand Prix wins with fifty-one.

5. Sebastian Vettel: Vettel is fifth on the all-time list with four world championships. He has also won more races than any other German driver in history.

Lewis Hamilton

Wikipedia 

Lewis Hamilton is a British racing driver who currently competes in Formula One for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team. He is the reigning World Champion, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport.

Hamilton has won a record-equalling seven World Championships, including five consecutive titles between 2014 and 2019. He is also a four-time runner-up in the championship, and has finished on the podium a record 96 times. He has more race wins than any other British driver in Formula One history, and is second only to Michael Schumacher in terms of all-time grand prix victories.

In addition to his success on the track, Hamilton has also been involved in several high-profile off-track activities. He has been outspoken about environmental issues, and has launched his own charitable foundation. He is also a fashion icon, and has been ranked among the most influential people in the world by Time magazine. Read more 

Michael Schumacher

Wikipedia 

Michael Schumacher is a German retired racing driver who raced in Formula One for Jordan Grand Prix, Benetton and Ferrari, where he spent the majority of his career. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport and holds many of Formula One's driver records, including most championships, race victories, fastest laps, pole positions and most races won in a single season. Schumacher was born in Hurth-Hermülheim, North Rhine-Westphalia. In 1991, he made his debut in Formula One with the Jordanian team. After moving to Benetton for the 1994 season Schumacher won two consecutive Drivers' Championships (1994–1995) before joining Ferrari at the beginning of 1996.

Schumacher had great success with Ferrari, winning five consecutive Drivers' Championships between 2000 and 2004. His first title with Ferrari was the 2000 Formula One World Championship, which he secured with a record-equalling 11 race victories and a margin of 58 points over second-placed Mika Häkkinen. He became only the second driver in Formula One history to achieve this feat after Juan Manuel Fangio won five championships between 1951 and 1957. In 2003 he surpassed Alain Prost's record for most Grand Prix wins; Schumacher retired from Formula One racing after finishing second behind Fernando Alonso at the 2006 Italian Grand Prix but made a brief return at the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix before permanently retiring from driving shortly thereafter. Read more 

Sebastian Vettel

Wikipedia 

Sebastian Vettel is a German racing driver who has competed in Formula One since 2007. He is a four-time World Champion, having won consecutive titles from 2010 to 2013 with Red Bull Racing. He is also a three-time winner of the Chinese Grand Prix and a two-time winner of the Japanese Grand Prix.

In 2009, Vettel became the youngest driver ever to win the British Grand Prix. He followed this up with his first world championship title in 2010, becoming the youngest ever World Champion at the age of 23. In 2011 and 2012, Vettel successfully defended his title, winning 11 races in each season. In 2013, he won his fourth title, becoming only the second driver after Michael Schumacher to do so.

Vettel has been described as one of the greatest drivers in Formula One history. He has won 52 Grands Prix from 215 starts, more than any other active driver except for Lewis Hamilton (62). He has also started from pole position 43 times, more than any other active driver except for Hamilton (56). Read more 

Ayrton Senna

Wikipedia 

Ayrton Senna is a legend in the world of Formula One. He is a three-time World Champion, and holds the record for the most pole positions (65) and the most wins (41). He is also the only driver to win the Monaco Grand Prix in back-to-back years.

Senna began his racing career in karting, and moved up through the ranks quickly. He made his Formula One debut with Toleman in 1984, and impressed immediately with his speed and skill. He joined Lotus in 1985, and won his first race with the team at that year's Portuguese Grand Prix.

Senna really came into his own when he joined McLaren in 1988. He formed a legendary partnership with fellow driver Alain Prost, and the two dominated the sport for several years. Their rivalry came to a head at the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix, when Senna infamously collided with Prost while battling for the lead. The incident led to Prost leaving McLaren at the end of that season.

Senna went on to win two more World Championships with McLaren before his untimely death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. His legacy lives on through his many fans around the world, and he is widely considered to be one of the greatest drivers of all time.

