Which Formula 1 drivers have the most DNFs in F1 races?

Formula One is the most popular motorsport, featuring some of the best drivers competing to finish ahead of their rivals. Amidst the stiff competition, some fail to cross the line due to several factors, like mechanical failures and car crashes. Who has the most DNFs in F1 races?

DNF is a common abbreviation used in auto racing, meaning 'Did not Finish,' also known as retirement. F1's DNF rules apply when a driver fails to finish the race by crossing the line. It is a devastating and heartbreaking experience for any driver to fail to finish a race. Sports Brief did an in-depth analysis from various sources and compiled a list of the top 10 F1 drivers with the most DNFs.

Most DNFs in F1 history

Formula One enthusiasts have witnessed dramatic and memorable DNF incidents that have broken many hearts and souls. Even the greatest F1 racers, like Michael Schumacher, Alberto Ascari, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton, have failed to cross the line on their bad days in office.

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Who has the most retirements in F1 history? Italian legend Andrea de Cesaris holds the record for most DNFs in F1, with 149 DNFs in his career. Other sources indicate he had 148.

10. Nelson Piquet - 86 DNFs

The legendary Brazilian driver won three F1 championships (1981, 1983, and 1987). Nelson Piquet spent 13 years in Formula One, establishing himself among the best.

• Date of birth: 17 August 1952
• Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Retirements: 86
• Race starts: 42.16%
• First retirement: 1978 (German GP)
• Last retirement: 1991 (Hungarian GP)

9. Jacques Laffite - 86 DNFs

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Laffite competed in F1 from 1974 to 1986, winning six GP wins driving for the Ligier team. The former French driver was unfortunate not to win an F1 championship.

• Date of birth: 21 November 1943
• Birthplace: Paris
• Retirements: 86
• Race starts: 48.86%
• First retirement: 1974 German GP
• Last retirement: 1986 British GP

8. Jean Alesi - 87 DNFs

The French legend made his F1 debut with Tyrrell in 1989 at Paul Ricard in France and finished fourth. He won his only Formula One championship at the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix. Alesi left F1 in 2001 to join the German Touring Car Championship (DTM).

• Date of birth: 11 June 1964
• Birthplace: Avignon, France
• Retirements: 87
• Race starts: 43.28%
• First retirement: 1989 British GP
• Last retirement: 2001 Japanese GP

7. Jarno Trulli - 90 DNFs

Jarno enjoyed an illustrious motorsport career in F1 between 1997 to 2011. He raced for different teams, including Renault, Hart, Peugeot, Honda, and Toyota, but failed to bag a championship.

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• Date of birth: 13 July 1974
• Birthplace: Pescara, Italy
• Retirements: 90
• Race starts: 35.71%
• First retirement: 1997 Monaco GP
• Last retirement: 2011 Singapore GP

6. Nigel Mansell - 93 DNFs

The 2006 Motorsport Hall of Famer raced to 31 victories from a dozen F1 seasons. He also managed 32 pole positions and won the 1992 World Championship with Williams-Renault. Mansell switched from F1 to IndyCar racing in 1993 and won the IndyCar World Series title in his debut with Newman/Haas Lola-Ford.

• Date of birth: 8 August 1953
• Birthplace: Upton upon Severn, United Kingdom
• Retirements: 93
• Race starts: 49.73%
• First retirement: 1980 Austrian GP
• Last retirement: 1995 European GP

5. Gerhard Berger - 95 DNFs

Gerhard Berger is an Austrian former F1 racing driver known for winning ten Grand Prix and finishing third in the 1988 and 1994 championships. He spent 14 seasons in Formula One, racing for multiple teams, including Ferrari. Gerhard also managed 48 podiums, 12 poles, and 21 fastest laps.

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• Date of birth: 27 August 1959
• Birthplace: Wörgl, Austria
• Retirements: 95
• Race starts: 45.24%
• First retirement: 1984 Austrian GP
• Last retirement: 1997 San Marino GP

4. Rubens Barrichello - 97 DNFs

The legendary Brazilian auto racer competed in Formula One from 1993 to 2011. Many remember him during his time with Ferrari, forming a solid partnership with Michael Schumacher. Barrichello finished second in the 2002 and 2004 championships and third in 2001 and 2009.

