The first Formula One season took place in 1950. After seven races, Italian driver Giuseppe Farina became the first ever F1 world champion. After this, many more winners followed. In this blog, we give you an overview of the drivers with the most world titles in Formula 1 history. In addition, we take you through the top 5 Formula 1 constructors. What are the most successful teams ever?
Directly to: 1. F1 World Championship history 2. Top 10 Formula 1 drivers 3. Top 5 Formula 1 constructors 4. See the F1 world champions live
Since 1950, as many as 34 different drivers have become Formula One World Champions. The driver who has secured the most World Championship points at the end of an entire season wins this prestigious title. Want to know more about the point system? Then read our blog post: F1 points system in 2023. As just mentioned, Giuseppe Farina (pictured right) won the first Formula 1 season in 1950. At that time, the season consisted of only seven races. Now, over seventy years later, that number has expanded up to 23 unique Grands Prix! In this blog, we take you through the record-breaking champions in Formula 1.
Image source: http://www.modelfoxbrianza.it/Ferrari_Indy1.htm, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
|
Driver |
World Titles |
Seasons |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Michael Schumacher |
7 |
1994, 1995, 200, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
|
2. Lewis Hamilton |
7 |
2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
|
3. Juan Manuel Fangio |
5 |
1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957 |
|
4. Alain Prost |
4 |
1985, 1986, 1989, 1993 |
|
5. Sebastian Vettel |
4 |
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
|
6. Max Verstappen |
4 |
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
|
7. Jackie Stewart |
3 |
1969, 1971, 1973 |
|
8. Niki Lauda |
3 |
1975, 1977, 1984 |
|
9. Nelson Piquet |
3 |
1981, 1983, 1987 |
|
10. Ayrton Senna |
3 |
1988, 1990, 1991 |
This list shows the top 10 drivers based on most F1 world titles. Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton have both become Formula 1 world champions seven times, so they share the first spot in the list. Schumacher retired from the sport in 2012. Hamilton, on the other hand, is still active and will make another attempt to take the record away from Schumacher this season. Want to read more about all these world champions? Then read our blog post: Top 20 best F1 drivers ever. The 2024 champion, Max Verstappen, now stands at four world titles. This puts him at four consecutive world titles, which rivals legendary drivers such as Alain Prost, Juan Manuel Fangio and Sebastian Vettel.
In addition to the championship for the best driver of the season, there is a second prize to be won in Formula One. This is the constructors’ championship, which goes to the team that has secured the most points at the end of the season. The scoring for this prize works the same as for the drivers’ championship. The only difference is that the points of the drivers from the same team are added together. This lucrative team prize has been established since the 1958 season. The constructors’ standings in part determine the amount of prize money a team will have at its disposal the following season. This money can be invested in the car, for example, to provide even better performance. Red Bull Racing is the last Formula One world champion. They now total 7 constructor titles. Below are the top 5 teams with the most world titles.
|
Constructor |
World Titles |
Seasons |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Ferrari |
16 |
1961, 1964, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 |
|
2. Williams |
9 |
1980, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997 |
|
3. McLaren |
8 |
1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998 |
|
4. Mercedes |
8 |
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 |
|
5. Lotus |
7 |
1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1978 |
Team Lotus was a British Formula One team that managed to win seven constructors’ titles and six drivers’ championships between 1963 and 1978. The last titles were won by American Mario Andretti. 1994 was the last year this team was active in Formula One. After this, the team was owned by several companies, including Renault. From 2012 to 2015, the Lotus name returned with well-known drivers such as Romain Grosjean and Kimi Räikkönen. Later, Renault bought the team back. The Lotus name was then officially a thing of the past. Today, this team goes by the name “Alpine F1 Team”.
First participation: 1958 Number of constructor titles: 7
In the 1954 and 1955 seasons, Mercedes already competed in Formula 1. Those two years, the driver Juan Manuel Fangio won the world title for Mercedes. So you would think that the German automaker must have had a rich history as a constructor. However, this is not the case. Indeed, at the end of the season in 1955, they pulled the plug after “the disaster of the 24 Hours of Le Mans”, which killed Mercedes driver Pierre Levegh and 82 spectators.
After supplying engines to several teams (Sauber, McLaren, Brawn GP, Force India), Mercedes did not return as a constructor until 2010, and at that time they brought back Michael Schumacher from retirement. In 2013, he was replaced by Lewis Hamilton. From the following year, Mercedes began an unprecedented run. They won both the constructors’ title and the drivers’ title seven years in a row. During this time, Hamilton became Formula One world champion six times! This makes Merceded the third most successful Formula One team, along with McLaren. McLaren currently has more drivers’ titles.
First participation: 1954 Number of constructor titles: 8 Current F1 drivers: Lewis Hamilton & George Russell
In 1963, New Zealander Bruce McLaren founded the team. This makes it one of the oldest constructors in Formula One. The first time the team became F1 world champion was in the 1974 season. That year, Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi collected the most points for the team, also winning the drivers’ title. Mclaren’s best period came only between 1988 and 1991. Then the team won four consecutive constructors’ titles. In 1988 and 1989, top drivers Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost were teammates. This created some controversial events, as the two drivers saw each other more as rivals than teammates. In 1988, Senna became Formula One world champion. The following season Prost ran away with the title, after which he left for Ferrari.
In 1998, McLaren won their eighth constructors’ title. Lewis Hamilton was the last to win the drivers’ championship for the British team in 2008. In this year, however, it was the Ferrari team that won the constructors’ title.
First participation: 1966 Number of constructor titles: 8 Current F1 drivers: Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri
Then we move on to the second most successful team ever. British Formula One team Williams, which was founded by Frank Williams and Patrick Head. It wasn’t until 1978 that they competed in Formula 1 for the first time as full constructors. Not much later, they managed to win their first constructor and driver title. This happened in 1980, with drivers Alan Jones and Carlos Reutemann. In the 1990s, Williams had their best period. They won the constructors’ championship five times in six consecutive seasons. The 1997 title proved to be the last major success to date. Indeed, over the past two decades, Williams continued to sink further and further down the rankings. This was partly due to the withdrawal of Renault as engine supplier.
First participation: 1978 Number of constructor titles: 9 Current F1 drivers: Logan Sargeant & Alexander Albon
Ferrari is by far the most successful team in Formula One history. With 16 constructors’ titles, they still stand alone in the standings. In addition, it is the only team to have participated in every Formula One season since its inception in 1950. They won their first world title in 1961, with Phill Hill, Richie Ginther and Wolfgang von Trips as drivers. The Italians’ best years were between 1999 and 2008. Here, together with Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher, they won six constructors’ titles in a row! Their most recent world championship wins date back from the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Since then, they have not dominated the tracks like they used to. They have not been able to beat Mercedes and Red Bull for years. Will they manage to finally become Formula One world champions again this year?
First participation: 1950 Number of constructor titles: 16 Current F1 drivers: Charles Leclerc & Carlos Sainz
There are currently 3 drivers with one or more world championships to their name still active in Formula 1. These are Lewis Hamilton (7), Max Verstappen (4) and Fernando Alonso (2). Wondering how they will perform in the new season? This is your chance to see them live in action at one of the 23 Grands Prix in 2025. We are offering tickets and hospitality packages for all races! How about a trip to Monaco? Or would you rather visit the state-of-the-art Marina Bay Street circuit in Singapore? Choose your favorite now and book your tickets!
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