The World Drivers' Championship is presented by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), motorsport's world governing body, to the most successful driver over the course of the season of Formula One races, through a points system based on individual race results. The World Championship is awarded at the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony after the season.
Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton hold the record for the most World Drivers' championships—seven—trailed by Juan Manuel Fangio with five. Schumacher holds the record for the most consecutive titles: five, from the to seasons. Nigel Mansell competed in the most seasons before winning the title: 13; he entered Formula One in and won the title in . Nico Rosberg has the highest number of Grand Prix starts before winning his first title: 206, from the 2006 Bahrain and the 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel is the youngest champion; he was 23 years and 134 days old when he won in . Juan Manuel Fangio is the oldest; he was 46 years and 41 days old when he won the title.
As of the season, the 76 titles have been won by 35 of the 782 drivers who have started a Grand Prix. The first champion was Giuseppe Farina, in ; the current title holder is Lando Norris in the season. The title has been won by 11 drivers from the United Kingdom a total of 21 times, more than any other nation, followed by Brazil, Finland, and Germany with three drivers each. The title has been won by drivers from Scuderia Ferrari 15 times between 9 drivers, more than any other team, followed by McLaren with 13 titles between 8 drivers. The championship has been won in the final race of the season 31 times in the 76 seasons it has been awarded. Schumacher won the championship with six races left in a season, a record: the title at that year's . The points system has twice crowned a champion—John Surtees in and Ayrton Senna in —who scored fewer points overall than the driver who finished second. Max Verstappen won the 2023 title with 290 points more than the second-place Sergio Pérez, a record, while Niki Lauda won the 1984 title with the closest gap: 0.5 points over Alain Prost.
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By season +KeyBoldindicates the constructor also won the Constructors' Championship (awarded since )
+World Drivers' Champions by seasonSeasonDriverAgeConstructorTyresPolesWinsPodiumsFastest lapsPointsClinchedMarginChassisEngine Giuseppe Farina44 Alfa Romeo 23333083.333 (47.619)Round 7 of 70310.000 Juan Manuel Fangio40 Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo43553186.111 (51.389)Round 8 of 80619.355 Alberto Ascari34 Ferrari Ferrari 566636100.000 (74.306)Round 6 of 821233.333 Alberto Ascari35 Ferrari Ferrari655434.595.833 (57.407)Round 8 of 916.518.841 Juan Manuel Fangio 43 Maserati Maserati56734293.333 (70.547)Round 7 of 9216.85740.136 Mercedes Mercedes Juan Manuel Fangio44 Mercedes Mercedes34534088.889 (65.079)Round 6 of 7116.541.250 Juan Manuel Fangio45 Ferrari Ferrari63543066.667 (45.833)Round 8 of 80310.000 Juan Manuel Fangio46 Maserati Maserati44624088.889 (63.889)Round 6 of 821537.500 Mike Hawthorn29 Ferrari Ferrari41754277.778 (49.495)Round 11 of 11012.381 Jack Brabham33 Cooper Climax12513168.889 (41.975)Round 9 of 90412.903 Jack Brabham34 Cooper Climax35534389.583 (53.750)Round 8 of 102920.930 Phil Hill34 Ferrari Ferrari52623475.556 (52.778)Round 7 of 8112.941 Graham Hill33 BRM BRM14634293.333 (64.198)Round 9 of 901228.571 Jim Clark27 Lotus Climax779654100.000 (81.111)Round 7 of 1032138.889 John Surtees30 Ferrari Ferrari22624074.074 (44.444)Round 10 of 10012.500 Jim Clark29 Lotus Climax666654100.000 (60.000)Round 7 of 1031425.926 Jack Brabham40 Brabham Repco34514293.333 (55.556)Round 7 of 921433.333 Denny Hulme31 Brabham Repco02825162.963 (51.515)Round 11 of 11059.804 Graham Hill39 Lotus Ford23604853.333 (44.444)Round 12 of 1201225.000 Jackie Stewart30 Matra Ford26756377.778 (63.636)Round 8 of 1132641.270 Jochen Rindt28 Lotus Ford35514545.455 (38.462)Round 12 of 131511.111 Jackie Stewart32 Tyrrell Ford66736276.543 (62.626)Round 8 of 1132946.774 Emerson Fittipaldi25 Lotus Ford35806167.778 (56.481)Round 10 of 1221626.230 Jackie Stewart34 Tyrrell Ford35817160.684 (52.593)Round 13 of 1521622.535 Emerson Fittipaldi27 McLaren Ford23705547.009 (40.741)Round 15 of 15035.455 Niki Lauda26 Ferrari Ferrari958264.559.722 (55.128)Round 13 of 14119.530.233 James Hunt29 McLaren Ford86826954.762 (47.917)Round 16 of 16011.449 Niki Lauda28 Ferrari Ferrari231037253.333 (47.059)Round 15 of 1721723.611 Mario Andretti38 Lotus Ford86736450.794 (44.444)Round 14 of 1621320.313 Jody Scheckter29 Ferrari Ferrari13605170.833 (44.444)Round 13 of 15247.843 Alan Jones34 Williams Ford351056774.444 (56.349)Round 13 of 1411319.403 Nelson Piquet29 Brabham Ford 43715050.505 (37.037)Round 15 of 15012.000 Keke Rosberg34 Williams Ford11604444.444 (30.556)Round 16 of 160511.364 Nelson Piquet31 Brabham BMW13845959.596 (43.704)Round 15 of 15023.390 Niki Lauda35 McLaren TAG05957272.727 (51.613)Round 16 of 1600.50.694 Alain Prost30 McLaren TAG251157373.737 (52.778)Round 14 of 1622027.397 Alain Prost31 McLaren TAG141127272.727 (51.389)Round 16 of 16022.778 Nelson Piquet35 Williams Honda431147373.737 (52.778)Round 15 of 1611216.438 Ayrton Senna28 McLaren Honda1381139090.909 (65.278)Round 15 of 16133.333 Alain Prost34 McLaren Honda241157676.768 (56.250)Round 15 of 1611621.053 Ayrton Senna30 McLaren Honda1061127878.788 (54.167)Round 15 of 16178.974 Ayrton Senna31 McLaren Honda871229661.935Round 15 of 1612425.000 Nigel Mansell39 Williams Renault14912810867.500Round 11 of 1655248.148 Alain Prost38 Williams Renault1371269961.875Round 14 of 1622626.263 Michael Schumacher25 Benetton Ford681089257.500Round 16 of 16011.087 Michael Schumacher26 Benetton Renault4911810260.000Round 15 of 1723332.353 Damon Hill36 Williams Renault981059760.625Round 16 of 1601919.588 Jacques Villeneuve26 Williams Renault107838147.647Round 17 of 1703948.148 Mika Häkkinen30 McLaren Mercedes9811610062.500Round 16 of 1601414.000 Mika Häkkinen31 McLaren Mercedes1151067647.500Round 16 of 16022.632 Michael Schumacher31 Ferrari Ferrari9912210863.529Round 16 of 1711917.593 Michael Schumacher32 Ferrari Ferrari11914312372.353Round 13 of 1745847.154 Michael Schumacher33 Ferrari Ferrari71117714484.706Round 11 of 1766746.528 Michael Schumacher34 Ferrari Ferrari56859358.125Round 16 of 16022.151 Michael Schumacher35 Ferrari Ferrari813151014882.222Round 14 of 1843422.973 Fernando Alonso24 Renault Renault6715213370.000Round 17 of 1922115.789 Fernando Alonso25 Renault Renault6714513474.444Round 18 of 180139.701 Kimi Räikkönen28 Ferrari Ferrari3612611064.706Round 17 of 17010.909 Lewis Hamilton23 McLaren Mercedes751019854.444Round 18 of 18011.020 Jenson Button29 Brawn Mercedes46929557.576Round 16 of 1711111.579 Sebastian Vettel23 Red Bull Renault10510325653.895Round 19 of 19041.563 Sebastian Vettel24 Red Bull Renault151117339282.526Round 15 of 19412231.122 Sebastian Vettel25 Red Bull Renault6510628156.200Round 20 of 20031.068 Sebastian Vettel26 Red Bull Renault91316739783.579Round 16 of 19315539.043 Lewis Hamilton29 Mercedes Mercedes71116738476.800Round 19 of 1906717.448 Lewis Hamilton30 Mercedes Mercedes111017838180.211Round 16 of 1935915.486 Nico Rosberg31 Mercedes Mercedes8916638573.333Round 21 of 21051.299 Lewis Hamilton32 Mercedes Mercedes11913736372.600Round 18 of 2024612.672 Lewis Hamilton33 Mercedes Mercedes111117340877.714Round 19 of 2128821.569 Lewis Hamilton34 Mercedes Mercedes51117641375.641Round 19 of 2128721.065 Lewis Hamilton35 Mercedes Mercedes101114634778.507Round 14 of 17312435.735 Max Verstappen24 Red Bull Honda1010186395.569.692Round 22 of 22082.023 Max Verstappen25 Red Bull RBPT71517545476.174Round 18 of 22414632.159 Max Verstappen26 Red Bull Honda RBPT121921957592.742Round 17 of 22529050.435 Max Verstappen27 Red Bull Honda RBPT8914343765.030Round 22 of 2426314.416 Lando Norris26 McLaren Mercedes7718642365.278Round 24 of 24020.473SeasonDriverAgeChassisEngineTyresPolesWinsPodiumsFastest lapsPointsClinchedMarginConstructor
