The 25 greatest F1 drivers of the 21st century – ranked

Formula 1 has been home to some of the greatest talents in motorsport history, but only the elite leave a lasting legacy. Today, we rank the 25 best drivers of the 21st century, evaluating their victories, podium finishes, longevity, track record, and, most importantly, how they fared against their teammates. We used F1 Stats analytics to compare, let's dive in!

Following his debut for Toro Rosso in 2017, the French pilot has cashed in five podiums and one win, amounting to 436 career points. Gasly moved to Alpine at the start of the 2023 season, proving to be a strong driver for the French team.

Jarno Trulli is another great F1 driver, who won the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix with Renault. He made his debut in 1997, but it wasn't until his later years that he began to bloom. He also raced for Minardi, Prost, Jordan, Toyota, and Lotus. Throughout his career, he also claimed 11 podiums and four pole positions.

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Nicknamed "Quick Nick," Heidfeld made his official F1 debut in 2000 with Prost. He secured his first and only pole position while driving for Williams in 2005, but never managed to convert it into a race victory. A standout talent in the German Formula Ford Series before his F1 career, he showed great promise, but never quite reached his full potential at the pinnacle of motorsport.

The Italian made his big debut in 1996 (Australia) and extended his career over a decade until his retirement in 2009. He worked at Ferrari, Sauber, Renault, Benetton, and Minardi. Fishichella registered three victories, four pole positions, and 19 podiums.

The former Ferrari and McLaren driver has proven time after time to be one of the strongest racers on the grid. During his spell at Ferrari, he registered four big wins, consistently getting points in for his team. He has also achieved six pole positions, four fastest laps, and 27 podiums so far in his Formula 1 career.

Lando Norris was one of the youngest drivers to ever debut in Formula 1 following his first race in 2019 at the age of 19. Following his success in Formula 2, the British driver had high expectations with McLaren. He is currently regarded as one of the best drivers in F1, and his record reflects it. So far, Norris has achieved 4 victories, 9 pole positions, and 26 podiums. Many more to come...

Barrichello is undoubtedly one of the greats, leaving a lasting impact on the sport. His Formula 1 journey began at the 1993 South African Grand Prix and spanned until 2011, during which he raced for Stewart, Ferrari, Honda, Brawn, and Williams. The Brazilian driver secured 11 victories and 68 podiums, earning a reputation for his smooth, consistent style on the track.

The former Red Bull man enjoyed a fruitful spell with the Austrian team, achieving 6 victories, 3 pole positions, 39 podiums, and 12 fast laps. Throughout his 13 years in F1, his average finishing position is 8, according to F1 stats.

Mark Webber is considered another great F1 driver following his successful 12-year career within the sport. The Australian driver registered 9 victories, 42 podium finishes, 13 pole positions, and 19 fast laps in 215 races.

The Brazilian driver was considered another great following his remarkable stint at Ferrari and Williams. He finished the Championship second in 2008, third in 2006, and fourth in 2007, always putting up a fight on the tarmac. Massa registered 11 victories, 41 podiums, 16 poles, and 15 fast laps throughout his time in F1.

The former McLaren driver is remembered for his consistency and ferocity on the track. He made his official debut with Williams in 1995, and a year later, he moved to McLaren. There, he went on to achieve 13 wins, 12 pole positions, 62 podiums, and 18 fast laps before retiring from the team in 2008.

Villeneuve debuted in 1997, winning the Championship with Williams that same year. The Canadian race driver also raced with BMW Sauber, Renault, and BAR. Throughout his career, he achieved 11 victories, 23 podiums, and 13 pole positions.

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The great Valtteri Bottas entered the world of F1 racing in 2011 with Williams, but later moved to Mercedes in 2017, where he was the teammate of Lewis Hamilton. The Finish driver snatched a total of 10 victories, 20 pole positions, 67 podiums, and 19 fast laps before retiring in 2024. A true fan favorite.

