Top 10 best F1 drivers of all time: Who is the greatest Formula 1 driver?

Natural talent, team input, science and statistics can be used to measure the prowess of the greatest racers of all time. Throughout history, Formula 1 racers have surpassed each other's achievements, much to the delight of fans. Dig in and find out the best F1 drivers of all time.

Would you like to find out who the most successful F1 racer of all time is? This article will rank the top 10 best F1 drivers of all time according to skill and career achievement.

Formula 1 racing began in the early 1920s. However, the earliest World Championship racing competition was held in 1950, producing the first F1 champion, Giuseppe Farina. Since then, about 34 F1 champions have distinguished themselves as the most accomplished racing competitors.

Who is the most successful F1 driver of all time?

On their way to the top, Formula 1 racers enjoy global fame, impressive wins and substantial wealth. A recent report by USA Today revealed the impressive salary scale that ranges between $1 million to $55 million. Have a look at this ranked list of the best F1 drivers of all time to grace the circuit by their level of success.

10. Jody Scheckter

Jodi is undoubtedly the most successful South African F1 driver. As the only South African F1 champion, he won 10 races, an 8.8% win percentage.

He has built a reputable multi-million dollar post-racing career in the agri-business sector. As of March 2023, his net worth is $100 million.

9. Alain Prost

During his active career, Prost competed stiffly against one of the greatest F1 racers, Ayrton Senna. The skilled athlete took part in 199 races, winning 55 of them. Before retiring, Prost had four World Championship titles in his name. Over the course of his career, he has accumulated about $100 million in wealth.

8. Mario Andretti

Before his retirement, Andretti was an F1 champion, Champ Car winner, and a winner at the Indy 500, Daytona 500, and 12 Hours of Sebring. The two-time Driver of the Century won 12 out of 130 race entries, a 9.2 win percentage.

How does Andretti have so much money? In addition to about $11 million in career earnings, he took up endorsements, licensing deals and businesses after retiring, such as Andretti Petroleum and the Andretti Winery, among others. Today, his businesses, investments and career earnings contribute to his $130 million net worth.

7. Sebastian Vettel

With 53 career wins out of 300 races, Vettel retired a successful racer with four F1 World Championships. Despite this, he is regarded in some circles as one of the least successful Ferrari drivers, a team he drove for between 2000 and 2005.

While at Ferrari, Vettel received an annual paycheck of about $40 million. As of 2020, his career earnings totalled $36 million, according to Forbes. At the time of writing, his net worth was valued at $140 million.

6. Jenson Button

How good a driver was Jenson Button? Retired racer, drove for Williams, Honda, Brawn, McLaren, and Renault winning 15 out of 309 race entries.

Although he only has one title to his name, the British racing phenomenon has become one of the richest men in F1. In addition to investment properties in Bahrain and the United Kingdom, career earnings and endorsements, his net worth is $150 million.

5. Max Verstappen

Since his first major race at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix, Max has recorded 36 wins out of 164 races and 2036.5 career points. In addition to his 2021 Formula 1 World Championship, he has won various awards, including the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and the Dutch Sportsman of the Year.

Verstappen is among the highest-paid F1 drivers earning about $55 million from Red Bull. His net worth is estimated at about $200 million.

4. Kimi Räikkönen

Although retired, Finnish racer, Kimi Räikkönen, is considered the best F1 driver. The Iceman is regarded as one of the naturally talented racers with 21 wins and 18 poles with 103 podium finishes.

With a significant wealth accumulation over the years, the Ice man can retire comfortably. His net worth is estimated at $250 million.

3. Fernando Alonso

According to the 2023 Formula 1 standings, Alonso is ranked third after Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen with 30 points. The Spanish motorsport champion has 32 race wins out of 360 entries with 100 podium finishes. As of March 2023, Fernando Alonso's net worth is estimated at $260 million.

2. Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton, the most popular F1 driver, has had an enviable career marked with professional, social and financial success. He is the most followed driver in F1 with 32.1 million followers on Instagram, 8 million followers o Twitter and 5 million likes on Facebook.

Lewis Hamilton is undeniably the greatest F1 driver of all time, with 103 wins, including seven World Championship titles out of 310 races. As of March 2023, he has had 103 pole positions, 60 fastest laps records and 186 podium finishes.

How much is Lewis Hamilton currently worth? At the time of writing, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver is worth $285 million.

1. Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher is one of the most famous F1 drivers of all time. He has also recorded unequalled financial success with an estimated net worth of $600 million.

Schumacher, whose first major race was at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, won seven World Championship titles between 1994 and 2004. Before being bested by Hamilton, he held the record for the most wins with 68 pole positions and 155 podium finishes.

Who are F1's greatest drivers of all time?

Factors such as the car, team, natural talent and skill are vital in ensuring success. Who is technically the best F1 driver? Here is a list of the best F1 drivers of all time ranked by race win percentages.

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Are there any female drivers in F1?

Women are not barred from competing in F1 races. However, only a handful have participated in the races, including Maria Teresa De Filippis, the first F1 woman driver. Between 1974 and 1976, Lella Lombardi became the last female F1 driver and the first to score points in a Grand Prix.

Who are the best female Formula drivers?

In addition to Lombardi and Maria Teresa, five more women have participated in the Formula One series. These include Desire Wilson, Marie-Claude Beaumont, Deborah Gregg, Divina Galica and Giovanna Amati.

The best female racing drivers

Before the Second World War, pioneering racers such as Eliška Junková, Kay Petre and Gwenda Hawkes took to the Grand Prix, Le Mans and the Brooklands circuits. Most recently, female racers who have participated in and won various competitions include Janet Guthrie, Lyn St James, Sarah Fisher, Simona de Silvestro, Tatiana Calderon, and Danica Patrick.

Although women have participated in the W Series and F4, we are yet to see a female driver compete in the F1 series. A recent announcement by the race organisers seeks to address the gender disparity seen on Formula 1 victor's podiums. The F1 Academy's establishment aims to enable women to reach higher ranks in racing.

Who are the best female F1 Academy drivers?

Years of experience go into the making of the best F1 drivers of all time. Success on the circuit allows racers to acquire impressive wealth and popularity.

Sportsbrief recently published an article revealing the tips and qualifications you need to become an F1 driver. Formula 1 drivers are first-class racers with unquestionable skills on the circuit.

Would you like to discover your chances of becoming an F1 driver? Click on the link above to find out how.

Rank	Driver	Race win percentage
1	Juan-Manuel Fangio	46.15%
2	Alberto Ascari	39.39%
3	Lewis Hamilton	35.76%
4	Jim Clark	34.25%
5	Bill Vukovich Lee Wallard	33.33%
6	Michael Schumacher	29.55%
7	Jackie Stewart	27.00%
8	Ayrton Senna	25.46%
9	Alain Prost	25.25%
10	Max Verstappen	20.12%