Famous 20th Century F1 Drivers

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 1 
Michael Schumacher
(German Formula One Racing Driver and 7-Time World Drivers' Championship Winner)
Michael Schumacher
32
Birthdate: January 3, 1969
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Hürth, Germany

With seven Formula One championship under his belt, Michael Schumacher is the most successful racer of Formula 1 and one of the greatest motor sports driver in the world. The retired German racer was the face of Ferrari for a decade and with his tremendous on track success also became one of best paid athletes in the sport’s history.

 2 
Niki Lauda
(Three-Time Formula One World Drivers' Champion)
Niki Lauda
18
Birthdate: February 22, 1949
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Died: May 20, 2019

Austrian Formula One driver and aviation entrepreneur Niki Lauda was a three-time F1 World Drivers' Champion. Considered to be one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, he was once involved in a near-fatal accident. He founded and ran three airlines as an aviation entrepreneur and also served as the team manager of the Jaguar Formula One racing team.

 3 
Ayrton Senna
(One of the Greatest F1 Drivers in the History of the Sport)
Ayrton Senna
12
Birthdate: March 21, 1960
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: São Paulo, Brazil
Died: May 1, 1994

Ayrton Senna was a Brazilian racing driver. Widely considered one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, Ayrton had won the prestigious F1 World Drivers' Championship thrice. Following his fatal accident in 1994, several safety improvements were introduced to the sports' set-up; higher crash safety standards, redesigned tracks, and improved crash barriers became part of the sport.

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 4 
Bruce McLaren
(New Zealand Formula One Driver, Engineer & Inventor)
Bruce McLaren
6
Birthdate: August 30, 1937
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Died: June 2, 1970

Bruce McLaren was a New Zealand engineer, inventor, racing car designer, and driver. He is credited with founding McLaren Automotive in 1963. Formula One's successful team, McLaren, is named after him. McLaren has been inducted into various halls of fame, including the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, and International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

 5 
Pierre Gasly
(Formula 1 Driver)
Pierre Gasly
3
Birthdate: February 7, 1996
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Rouen, France
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 6 
Jackie Stewart
(British Retired Racecar Driver Who Competed in 'Formula One')
Jackie Stewart
6
Birthdate: June 11, 1939
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Milton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland

Jackie Stewart is a British retired racecar driver who competed in Formula One. He won three World Drivers' Championships between 1965 and 1973. He is best known for playing a key role as a campaigner for better safety measures at motor racing circuits. After retiring from racing, Jackie Stewart appeared as a sports commentator for ABC network.

 7 
James Hunt
(British Racing Driver Who Won the Formula One World Championship in 1976)
James Hunt
8
Birthdate: August 29, 1947
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Belmont, Surrey, England
Died: June 15, 1993

James Hunt was a British racing driver who earned the nickname 'Hunt the Shunt' for his action-packed and often reckless exploits on the track. In 1976, he won the Formula One World Championship in his first year with McLaren, which inspired several teenagers to take up motor racing. James Hunt has inspired racers, such as Kimi Räikkönen.

 8 
Jacques Villeneuve
(Canadian Formula One Driver and Winner of 1997 Formula One World Championship)
Jacques Villeneuve
3
Birthdate: April 9, 1971
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada

Canadian race-car driver Jacques Villeneuve is known for his association with the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. Son of F1 driver Gilles Villeneuve, he has won 11 Grands Prix and is the only Canadian to win the Indianapolis 500 and the F1 Drivers' title. He has also released a music album.

 9 
Mika Häkkinen
(Former Racing Driver and One of the 3 Finnish F-1 Drivers to Win a World Championship)
Mika Häkkinen
11
Birthdate: September 28, 1968
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vantaa, Finland

Mika Häkkinen was 5 when his parents got him a go-kart for racing near their home. He later grew up to be one of the 3 Finnish F-1 drivers to earn a World Championship. Noted for his speed, he earned the nickname The Flying Finn.

 10 
Alain Prost
(Four-Time Formula One Drivers’ Champion)
Alain Prost
2
Birthdate: February 24, 1955
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Lorette, Loire, France
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 11 
Mario Andretti
(Former Racing Driver and Winner of 1978 Formula One World Championship)
Mario Andretti
0
Birthdate: February 28, 1940
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Motovun, Croatia

 Italian-born American former racing driver, Mario Andrett,i is the only driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, and the Formula One World Championship. He is considered one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport.  Over the course of his long career, he has is the only person to be named United States Driver of the Year in three decades (1967, 1978, and 1984). 