• Date of birth: 23 May 1972
• Birthplace: São Paulo State, Brazil
• Retirements: 97
• Race starts: 30.03%
• First retirement: 1993 South Africa GP
• Last retirement: 2011 German GP

3. Michele Alboreto - 102 NDFs

Alboreto became the third F1 driver to break the 100 mark in DNFs. He drove for Ferrari between 1984 and 1988 and finished second in the 1985 championship. Alboreto also won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1997 with Audi.

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• Date of birth: 23 December 1956
• Birthplace: Milan, Italy
• Retirements: 102
• Race starts: 52.58%
• First retirement: 1981 San Marino GP
• Last retirement: 1994 Australian GP

2. Riccardo Patrese - 145 DNFs

The Italian legend was the first F1 driver to achieve over 200 Grand Prix starts. Riccardo Patrese finished runner-up to Nigel Mansell in the 1992 World Championship and third in 1989 and 1991. In his 257 starts, he failed to cross the line in 145 races.

• Date of birth: 17 April 1954
• Birthplace: Padua, Italy
• Retirements: 145
• Race starts: 56.64%
• First retirement: 1977 Belgian GP
• Last retirement: 1993 Australian GP

1. Andrea de Cesaris - 149 DNFs

De Cesaris died in a motorcycle accident aged 55 but left a lasting legacy. He started 208 world championship races between 1980 and 1994 without a win. His best finish was second place. Andrea raced for Alfa Romeo, McLaren, Ligier, and Minardi, among others.

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• Date of birth: 31 May 1959
• Date of death: 5 October 2014
• Birthplace: Rome, Italy
• Retirements: 149
• Race starts: 71.63%
• First retirement: 1990 Canadian GP
• Last retirement: 1994 European GP

Frequently asked questions

Crashing out of a race is costly for any driver fighting for the Formula One World Championship. Most F1 teams have tried to minimise chances of mechanical breakdown by improving their cars and communication between the pit wall and the drivers.

What are the most DNFs in an F1 race?

The 1996 Monaco Grand Prix holds the record for most DNFs in a single F1 race, with only three of 22 drivers crossing the line after completing 75 laps. Oliver Panis of France, who emerged victorious, followed by the Great Britain duo of David Coulthard and Johnny Herbert, respectively, were the only ones who finished the race.

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Legendary Michael Schumacher failed to complete a lap in the Monaco Grand Prix, which recorded F1's most DNFs in a race. Here is a breakdown of the five most DNFs in one F1 race

Who has the most DNFs in an F1 season?

Legendary Italian driver Andrea de Cesaris holds the record for most DNFs in 1 F1 race season. He set the record in 1987, managing 14 DNFs out of 16 races.

Who has the most first-lap and consecutive DNFs?

Jarno Trulli holds the record for the most (14) first-lap DNFs in 252 starts. Rubens Barrichello is second with 13, and Andrea De Cesaris third with 12 first-lap retirements. De Cesaris holds the record for the most consecutive DNFs in Formula 1, with 22. He retired consecutively from the 1986 Australian GP to the 1988 Canadian GP.

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Who has the most DNFs in F1 in 2023?

The 2023 Formula One season kicked off with the Bahrain Grand Prix on 5 March and finished in Abu Dhabi on 26 November. It consisted of 23 races, with Max Verstappen emerging victorious. Only Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo, and Liam Lawson had zero F1 DNFs in 2023.

Final word

Having the most DNFs in F1 races is not an encouraging achievement for any driver or team. Andrea de Cesaris's record of 149 DNFs has stood for years and remains unbroken even after his retirement and death. Modern cars have undergone improvement and modification to minimise technical problems and accidents, making it difficult for drivers to exit a race earlier.

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READ ALSO: How much do Formula 2 drivers make on average? All the facts and details

Sports Brief discussed the salaries of Formula 2 drivers, an auto-racing competition organised by the FIA for young, up-and-coming drivers. F2 is a second-tier feeder championship that nurtures young, talented, experienced racers to progress to F1. Follow the above link for exclusive information about how much F2 drivers get paid.