Remember Them?

Ask a younger Formula 1 fan about Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Ayrton Senna, or Michael Schumacher and they'll probably have plenty to say. Ask them about some of the stars who came before them, though, and you might get a blank stare. Which is a shame, because some of the toughest, fastest, and most entertaining drivers in F1 history have slowly faded from public memory.Paul-Henri Cahier, Getty Images

Jim Clark

Ask a lot of old-school racing fans who the greatest driver ever was and many will still say Jim Clark. The Scottish legend won two world championships during the 60s and seemed capable of winning absolutely anything with wheels. Even today, many historians rank him among the most naturally gifted drivers Formula 1 has ever seen.

Joop van Bilsen / Anefo, Wikimedia Commons

Graham Hill

Before Damon Hill became a champion, his father Graham was already a legend. Famous for his mustache, charm, and fearless driving, Hill won two Formula 1 titles and remains the only person ever to complete motorsport's Triple Crown by winning Monaco, Indianapolis, and Le Mans.

Anefo, Wikimedia Commons

Jack Brabham

Most drivers dream of winning a championship. Jack Brabham went a step further and won one in a car carrying his own name. The Australian captured three world titles and remains the only Formula 1 champion to accomplish something that remarkable. That's the kind of record that may never be broken.

Eric Koch for Anefo / neg. stroken, 1945-1989, 2.24.01.05, item number 919-3825, Wikimedia Commons

Stirling Moss

Stirling Moss never won a Formula 1 championship, which still sounds strange considering how talented he was. He finished runner-up four times and won races during one of the sport's most dangerous eras. Many fans and drivers still consider him the greatest champion who never actually became champion.

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Jochen Rindt

Jochen Rindt's story remains one of Formula 1's most tragic. He won five races in 1970 and built such a large points lead that nobody could catch him after his fatal crash at Monza. More than 50 years later, he remains the sport's only posthumous world champion.

Evers, Joost / Anefo / neg. stroken, 1945-1989, 2.24.01.05, item number 923-6109, Wikimedia Commons

Denny Hulme

Nicknamed 'The Bear' because of his rugged appearance, Denny Hulme wasn't flashy or controversial. He simply got results. The New Zealander won the 1967 championship and spent years battling some of the greatest drivers Formula 1 has ever produced while earning enormous respect throughout the paddock.

Lothar Spurzem, Wikimedia Commons

Jackie Stewart

Long before he became one of Formula 1's most recognizable broadcasters, Jackie Stewart was dominating races. The Scottish superstar won three world championships and helped push the sport toward safer cars and circuits after seeing far too many friends killed during racing's most dangerous years.

Anefo, Wikimedia Commons

Dan Gurney

Dan Gurney was one of those drivers who seemed capable of doing everything. The American won races in Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, and sports cars while becoming one of motorsport's most respected figures. He's also credited with starting the now-traditional winner's champagne spray celebration.

Evers, Joost / Anefo / neg. stroken, 1945-1989, 2.24.01.05, item number 923-6115, Wikimedia Commons

Phil Hill

America has produced surprisingly few Formula 1 world champions. Phil Hill was the first. The California native captured the 1961 title driving for Ferrari and became one of the sport's most respected technical minds. Younger fans often overlook him entirely, which feels a little unfair.

Unknown photographer, Wikimedia Commons

Bruce McLaren

Today millions of fans recognize the McLaren name. Far fewer realize it came from an actual driver. Bruce McLaren won Grands Prix before founding the team that still carries his name today. His impact on motorsport remains enormous decades after his untimely death.

Mike Cookson, Wikimedia Commons

Ronnie Peterson

Few drivers have ever looked faster behind the wheel than Ronnie Peterson. The Swedish star became famous for spectacular car control and fearless driving that often had fans holding their breath. He never won a championship, but many rivals believed his raw speed was among the greatest Formula 1 had ever seen.

gillfoto, Wikimedia Commons

Emerson Fittipaldi

Before Senna, before Piquet, and before Verstappen's mother married into the family, Brazil had Emerson Fittipaldi. He became Formula 1's youngest world champion at the time when he won in 1972 and helped establish Brazil as one of the sport's great racing nations.

Rob Mieremet / Anefo, Wikimedia Commons

Jody Scheckter

Jody Scheckter often looked like he was driving slightly out of control, and sometimes he probably was. His aggressive style made him one of Formula 1's most entertaining drivers before he captured the 1979 championship with Ferrari. He remains Ferrari's last champion of the 70s.

Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons

Carlos Reutemann

Carlos Reutemann came painfully close to becoming world champion in 1981. He entered the final race leading the standings but ultimately lost the title to Nelson Piquet by a single point. Boomers who watched that season still remember just how close he came.

