Seventy-six seasons, thirty-five different champions, and a handful of names that appear again and again. The list of Formula 1 world champions is the sport’s spine: every era, every dynasty and every upset is written into it. Here is the complete roll of honour from the first championship in 1950 to the reigning champion, followed by the records that define it.

The complete list of champions

1950s

  • 1950 — Giuseppe Farina (Alfa Romeo)
  • 1951 — Juan Manuel Fangio (Alfa Romeo)
  • 1952 — Alberto Ascari (Ferrari)
  • 1953 — Alberto Ascari (Ferrari)
  • 1954 — Juan Manuel Fangio (Maserati/Mercedes)
  • 1955 — Juan Manuel Fangio (Mercedes)
  • 1956 — Juan Manuel Fangio (Ferrari)
  • 1957 — Juan Manuel Fangio (Maserati)
  • 1958 — Mike Hawthorn (Ferrari)
  • 1959 — Jack Brabham (Cooper)

1960s

  • 1960 — Jack Brabham (Cooper)
  • 1961 — Phil Hill (Ferrari)
  • 1962 — Graham Hill (BRM)
  • 1963 — Jim Clark (Lotus)
  • 1964 — John Surtees (Ferrari)
  • 1965 — Jim Clark (Lotus)
  • 1966 — Jack Brabham (Brabham)
  • 1967 — Denny Hulme (Brabham)
  • 1968 — Graham Hill (Lotus)
  • 1969 — Jackie Stewart (Matra)

1970s

  • 1970 — Jochen Rindt (Lotus) — the sport’s only posthumous champion
  • 1971 — Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell)
  • 1972 — Emerson Fittipaldi (Lotus)
  • 1973 — Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell)
  • 1974 — Emerson Fittipaldi (McLaren)
  • 1975 — Niki Lauda (Ferrari)
  • 1976 — James Hunt (McLaren)
  • 1977 — Niki Lauda (Ferrari)
  • 1978 — Mario Andretti (Lotus)
  • 1979 — Jody Scheckter (Ferrari)

1980s

  • 1980 — Alan Jones (Williams)
  • 1981 — Nelson Piquet (Brabham)
  • 1982 — Keke Rosberg (Williams)
  • 1983 — Nelson Piquet (Brabham)
  • 1984 — Niki Lauda (McLaren)
  • 1985 — Alain Prost (McLaren)
  • 1986 — Alain Prost (McLaren)
  • 1987 — Nelson Piquet (Williams)
  • 1988 — Ayrton Senna (McLaren)
  • 1989 — Alain Prost (McLaren)

1990s

  • 1990 — Ayrton Senna (McLaren)
  • 1991 — Ayrton Senna (McLaren)
  • 1992 — Nigel Mansell (Williams)
  • 1993 — Alain Prost (Williams)
  • 1994 — Michael Schumacher (Benetton)
  • 1995 — Michael Schumacher (Benetton)
  • 1996 — Damon Hill (Williams)
  • 1997 — Jacques Villeneuve (Williams)
  • 1998 — Mika Häkkinen (McLaren)
  • 1999 — Mika Häkkinen (McLaren)

2000s

  • 2000 — Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
  • 2001 — Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
  • 2002 — Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
  • 2003 — Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
  • 2004 — Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
  • 2005 — Fernando Alonso (Renault)
  • 2006 — Fernando Alonso (Renault)
  • 2007 — Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)
  • 2008 — Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
  • 2009 — Jenson Button (Brawn)

2010s

  • 2010 — Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
  • 2011 — Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
  • 2012 — Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
  • 2013 — Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
  • 2014 — Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
  • 2015 — Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
  • 2016 — Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
  • 2017 — Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
  • 2018 — Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
  • 2019 — Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2020s

  • 2020 — Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
  • 2021 — Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
  • 2022 — Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
  • 2023 — Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
  • 2024 — Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
  • 2025 — Lando Norris (McLaren)

Most championships

  • 7: Michael Schumacher (1994–95, 2000–04), Lewis Hamilton (2008, 2014–15, 2017–20)
  • 5: Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, 1954–57)
  • 4: Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen
  • 3: Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna

Hamilton, still racing for Ferrari in 2026, remains in pursuit of an eighth title that would break the tie with Schumacher — a pursuit that, as this season’s championship picture suggests, will have to wait at least another year.

The records

  • Youngest champion: Sebastian Vettel, 23 years and 134 days, in 2010. Kimi Antonelli, leading the 2026 standings at 20, would shatter the record.
  • Oldest champion: Juan Manuel Fangio, 46 years and 41 days, in 1957.
  • Most consecutive titles: Michael Schumacher, five (2000–04).
  • Champions with the same team: Ferrari, with 15 drivers’ titles, and McLaren, with 13, lead the constructors.
  • Father and son champions: Graham and Damon Hill; Keke and Nico Rosberg.
  • The only posthumous champion: Jochen Rindt in 1970, killed at Monza with an unassailable lead.
  • Champions from the most countries: the United Kingdom leads with ten different champions, followed by Brazil and Finland with three each.

How the title is decided

Since 1950 the championship has been won on points scored across the season, though the scoring system has changed many times — the modern 25-points-for-a-win scale dates from 2010. Our points system guide explains the current rules, including the countback that decides ties.

Frequently asked questions

Who has won the most F1 championships?

Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher share the record with seven each.

Who is the youngest F1 champion?

Sebastian Vettel, aged 23 years and 134 days in 2010.

Who was the first F1 champion?

Giuseppe Farina, in 1950, driving for Alfa Romeo.

Who is the reigning champion?

Lando Norris, the 2025 champion with McLaren, who carries number 1 in 2026.