For more than 70 years, the Formula One circuit has been graced by some of the most skilled drivers in the world. When it comes down to the number of wins under their belt, these guys are five of the best drivers in the history of Formula One.
No list of the greats is complete without Ayrton Senna. Senna was destined to be a winner on the track. When he was 13 years old, he took part in go-kart races and often won against much older rivals. Later, Senna took this experience to the professional race circuits in England. He won the British Formula Three Championship before moving up the ranks to Formula One in 1984. Driving predominantly for McLaren, Senna won three World Championships and a total of 41 races. Senna’s career was tragically cut short in 1994 when he had a fatal crash at the San Marino Grand Prix. Despite this, he is remembered as one of the greatest drivers in Formula One history.
Like Aryton Senna, Alain Prost stepped into the world of motorsport at an early age. He went from go-karting at 14 years old to a professional Formula One career ten years later. Prost is often considered one of the greatest drivers because he kept everyone else on their toes. Squaring off against legends like Niki Lauda and Nigel Mansell, Prost secured four World Championships and a total of 51 wins. Prost ended his career on a high note when he retired after winning his fourth championship in 1993.
Sebastian Vettel always knew he’d be a Formula One champion. As a young child, he showed incredible skill on the go-kart circuits. He gained the attention of the folks at Red Bull and signed to their Junior Team when he was just 11 years old. Ten years later, Vettel made headlines when he secured victory at a Formula One Grand Prix and took the title of youngest Formula One champion from Lewis Hamilton. As part of Red Bull’s senior team, Vettel went on to snag four consecutive World Championships. And with a total of 53 wins, Vettel has earned a spot on the list of the greatest Formula One drivers.
For several years, it seemed like Michael Schumacher was unbeatable on the track. To many Formula One fans, Schumacher is the greatest driver of all time due to his incredible speed, focus, and willingness to take risks. Some people also love his arrogance, though it sometimes got him in trouble with racing officials. But despite the occasional controversy, Schumacher is undeniably great. With seven World Championship victories and a total of 91 wins, he is one of the best drivers who ever sped down the Formula One circuits.
Lewis Hamilton’s career may have had a bit of a slower start than the other drivers on this list, but no one can stop him now. Starting with go-karts and remote-controlled cars as a kid, Hamilton became one of McLaren’s most skilled drivers. In 2008, he won his first World Championship and made headlines for being the youngest World Champion. But Hamilton’s career didn’t get much fanfare for years after that. Things didn’t really kick into gear until he signed with Mercedes in 2013. Since then, he’s been unstoppable. With seven World Championships and a total of 103 wins, Lewis Hamilton has cemented his place as the king of the racetrack and, thus far, the greatest driver in the history of Formula One.
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