 12 
Jim Clark
(One of the Greatest Formula One Racing Drivers and Two-Time World Champion in 1963 and 1965)
Jim Clark
3
Birthdate: March 4, 1936
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kilmany, Fife, Scotland
Died: April 7, 1968

British Formula One racing-driver James Clark Jr. is counted among the greatest Formula One drivers of all time. He won his first World Driver’s Championships in 1963 making a record of winning seven out of ten races in a season. He again won the championship in 1965. His 1965 Indianapolis 500 win marked the first win for a rear-engined car.

 13 
Damon Hill
(British Retired Racing Driver Who Won the 1996 Formula One World Championship Title)
Damon Hill
5
Birthdate: September 17, 1960
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Hampstead, London, England

Damon Hill is a British retired racing driver best known for winning the Formula One World Championship title in 1996. He is currently a part of the broadcasting team of Sky Sports F1, providing expert analysis. Damon Hill is also known as the son of former Formula One World Champion, Graham Hill.

 14 
Gilles Villeneuve
(Canadian Racing Driver)
Gilles Villeneuve
3
Birthdate: January 18, 1950
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada
Died: May 8, 1982
Canadian race-car driver Gilles Villeneuve is remembered for his 6-year stint with Grand Prix, racing with Ferrari. He won six races but died in a violent collision with Jochen Mass’s car during a qualifying race for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix. His son, Jacques, later became a F1 champion.
 15 
Nigel Mansell
(British Formula One Racing Driver and Winner of the 1992 World Championship)
Nigel Mansell
10
Birthdate: August 8, 1953
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, England

British former racing-driver Nigel Mansell, CBE, presently ranks as #2 in the list of most-successful British Formula One drivers of all-time with regards to number of race wins. Winner of Formula One World Championship and CART Indy Car World Series, Mansell became the only racing-driver to concurrently hold the titles of World Drivers' Championship and the American open-wheel National Championship.   

 16 
Keke Rosberg
(Former Finnish Racing Driver Who Won the 1982 'F1 World Championship')
Keke Rosberg
7
Birthdate: December 6, 1948
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Solna Municipality Solna, Sweden

Keke Rosberg is a Finnish retired racing driver best known for winning the Formula One World Championship in 1982. Rosberg was the first Finnish champion in the history of the Formula One World Championship. Keke Rosberg has also achieved popularity as the father of the 2016 F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg.

 17 
Emerson Fittipaldi
(Brazilian Formula One Racing Champion in 1972 and 1974)
Emerson Fittipaldi
6
Birthdate: December 12, 1946
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: São Paulo, Brazil

Emerson Fittipaldi is a Brazilian retired racing driver best known for winning both the Indianapolis 500 and the Formula One World Championship twice each. In 1972, he won the World Drivers' Championship at the age of 25, becoming the youngest F1 world champion. In 2001, Emerson Fittipaldi was made an inductee of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

 18 
Rubens Barrichello
(Racing Driver Who Competed in Formula One Between 1993 and 2011)
Rubens Barrichello
3
Birthdate: May 23, 1972
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: São Paulo, Brazil

Rubens Barrichello is a Brazilian racing driver best known for competing in Formula One and scoring 11 Grand Prix wins between 1993 and 2011. From 2000 to 2005, he drove for Ferrari as Michael Schumacher's teammate and contributed to five constructors' titles for Ferrari.

 19 
Graham Hill
(British Racing Driver Who Won the 1962 and 1968 'Formula One' World Championship Title)
Graham Hill
6
Birthdate: February 15, 1929
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hampstead, London, England
Died: November 29, 1975

Graham Hill was a British racing driver remembered for winning the Formula One World Championship title in 1962 and 1968. Counted among the greatest drivers of his era, Hill is the only driver to win the prestigious Triple Crown of Motorsport. Hill is also credited with inspiring his son Damon, who won the Formula One World Championship title in 1996. 

 20 
Nelson Piquet
(Brazilian Retired Racing Driver and Businessman)
Nelson Piquet
7
Birthdate: August 17, 1952
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

While he initially excelled in tennis, Nelson Piquet later made a name for himself as one of Brazil’s top racers. A 3-time world champion, the Formula One star later also ventured into business. He owned a GPS-tracking company and also launched the racing team Piquet Sports.

 21 
Stirling Moss
(One of the Greatest Race Car Drivers Who Never Won a Formula One World Championship)
Stirling Moss
7
Birthdate: September 17, 1929
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: West Kensington, London, England
Died: April 12, 2020

British Formula One race-car driver Stirling Moss won several contests such as the British Grand Prix and the New Zealand Grand Prix. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, too. He later had a broadcasting career with Wide World of Sports and narrated Roary the Racing Car.

 22 
Martin Brundle
(British Retired Racing Driver Who Competed in 'Formula One')
Martin Brundle
3
Birthdate: June 1, 1959
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: King's Lynn, Norfolk, England

Martin Brundle is a British retired racing driver who competed in Formula One. After his retirement, Brundle started working as a commentator. Over the years, he has worked for television networks like BBC, ITV Sport, and Sky Sports.

