Who has won the most World Drivers’ Championships in F1 history? Top 10 with most world titles in Formula One
Simply put, winning the World Drivers’ Championship is the pinnacle of any Formula 1 driver.
Only 34 people in the history of the sport have managed to claim the title since 1950, but the 10 names on this list have all won this prestigious award three or more times.
As such, these riders are regarded by their peers, fans and pundits alike as some of the greatest to grace the sport.
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Who has won the most Drivers’ World Championships in F1 history?
Michael Schumacher (7)
One of the greatest drivers of all time in Formula 1, German racing driver Michael Schumacher rose to fame when he won his first world title in 1994 while driving for Benetton.
Just a year later, in 1995, he added another title with the same team before embarking on a glittering career at Ferrari and dominating the sport in the early 2000s.
Thanks to that run, Schumacher, who won the title every year between 2000 and 2004, still holds the record for most Drivers’ World Championships won five in a row – a historic streak that may never be equaled.
Years won: 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Lewis Hamilton (7)
Lewis Hamilton, the most dominant driver in recent F1 history, joins Michael Schumacher at the top of the list of drivers with the most drivers’ world championship titles.
Hamilton won his first title with McLaren in 2008 and shortly thereafter switched to Mercedes, where he has since won six world titles during his tenure with the German constructor.
Many would argue that the British driver is the greatest in history, especially given the controversial circumstances in which he finished P2 in the 2021 season, and you wouldn’t argue against him if you win another World Drivers’ Championship in the future would.
Years won: 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Manuel Fangio (5)
Argentinian driver Juan Manuel Fangio has won the third most World Drivers’ Championships in Formula 1 history.
Dominating the sport’s first decade, Fangio was nicknamed “The Champion” by his fans and peers for a driving style that saw him claim 24 race wins over the course of his career.
Years won: 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
Sebastian Vettel (4)
German driver Sebastian Vettel may have retired at the end of the 2022 season, but his legacy as one of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport will live on.
The Heppenheim-born racer won four consecutive World Drivers’ Championships with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, when he dominated all before him. His 2013 title also earned him nine straight wins to finish the season before joining Ferrari just a year later.
Although he failed to win an individual championship with the Tifosi during his six years with the team, he helped build Ferrari into the team they are today – one that hopes to win the constructors’ title through Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Years won: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Alain Prost (4)
Frenchman Alain Prost, considered by some to be the greatest rider of all time, has taken home four world titles over the course of his illustrious career.
Prost won first place in 1985 and won the 1999 World Sports Award of the Century in the motorsport category, underlining his stunning career in Formula 1.
Years won: 1985, 1986, 1989, 1993
Jackie Stewart (3)
Nicknamed the “Flying Scotsman,” Jackie Stewart won three world titles and finished second twice in his nine years in the sport.
Stewart won his first championship with Mantra in 1969 and took home the title with Tyrrell in 1971 and 1973 before retiring from the sport shortly thereafter.
Years won: 1969, 1971, 1973
John Brabham (3)
The most decorated Australian in Formula 1 history, New South Wales won three world titles with the great Jack Brabham between 1959 and 1966.
After a brief career as a Royal Australian Air Force flight mechanic, Brabham began racing in his home country and New Zealand before moving to England to further his career.
During the 1966 season, Brabham became the first – and still the only – man to win the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship while driving one of his own cars.
Years won: 1959, 1960, 1966
Nicky Lauda (3)
Austrian F1 driver Niki Lauder won three World Drivers’ Championships during his career in the sport.
Lauda won his first title in 1975 and was seriously injured at the 1976 German Grand Prix, although he returned to racing just six weeks after what many believed was a career-ending crash. He also won titles in 1977 and 1984.
To date, Lauda is the only driver in Formula 1 history to have been a champion for both Ferrari and McLaren, two of the sport’s most successful constructors.
Years won: 1975, 1977, 1984
Nelson Piquet (3)
Despite hiding his identity to prevent his father from discovering his hobby as a young kart driver, the Brazilian Nelson Piquet became arguably the finest F1 racing driver of the 1980s.
Piquet won the World Drivers’ Championship three times during this period – in 1981, 1983 and 1987 – and was known for his non-aggressive style, which endeared him to both fans of the sport and his fellow racers.
Years won: 1981, 1983, 1987
Ayrton Senna (3)
Considered one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history, Brazilian Ayrton Senna won three world titles before his untimely death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
A master of wet weather conditions, he was the childhood inspiration for most of the current Formula 1 drivers we see on the grid today.
Years won: 1988, 1990, 1991
The most successful F1 drivers in history by number of drivers’ world championship titles won
| driver | Drivers’ World Championship |
| Michael sSchumacher | 7 |
| Lewis Hamilton | 7 |
| Juan Manuel Fangio | 5 |
| Alain Prost | 4 |
| Sebastian Vettel | 4 |
| Jack Brabham | 3 |
| Jackie Stewart | 3 |
| Niki Lauda | 3 |
| Nelson Piquet | 3 |
| Ayrton Senna | 3 |
*Bold indicates current F1 drivers
Which current F1 drivers have won the World Drivers’ Championship?
In addition to Lewis Hamilton, who will still be driving for the German team Mercedes in 2023, two other racing drivers on the starting grid have already won the Drivers’ World Championship.
The youngest of these is Dutchman Max Verstappen, who took home the crown in 2021 and 2022.
His first came in controversial circumstances when he beat Hamilton on the last lap of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the final race of the season. His second championship win was a little more comprehensive as he broke the record for most F1 wins in a season (15) as he dominated the 2022 season.
The only other driver alongside Hamilton and Verstappen who is on the starting line-up for 2023 and has previously won a world title is Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso.
Like Verstappen, the 41-year-old, who now drives for Aston Martin, has won the World Drivers’ Championship twice. He celebrated his two victories in 2005 and 2006 with Renault.