F1 champions Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

Ayrton Senna is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of Formula One. Representing Brazil, the three-time champion was famous for his exceptional speed and mastery of difficult driving conditions, particularly in the rain. His career was marked by a competitive rivalry with Alain Prost. He died following a high-speed crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.

John Surtees won seven motorcycle world championships across the 350cc and 500cc classes before transitioning to car racing. He secured his sole Formula One title with Ferrari in 1964. This unique achievement remains unmatched in motorsport history. Surtees later founded his own team and is celebrated for demonstrating professional mastery across both two-wheeled bikes and sophisticated, high-performance racing vehicles.

Mario Andretti remains the last American driver to win the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship, a title awarded based on total points earned over a racing season. Born in Italy before moving to the United States, Andretti won the title in 1978 while driving for the Lotus team. He also earned victories in the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500 races.

Max Verstappen secured the 2021 Formula One title while racing for Red Bull. This victory made him the first Dutch driver to win the championship. The season concluded with a notable race at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. A late safety car deployment enabled him to pass Lewis Hamilton on the final lap, ending Hamilton’s streak of four consecutive world titles.

Jacques Villeneuve won the 1997 Formula One World Championship at the European Grand Prix held in Jerez, Spain. During this event, Michael Schumacher deliberately collided with Villeneuve in an attempt to protect his narrow points lead. While Schumacher retired from the race, Villeneuve continued to finish third and secure the title. Officials later disqualified Schumacher from the final season standings for his unsportsmanlike driving conduct.

Nigel Mansell is an accomplished British racing driver who achieved a rare feat in professional motorsport. Following his 1992 Formula One World Championship victory with the Williams team, he transitioned to the American IndyCar circuit. By winning the 1993 PPG Indy Car World Series title in his first year, he became the only driver to hold both major international racing championships at the same time.

Alain Prost competed in Formula One from 1980 to 1993, winning titles with McLaren and Williams. He earned his nickname by carefully calculating race risks and managing tire wear instead of relying solely on raw speed. His intense rivalry with teammate Ayrton Senna remains a defining era in motorsport history. Michael Schumacher eventually surpassed his long-standing record of fifty-one individual race wins.

Mika Hakkinen, often nicknamed the Flying Finn, secured consecutive Formula One titles during a highly competitive era of motor racing. Known for his intense rivalry with Michael Schumacher, Hakkinen drove for the McLaren-Mercedes team throughout his championship years. His success followed a physical recovery from a life-threatening accident in 1995. He remains one of only two Finnish drivers to win multiple world championships.

Lewis Hamilton won his inaugural Formula One World Championship in 2008 driving for the McLaren team. During the season finale at the Interlagos circuit, he required a fifth-place finish to secure the title. He achieved this by overtaking Timo Glock on the final corner of the last lap. This victory made him the youngest champion in the sport’s history at that specific time.

Sir Jack Brabham achieved a unique milestone in Formula One history during the 1966 season. By winning the World Drivers’ Championship in a car built by his own company, the Brabham Racing Organisation, he accomplished a feat that remains unmatched. His technical expertise as an engineer and driver allowed him to secure three titles overall, fundamentally shaping the early decades of professional motor racing.

James Hunt secured his only Formula One title driving for McLaren during a season defined by his intense rivalry with Ferrari driver Niki Lauda. Despite Lauda surviving a severe accident at the Nürburgring, the competition remained close until the final race in Japan. Hunt finished third in torrential rain, while Lauda withdrew citing dangerous conditions. This result allowed Hunt to win by a narrow one point margin.

Kimi Raikkonen clinched the 2007 Formula One world title by winning the final race in Brazil while driving for Ferrari. This victory allowed him to finish the season with 110 points, narrowly surpassing McLaren teammates Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso who tied at 109. It remains one of the closest title races in professional motorsport history, marking the only championship win for the Finnish driver.

Juan Manuel Fangio dominated the first decade of Formula One racing. He achieved five world titles between 1951 and 1957. Remarkably, he secured these championships while driving for four separate manufacturers: Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, and Ferrari. His long-standing record for the most titles stood for forty-six years until Michael Schumacher finally surpassed it during the 2003 season.

Fernando Alonso achieved his consecutive Formula One World Championships while driving for the Renault team. By winning the titles in 2005 and 2006, he became the youngest double world champion in the history of the sport at that time. His success marked a major shift in racing dominance, halting a long streak held by Michael Schumacher and the Ferrari team for five years.

Michael Schumacher is a renowned German racing driver who dominated Formula One during the early 2000s. After winning two titles with Benetton, he moved to Ferrari and helped end their long championship drought. His five straight wins with the Italian team set a record for consistency. Beyond titles, he held records for most wins and pole positions for many years after his final retirement.

Damon Hill secured the 1996 Formula One title while driving for the Williams team, marking a significant historical milestone. His father, Graham Hill, was a prominent driver who earned world championships in 1962 and 1968. This victory made them the first father and son to both win the championship. The Rosbergs eventually matched this rare historical accomplishment when Nico won the title exactly twenty years later in 2016.

Jochen Rindt remains the only driver to win the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship after his death. The Austrian racer competed for Lotus during the 1970 season, securing five victories before a fatal accident occurred during practice at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Despite his passing, Rindt had accumulated enough points that no competitors could surpass his total before the racing year concluded.

Austrian driver Niki Lauda secured his third and final Formula One title in 1984, narrowly defeating teammate Alain Prost. This championship remains unique because of its razor-thin margin. The half-point difference resulted from the Monaco Grand Prix, which was halted early due to heavy rain. Under racing regulations, drivers only receive half the usual points if a race finishes before reaching seventy-five percent of the distance.

Nico Rosberg secured the 2016 Formula One World Championship while driving for Mercedes, narrowly defeating teammate Lewis Hamilton. Just five days after achieving this lifelong goal, he stunned the sporting world by announcing his immediate retirement. Having competed in the series since 2006, Rosberg opted to leave at his absolute peak to focus on family, making him the first reigning champion to retire since 1993.

Jenson Button claimed his only Formula One title in 2009 with Brawn GP. The team formed after Ross Brawn purchased Honda Racing for a symbolic fee. Featuring a pioneering double diffuser, the car dominated early races, leading Button to six victories in the first seven events. Brawn GP is the only team to win the championship during its debut season before being acquired by Mercedes.

Sebastian Vettel secured the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship in 2010 while driving for Red Bull Racing. At twenty-three years and one hundred thirty-four days old, he surpassed the previous record set by Lewis Hamilton. Vettel achieved this feat by winning the season finale in Abu Dhabi, marking the first time he led the championship standings during that entire competitive season.