 23 
Juan Manuel Fangio
(Argentine Race Car Driver Who Won the World Drivers' Championship Five Times)
Juan Manuel Fangio
2
Birthdate: June 24, 1911
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Balcarce, Buenos Aires Balcarce, Argentina
Died: July 17, 1995

Juan Manuel Fangio was an Argentine race car driver who dominated the first 10 years of Formula One racing. He won the World Drivers' Championship on five occasions, a record which was broken by Michael Schumacher after 46 years. Juan Manuel Fangio is also the only Argentine racer to have won the prestigious Argentine Grand Prix.

 24 
David Coulthard
(British Former Racing Driver)
David Coulthard
0
Birthdate: March 27, 1971
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Twynholm, Scotland
Former race-car driver David Coulthard, also known as DC, gained fame for his 15-season stint with Formula One. He has 13 Grand Prix wins and 62 podium finishes to his credit. Following his retirement from F1, he worked a BBC commentator and later joined the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters series.
 25 
Giancarlo Fisichella
(Italian Professional Racing Driver)
Giancarlo Fisichella
3
Birthdate: January 14, 1973
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Rome, Italy

Giancarlo Fisichella, also known as Giano, has three Formula One World Championship wins in his kitty. The popular racing driver also captains the Nazionale Piloti football team. Throughout his career, he has raced for teams such as Renault, Force India, and Ferrari. He is related to a Sicilian noble family.

 26 
Marcus Ericsson
(Racecar driver)
Marcus Ericsson
3
Birthdate: September 2, 1990
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Kumla, Sweden
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 27 
Ronnie Peterson
(Swedish Racing Driver)
Ronnie Peterson
5
Birthdate: February 14, 1944
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Örebro‎, Sweden‎
Died: September 11, 1978

Ronnie Peterson was a Swedish racing driver best remembered for his performance in the F1 World Drivers' Championship, where he was a two-time runner-up. Nicknamed SuperSwede, Peterson is widely regarded as one of the best F1 drivers to have not won a championship. Ronnie Peterson is also regarded as the greatest racing driver from Sweden. 

 28 
Jody Scheckter
(South African racing driver)
Jody Scheckter
5
Birthdate: January 29, 1950
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: East London, South Africa

The only Formula One World Champion from Africa, Jody David Scheckter made his debut at the US Grand Prix in 1972, shortly after moving from South Africa to Britain. Two years later he registered his first win with the Swedish Grand Prix. His last win was at the 1979 Italian Grand Prix. In 1980, he retired from motor racing.

 29 
Dan Gurney
(American Racing Driver)
Dan Gurney
3
Birthdate: April 13, 1931
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Port Jefferson, New York, United States
Died: January 14, 2018

An amateur drag racer in his youth, American racing driver Dan Gurney began his professional career in 1959, quickly becoming one of the most popular international racing stars of his era. Also a prominent race car constructor and the founder of All American Racers, he is known as much for his engineering acumen as for his quest for innovative solutions.

 30 
Jack Brabham
(Australian Race Car Driver)
Jack Brabham
2
Birthdate: April 2, 1926
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia
Died: May 19, 2014

Jack Brabham was an Australian professional racing driver best remembered for winning the Formula One World Championship thrice during his illustrious career that lasted 15 years. He is credited with founding the eponymous Formula One racing team and racing car manufacturer. Early in his career, Brabham contributed immensely to the design of racing cars introduced by the Cooper Car Company.

 31 
Jacky Ickx
(Belgian Retired Racing Driver)
Jacky Ickx
3
Birthdate: April 1, 1945
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Brussels, Belgium

Jacky Ickx is a Belgian retired racing driver best known for winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans on six occasions. He also achieved 25 podium finishes and eight wins in F1. Jacky Ickx is also known for his association with Scuderia Ferrari as he was the leading driver for the team for several seasons in the 1960s and 1970s.

 32 
Gerhard Berger
(Austrian Retired Formula One Racing Driver)
Gerhard Berger
2
Birthdate: August 27, 1959
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Wörgl, Austria

Gerhard Berger is an Austrian retired Formula One racing driver who competed in 14 Formula One seasons, finishing twice as the third overall in the championship. Berger won ten Grands Prix during his illustrious career that spanned more than a decade. With 210 starts under his belt, Gerhard Berger is counted among the most experienced F1 drivers of all time.

 33 
Johnny Herbert
(British Retired Racecar Driver Who Competed in 'Formula One')
Johnny Herbert
8
Birthdate: June 25, 1964
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Brentwood, Essex, England

Johnny Herbert is a British retired racing driver who competed in Formula One between 1989 and 2000, during which he represented seven different teams. After retiring from competitive racing, Johnny Herbert became a TV personality and is currently working for Sky Sports F1.