Read more 

Jackie Stewart

Jackie Stewart is a Scottish former racing driver who competed in Formula One between 1965 and 1973. He won three World Championships, and is regarded as one of the greatest drivers of all time.

Stewart began his career in 1964, driving for the BRM team. He scored his first podium finish at the 1966 Monaco Grand Prix, and went on to win his first race at the 1967 Belgian Grand Prix. He quickly became known for his fast, smooth driving style and became a leading contender for the championship.

Stewart won his first World Championship in 1969, when he took six wins from ten races. He repeated this feat in 1971 and 1973, becoming only the second driver to win three championships. He retired from Formula One at the end of the 1973 season, after winning a record 27 races.

In 2009, Stewart was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Alain Prost

Alain Prost is a retired French racing driver who competed in Formula One from 1980 to 1993. He is the second most successful driver in the history of the sport, having won four World Championships and 51 Grands Prix.

Prost began his career in karting and moved up through the ranks of French and European amateur racing before making his Formula One debut with McLaren in 1980. He joined the Renault team in 1981 and won his first World Championship with them in 1985.

Prost moved to Ferrari in 1990 and won back-to-back titles with them in 1990 and 1991. He rejoined McLaren in 1993 and won his fourth and final title with them that year before retiring from the sport.

Prost has held several notable records throughout his career, including being the only driver to have won at least one Grand Prix in every season he competed, as well as holding the record for most wins (51) and podium finishes (106). He is also one of only three drivers to have won two or more drivers' championships without winning the Constructors' Championship.

Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso is a Spanish racing driver who has competed in Formula One for the Renault, McLaren, Ferrari, and Minardi teams. He is a two-time world champion, and is currently the only Spanish driver to have won a Formula One World Championship.

Alonso began his career in karting, winning the Spanish national championship in 1996. He moved up to single-seater racing in 1999, winning the Euro Open by Nissan series. He then moved to the Formula 3000 series, where he won the championship in 2001.

Alonso made his Formula One debut with the Minardi team in 2001, before moving to the Renault team for 2003. He won his first race with Renault at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix, and went on to win two more races that season.

In 2005, Alonso became the youngest ever double world champion when he won his second consecutive title with Renault. He also set several records that year, including becoming the first Spaniard to win a Formula One race, and the youngest driver to win back-to-back championships.

Alonso moved to McLaren for 2007, but was unable to repeat his previous success and finished third in the championship behind Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen. He switched to Ferrari for 2010, and won his third world championship in 2012 after a close battle with Hamilton.

Alonso's successes have made him one of Spain's most prominent sportsmen. He was named by Forbes as one

Jenson Button

Jenson Button is a British racing driver who has competed in Formula One for McLaren, Honda, Brawn GP and Renault. He won the 2009 Formula One World Championship, driving for Brawn GP.

Button started his career in karting at the age of 8 and achieved early success by winning the British Super Prix championship in 1997. He moved up to single-seater cars in 1998, winning the British Formula Ford Championship with Haywood Racing. In 1999 he finished second in the British Formula 3 Championship, before moving on to the Williams team in 2000. He made his Formula One debut at that year's United States Grand Prix, replacing sacked driver Bruno Junqueira. His first race was not successful as he retired after 11 laps due to an engine failure.

In 2001 he became Williams' test driver, and also drove for them at that year's European Grand Prix when Ralf Schumacher was injured. For 2002 he switched to Benetton (renamed Renault), where he scored his maiden podium finish at the Malaysian Grand Prix. He remained with Renault for 2003, scoring a podium finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix. In 2004 he became BAR's test driver, before taking over from Jacques Villeneuve midway through the season when Villeneuve was sacked. He scored his first Formula One victory at that year's Hungarian Grand Prix.

In 2005 Button partnered with Takuma Sato at BAR, and finished third in the Drivers' Championship after scoring five podium