List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions
In-game article clicks load inline without leaving the challenge.
The World Drivers' Championship is presented by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), motorsport's world governing body, to the most successful driver over the course of the season of Formula One races, through a points system based on individual race results. The World Championship is awarded at the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony after the season.
Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton hold the record for the most World Drivers' championships—seven—trailed by Juan Manuel Fangio with five. Schumacher holds the record for the most consecutive titles: five, from the 2000 to 2004 seasons. Nigel Mansell competed in the most seasons before winning the title: 13; he entered Formula One in 1980 and won the title in 1992. Nico Rosberg has the highest number of Grand Prix starts before winning his first title: 206, from the 2006 Bahrain and the 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel is the youngest champion; he was 23 years and 134 days old when he won in 2010. Juan Manuel Fangio is the oldest; he was 46 years and 41 days old when he won the 1957 title.
As of the 2026 season, the 76 titles have been won by 35 of the 782 drivers who have started a Grand Prix. The first champion was Giuseppe Farina, in 1950; the current title holder is Lando Norris in the 2025 season. The title has been won by 11 drivers from the United Kingdom a total of 21 times, more than any other nation, followed by Brazil, Finland, and Germany with three drivers each. The title has been won by drivers from Scuderia Ferrari 15 times between 9 drivers, more than any other team, followed by McLaren with 13 titles between 8 drivers. The championship has been won in the final race of the season 31 times in the 76 seasons it has been awarded. Schumacher won the championship with six races left in a season, a record: the 2002 title at that year's French Grand Prix. The points system has twice crowned a champion—John Surtees in 1964 and Ayrton Senna in 1988—who scored fewer points overall than the driver who finished second. Max Verstappen won the 2023 title with 290 points more than the second-place Sergio Pérez, a record, while Niki Lauda won the 1984 title with the closest gap: 0.5 points over Alain Prost.
By season
| Bold | indicates the constructor also won the Constructors' Championship (awarded since 1958) |
By driver
Drivers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
By driver nationality
Drivers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
Records
Youngest Drivers' champions
| Driver | Age | Season | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany Sebastian Vettel | 23 years, 134 days | 2010 |
| 2 | United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton | 23 years, 300 days | 2008 |
| 3 | Spain Fernando Alonso | 24 years, 58 days | 2005 |
| 4 | Netherlands Max Verstappen | 24 years, 73 days | 2021 |
| 5 | Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi | 25 years, 273 days | 1972 |
| 6 | Germany Michael Schumacher | 25 years, 314 days | 1994 |
| 7 | United Kingdom Lando Norris | 26 years, 24 days | 2025 |
| 8 | Austria Niki Lauda | 26 years, 197 days | 1975 |
| 9 | Canada Jacques Villeneuve | 26 years, 200 days | 1997 |
| 10 | United Kingdom Jim Clark | 27 years, 188 days | 1963 |
Where drivers have won more than one World Drivers' Championship, only their first win is noted here. Drivers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
Oldest Drivers' champions
| Driver | Age | Season | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio | 46 years, 41 days | 1957 |
| 2 | Italy Giuseppe Farina | 43 years, 308 days | 1950 |
| 3 | Australia Jack Brabham | 40 years, 155 days | 1966 |
| 4 | United Kingdom Graham Hill | 39 years, 262 days | 1968 |
| 5 | United Kingdom Nigel Mansell | 39 years, 8 days | 1992 |
| 6 | France Alain Prost | 38 years, 214 days | 1993 |
| 7 | United States Mario Andretti | 38 years, 193 days | 1978 |
| 8 | United Kingdom Damon Hill | 36 years, 26 days | 1996 |
| 9 | United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton | 35 years, 313 days | 2020 |
| 10 | Austria Niki Lauda | 35 years, 242 days | 1984 |
Where drivers have won more than one World Drivers' Championship, only their last win is noted here. Drivers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
Consecutive Drivers' championships
A total of 11 drivers have achieved consecutive wins in the World Drivers' Championship. Of those, only Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton have won two sets of consecutive Formula One Drivers' championships.
Drivers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
Drivers' Champions for constructors that did not win the Constructors' Championship in that year
| Championships | Drivers | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Brazil Nelson Piquet | 1981, 1983 |
| Netherlands Max Verstappen | 2021, 2024 | |
| 1 | United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn | 1958 |
| United Kingdom Jackie Stewart | 1973 | |
| United Kingdom James Hunt | 1976 | |
| Finland Keke Rosberg | 1982 | |
| France Alain Prost | 1986 | |
| Germany Michael Schumacher | 1994 | |
| Finland Mika Häkkinen | 1999 | |
| United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton | 2008 |
Drivers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
By chassis constructor
Constructors in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
| Constructor | Titles | Season(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrari | 15 | 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 |
| McLaren | 13 | 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008, 2025 |
| Mercedes | 9 | 1954, 1955, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| Red Bull Racing | 8 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| Williams | 7 | 1980, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 |
| Lotus | 6 | 1963, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1978 |
| Brabham | 4 | 1966, 1967, 1981, 1983 |
| Alfa Romeo | 2 | 1950, 1951 |
| Maserati | 1954, 1957 | |
| Cooper | 1959, 1960 | |
| Tyrrell | 1971, 1973 | |
| Benetton | 1994, 1995 | |
| Renault | 2005, 2006 | |
| BRM | 1 | 1962 |
| Matra | 1969 | |
| Brawn | 2009 | |
| 16 constructors | 76 titles |
By engine manufacturer
Engine manufacturers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
| Manufacturer | Titles | Season(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrari | 15 | 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 |
| Mercedes | 14 | 1954, 1955, 1998, 1999, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2025 |
| Ford | 13 | 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1994 |
| Renault | 11 | 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| Honda | 6 | 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2021 |
| Climax | 4 | 1959, 1960, 1963, 1965 |
| TAG | 3 | 1984, 1985, 1986 |
| Alfa Romeo | 2 | 1950, 1951 |
| Maserati | 1954, 1957 | |
| Repco | 1966, 1967 | |
| Honda RBPT | 2023, 2024 | |
| BRM | 1 | 1962 |
| BMW | 1983 | |
| RBPT | 2022 | |
| 14 manufacturers | 76 titles |
By tyres used
Tyre manufacturers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
| Rank | Manufacturer | Titles | Seasons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | Goodyear | 24 (7) | 1966-1967, 1971, 1973-1978, 1980, 1982, 1985-1997 |
| 2 | P | Pirelli | 20 (14) | 1950-1954, 1957, 2011-2025 |
| 3 | B | Bridgestone | 11 (6) | 1998-2004, 2007-2010 |
| 4 | D | Dunlop | 8 (4) | 1959-1965, 1969 |
| 5 | M | Michelin | 6 | 1979, 1981, 1983-1984, 2005-2006 |
| 6 | F | Firestone | 4 | 1952, 1968, 1970, 1972 |
| 7 | C | Continental | 2 | 1954-1955 |
| E | Englebert | 1956, 1958 |
Numbers in parentheses indicate championships won as the sole tyre supplier.
See also
- History of Formula One
- List of Formula One driver records
- List of Formula One drivers
- List of Formula One World Constructors' Champions