Top 25 Formula 1 drivers of all-time

Top Formula 1 drivers of all-time: #1 – Michael Schumacher

Many have a hard time keeping Michael Schumacher ranked at #1 on this list because of the fact that Lewis Hamilton has come along and tied or broken many of his records.

But for now, we’re keeping him in the top spot. Let’s not forget the fact that it was Schumacher who sat atop many of the categories Hamilton has recently been coming for. Prior to the dominance of Hamilton and Mercedes, no other driver had won more than 51 races in Formula 1. Schumacher won 91.

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In fact, it was Schumacher whom Hamilton replaced at Mercedes ahead of the 2013 season, and many would argue that it was Schumacher’s insight that led to the development of championship-winning Silver Arrows machinery year in and year out, a trend that doesn’t appear likely to end in the near future.

The sport’s first six-time and then first seven-time world champion won his first two championships with a Benetton team that had never previously won the title, and he won the first of those two titles despite missing two races, being disqualified from two others and retiring from two others in a 15-race 1994 season.

But most remember him for his historic run with Ferrari following the turn of the millennium. Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1997, and after the 1999 season, he was simply not touchable for the next five seasons.

He won a record five consecutive world championships during that span. His 2002 season saw him finish lower than second place only once in 17 races (with a third place finish), and his 2004 season saw him win 12 races in a 13-race span en route to winning 13 races, the most ever in a single season.

Unfortunately, not much is known about his status as he continues to recover from a skiing incident he had in December of 2013. His son Mick is set to compete for Haas in 2021.

Which drivers do you see as being worthy of a spot in a top 25 of all-time compilation? Who is overrated/underrated in our list, and who else would you have included? Who would you not have included?