By driver
Drivers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship. +Drivers by number of World Drivers' Championships wonDriverTitlesSeason(s) Michael Schumacher7, , , , , , Lewis Hamilton, , , , , , Juan Manuel Fangio5, , , , Alain Prost4, , , Sebastian Vettel, , , Max Verstappen, , , Jack Brabham3, , Jackie Stewart, , Niki Lauda, , Nelson Piquet, , Ayrton Senna, , Alberto Ascari2, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Emerson Fittipaldi, Mika Häkkinen, Fernando Alonso, Giuseppe Farina1 Mike Hawthorn Phil Hill John Surtees Denny Hulme Jochen Rindt James Hunt Mario Andretti Jody Scheckter Alan Jones Keke Rosberg Nigel Mansell Damon Hill Jacques Villeneuve Kimi Räikkönen Jenson Button Nico Rosberg Lando Norris35 drivers 76 titles
By driver nationality +World Drivers' Champions by nationalityCountryTitlesDriversSeasonsBy driver (titles)2111, –, –, , , , , , –, –, –, Lewis Hamilton ()Jackie Stewart () Jim Clark () Graham Hill ()Jenson Button ()Mike Hawthorn ()Damon Hill ()James Hunt ()Nigel Mansell () Lando Norris () John Surtees ()123–, –, –, Michael Schumacher () Sebastian Vettel () Nico Rosberg ()83, , , , –, – Nelson Piquet () Ayrton Senna () Emerson Fittipaldi ()51, –Juan Manuel Fangio ()43, –, Mika Häkkinen () Kimi Räikkönen ()Keke Rosberg ()42–, , Jack Brabham () Alan Jones ()42, , , Niki Lauda ()Jochen Rindt ()41–, , Alain Prost ()41–Max Verstappen ()32, –Alberto Ascari ()Giuseppe Farina ()22, Mario Andretti ()Phil Hill ()21–Fernando Alonso ()11Denny Hulme ()11Jody Scheckter ()11Jacques Villeneuve ()15 countries 76 titles 35 drivers
Drivers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
Records
Youngest Drivers' champions
+Youngest World Drivers' Championship winnersDriverSeason1 Sebastian Vettel 23 years, 134 days 2 Lewis Hamilton 23 years, 300 days 3 Fernando Alonso 24 years, 58 days 4 Max Verstappen 24 years, 73 days 5 Emerson Fittipaldi 25 years, 273 days 6 Michael Schumacher 25 years, 314 days 7 Lando Norris 26 years, 24 days 8 Niki Lauda 26 years, 197 days 9 Jacques Villeneuve 26 years, 200 days 10 Jim Clark 27 years, 188 days
Where drivers have won more than one World Drivers' Championship, only their first win is noted here. Drivers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
Oldest Drivers' champions +Oldest World Drivers' Championship winnersDriverAgeSeason1 Juan Manuel Fangio 46 years, 41 days 2 Giuseppe Farina 43 years, 308 days 3 Jack Brabham 40 years, 155 days 4 Graham Hill 39 years, 262 days 5 Nigel Mansell 39 years, 8 days 6 Alain Prost 38 years, 214 days 7 Mario Andretti 38 years, 193 days 8 Damon Hill 36 years, 26 days 9 Lewis Hamilton 35 years, 313 days 10 Niki Lauda 35 years, 242 days Where drivers have won more than one World Drivers' Championship, only their last win is noted here. Drivers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
Consecutive Drivers' championships A total of 11 drivers have achieved consecutive wins in the World Drivers' Championship. Of those, only Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton have won two sets of consecutive Formula One Drivers' championships.
+Consecutive World Drivers' Championship winsChampionshipsDriverSeasons5 Michael Schumacher – 4 Juan Manuel Fangio – Sebastian Vettel – Lewis Hamilton – Max Verstappen–2 Alberto Ascari – Jack Brabham – Alain Prost – Ayrton Senna – Michael Schumacher – Mika Häkkinen – Fernando Alonso – Lewis Hamilton –
Drivers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
Drivers' Champions for constructors that did not win the Constructors' Championship in that year +Drivers' Champions for constructors who did not claim the Constructors' Championship that year Championships Drivers Years2 Nelson Piquet , Max Verstappen , 1 Mike Hawthorn Jackie Stewart James Hunt Keke Rosberg Alain Prost Michael Schumacher Mika Häkkinen Lewis Hamilton
Drivers in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.
By chassis constructor Constructors in bold have competed in the 2026 World Championship.