Fordhuayra, Wikimedia Commons

Gilles Villeneuve

Some drivers win fans because of championships. Gilles Villeneuve won fans because he drove like every lap might be his last. The Ferrari star's fearless overtakes and spectacular racing style made him one of the most beloved drivers in Formula 1 history despite never winning a title.

ideogibs, Wikimedia Commons

John Surtees

Nobody else on this list accomplished what John Surtees did. He won world championships on motorcycles and then won a Formula 1 world championship too. It's one of the most extraordinary achievements in all of motorsport and one that will probably never be matched.

Harry Pot for Anefo, Wikimedia Commons

Clay Regazzoni

Clay Regazzoni wasn't always the fastest driver on the grid, but he was often one of the toughest. The Swiss racer became known for his fighting spirit and refusal to back down from anyone. Fans loved him because he always seemed willing to give absolutely everything he had.

Hans Peters for Anefo / neg. stroken, 1945-1989, 2.24.01.05, item number 927-2735, Wikimedia Commons

Niki Lauda

Most younger fans know Niki Lauda because of the movie Rush. Boomers remember watching the real story unfold. After surviving one of Formula 1's most horrifying crashes in 1976, Lauda returned just weeks later and eventually won three world championships. It's still one of sports' greatest comebacks.

Gillfoto from Juneau, Alaska, United States, Wikimedia Commons

James Hunt

If Formula 1 ever had a true rock star, it might have been James Hunt. The British driver's speed, charisma, and complete disregard for convention made him wildly popular throughout the 70s. His rivalry with Niki Lauda helped create one of Formula 1's greatest seasons.

Anefo / Croes, R.C, Wikimedia Commons

Mario Andretti

Many younger fans know Mario Andretti's name without realizing just how accomplished he was. The American won the 1978 Formula 1 championship while also succeeding in virtually every major form of racing imaginable. Very few drivers in history have been as versatile.

Stuart Seeger, Wikimedia Commons

Nelson Piquet

Long before younger fans knew him as Max Verstappen's father-in-law, Nelson Piquet was one of Formula 1's biggest stars. The Brazilian won three world championships during the 80s and built a reputation for being almost as entertaining outside the car as he was inside it.

PA Images Archive, Getty Images

Keke Rosberg

Keke Rosberg's son Nico eventually became world champion too, but Keke earned his place in Formula 1 history first. The Finnish driver won the 1982 championship and became known for an aggressive driving style that perfectly matched the wild turbo era.

Hans van Dijk for Anefo, Wikimedia Commons

John Watson

John Watson rarely made things easy on himself. The Northern Irish driver became famous for charging through the field from poor starting positions and somehow ending up on the podium. Fans loved watching him pull off races that looked impossible when the lights first went green.

Raimund Kommer, Wikimedia Commons

Didier Pironi

For much of 1982, Didier Pironi looked like a future world champion. Then a devastating crash at Hockenheim ended those hopes and effectively ended his Formula 1 career. It's one of the sport's biggest 'what if?' stories and one many younger fans have never heard.

Hans van Dijk for Anefo NL-HaNA, ANEFO / neg. stroken, 1945-1989, 2.24.01.05, item number 932-2373, Wikimedia Commons

René Arnoux

If you like hard racing, René Arnoux is your kind of driver. The Frenchman became famous for some of the most spectacular wheel-to-wheel battles Formula 1 has ever seen, including his unforgettable duel with Gilles Villeneuve at Dijon in 1979 that fans still watch today.

Edoardo Fornaciari, Getty Images

Nigel Mansell

Younger fans have usually heard of Nigel Mansell, but many don't realize just how huge he was in his prime. 'Mansell Mania' packed grandstands across Britain, and his aggressive driving style made him one of the most popular drivers Formula 1 had ever seen.

Stuart Seeger, Wikimedia Commons

Riccardo Patrese

For years it felt like Riccardo Patrese would race forever. The Italian eventually set Formula 1's appearance record with 256 Grands Prix, a massive number at the time. While bigger names often grabbed the headlines, Patrese quietly built one of the longest careers in the sport.

Hans van Dijk for Anefo, Wikimedia Commons

Alan Jones

Australia's Alan Jones helped establish Williams as a Formula 1 powerhouse by winning the 1980 championship. Tough, outspoken, and never afraid to speak his mind, Jones became one of the defining personalities of Formula 1's early-80s boom years.

NL-HaNA, ANEFO / neg. stroken, 1945-1989, 2.24.01.05, item number 930-9867, Wikimedia Commons

Jean Alesi

Jean Alesi only won one Formula 1 race, but you'd never know it from the way fans talk about him. The French driver became famous for driving every lap at maximum attack, and his aggressive style made him one of the most popular drivers of the 90s despite limited success.

David Madison, Getty Images

Gerhard Berger

Gerhard Berger had the misfortune of racing against Senna, Prost, Mansell, and Schumacher, but he was still one of Formula 1's most respected drivers. Fast, fearless, and known for legendary practical jokes, Berger became one of the paddock's most beloved personalities.

Bryn Colton, Getty Images

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Sources: 1, 2, 3