Another fan favorite is Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian driver made his debut for Toro Rosso in 2011 and eventually moved to Red Bull in 2014, where his career naturally blossomed. Throughout his time in F1, he achieved eight victories, three pole positions, 32 podiums, and 17 fast laps.

The current Ferrari driver and teammate of Lewis Hamilton has made a serious impression on F1 fans across the globe, following his strong 2024 season. The driver from Monaco made his debut in 2018 and so far he has achieved 8 victories, 26 pole positions, 43 podiums, and 10 fastest laps. He is arguably one of the most promising drivers on the grid right now, the question is, will he be able to handle the pressure from his new teammate?

The German driver made his official debut in 1997 while driving for Jordan, finishing his first race in 3rd place. In 1999, he moved to Williams, where he spent over a decade racing. It was there that he achieved six big wins, 27 podiums, and even finished 4th in the drivers standings a few times (2001 & 2002).

The Colombian F1 driver was a true sensation during his time, finishing 3rd in the drivers standings a few times (2002 & 2003). He made his debut in 2001 with Williams. Montoya claimed seven wins, 13 pole positions, 30 podiums, and 12 fastest laps during his time in F1.

The former English driver is regarded as one of the greats following his 7-year career in F1. He made his debut in 2000 for Williams, however, then he bounced around between Benetton, Renault, Br, Honda, Brawn GP, and McLaren, where he remained until he retired in 2017. Button snatched a remarkable World Championship in 2009 with Brawn GP, taking everyone by surprise. He achieved 15 victories, 8 pole positions, 8 fastest laps, and 50 podiums.

Nico Rosberg is another Mercedes icon, who snatched big wins for the German team. The German driver achieved 23 victories, 30 pole positions, 57 podiums, and 20 fastest laps, even snatching a world title in 2016, following a heated battle with Lewis Hamilton (also in Mercedes at the time).

Raikkonen is up regarded as one of the most iconic F1 drivers, not only for his skill on the tarmac, but his overall personality. Following his 201 debut, his career extended over two decades, achieving 21 victories, 18 pole positions, 103 podiums, and 46 fastest laps. The Finish driver raced for Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Lotus, Sauber, and McLaren.

Fernando 'Magic' Alonso is another F1 great, who has forged his name into motorsport history books. The Spaniard claimed two world titles in 2005-2006, and today, he still enjoys driving alongside Aston Martin. He has achieved 32 victories, 22 pole positions, 106 podiums, and 26 fastest laps throughout his career with Ferrari, Renault, McLaren, Alpine, and Aston Martin.

A four-time World Champion, Sebastian Vettel stands as one of the most successful drivers in F1, claiming a total of 53 victories, 57 pole positions, 122 podiums, and 38 fast laps. He peaked during his time at Red Bull (2009-2014), but also enjoyed fruitful stints with Ferrari, Aston Martin, Toro Rosso, and BMW Sauber.

Max Verstappen takes the title of being one of the most competitive and effective drivers of the 21st century. With his fiery approach and relentless determination, the Dutch driver seems truly unstoppable. The Red Bull driver has achieved 63 victories, 40 pole positions, 112 podiums, and 33 fast laps in just 9 years in F1. He has won four world titles (2021-2024).

Schumacher was in a league of his own. The legendary German driver made his F1 debut in 1991 with Ford Cosworth, but his legacy was truly cemented at Ferrari, where he achieved unparalleled success. Over his career, Schumacher amassed 91 victories, 68 pole positions, 155 podiums, and 77 fastest laps, securing seven world titles between 1994 and 2004. Tragically, a severe skiing accident in 2013 kept him out of the public eye and ended his involvement in professional racing.

Lewis Hamilton stands as the best F1 driver in the 21st century. His impressive record proves his unmatched ability on the tarmac. The former Mercedes man has lifted seven World Titles throughout his career, claiming 105 victories, 104 pole positions, 202 podiums, and 67 fastest laps.

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