 34 
Alberto Ascari
(Italian Racing Driver and a Two-Time Formula One World Champion)
Alberto Ascari
4
Birthdate: July 13, 1918
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Milan, Italy
Died: May 26, 1955

A multitalented racing driver and twice Formula One World Champion, Alberto Ascari began his racing career with motorcycles, eventually shifting to automobiles, making his debut at Mille Miglia. Later, he started participating in other events, winning a total of thirteen races, including 1951 German Grand Prix and 1953 Swiss Grand Prix before passing away at the age of 36 while testing a car.  

 35 
Heinz-Harald Frentzen
(Retired German Formula-1 Racing Driver)
Heinz-Harald Frentzen
2
Birthdate: May 18, 1967
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Mönchengladbach, Germany

Former German racing driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen is best known for ending up as the 1997 Formula One World Drivers' Championship runner-up. He is part of the elite club of 7 German drivers who have ever won the country a Grand Prix. He also had a 3-year racing stint at DTM.

 36 
Jean Alesi
(French Professional Racing Driver)
Jean Alesi
2
Birthdate: June 11, 1964
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Avignon, France
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 37 
Alan Jones
(Australian Former Formula One Driver)
Alan Jones
6
Birthdate: November 2, 1946
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia

Alan Stanley Jones is an Australian retired professional motor racing driver best known for winning the first Formula One World Championship in 1980 and only the second Australian to achieve the feat after three-time world champion Jack Brabham. In 1989, Alan Stanley Jones was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

 38 
Francois Cevert
(French Racing Driver)
Francois Cevert
2
Birthdate: February 25, 1944
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: October 6, 1973
 39 
Denny Hulme
(New Zealand Motorsports Racing Driver)
Denny Hulme
2
Birthdate: June 18, 1936
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Motueka, New Zealand
Died: October 4, 1992
 40 
Eddie Irvine
(Retired Racing Driver Who Competed in 'Formula One')
Eddie Irvine
7
Birthdate: November 10, 1965
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland

Eddie Irvine is a retired racing driver who participated in F1 races between 1993 and 2002, finishing second in the World Drivers' Championship in 1999. Apart from F1, Eddie Irvine has also competed in Jaguar Racing, Formula 3000 Championships, and Formula Three. Since his retirement, Irvine has established himself as a media personality.

 41 
Giuseppe Farina
(Italian Racing Driver and First Official Formula One World Champion)
Giuseppe Farina
1
Birthdate: October 30, 1906
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Turin, Italy
Died: June 30, 1966

Giuseppe Farina, or Nino Farina, was not just a Formula One racer but also boasted of a doctorate degree in engineering. He became the first winner of the world driving championship as per the modern point system. He died in a car accident while on his way to watch a race.

 42 
Mike Hawthorn
(British Racing Driver Who Became the United Kingdom’s First Formula One World Champion)
Mike Hawthorn
0
Birthdate: April 10, 1929
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Mexborough, Doncaster, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died: January 22, 1959

Mike Hawthorn was a British racing driver best remembered as the first Formula One World Champion from the United Kingdom; he achieved the feat when he won the world championship in 1958. Having been affected by the demise of his friend Peter Collins in the 1958 German Grand Prix, Mike Hawthorn announced his retirement after winning the F1 title.  

 43 
Helmut Marko
(Retired Austrian Formula One Racing Driver and Head Advisor for 'Red Bull')
Helmut Marko
5
Birthdate: April 27, 1943
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Graz, Austria

Retired Austrian Formula One racer Helmut Marko most notably won the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans. He lost his left eye during the 1972 French Grand Prix. He now serves as the advisor of the Red Bull GmbH Formula One teams and heads the driver development program of Red Bull.

 44 
Chris Amon
(New Zealand Motor Racing Driver)
Chris Amon
2
Birthdate: July 20, 1943
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bulls, New Zealand Bulls, New Zealand
Died: August 3, 2016
 45 
Clay Regazzoni
(Swiss Racing Driver Who Won Five Grand Prixs)
Clay Regazzoni
0
Birthdate: September 5, 1939
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Mendrisio, Switzerland
Died: December 15, 2006

Iconic Swiss Ferrari F-1 racing driver Clay Regazzoni first gained prominence with his Italian Grand Prix in 1970. In spite of being partially paralyzed after an accident in 1980, he continued to compete in races. In late 2006, his car hit a lorry on an Italian highway, causing his death.

 46 
John Surtees
(The Only Person to Have Won World Championships on Both Two and Four Wheels)
John Surtees
0
Birthdate: February 11, 1934
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Tatsfield, Surrey, England
Died: March 10, 2017

John Surtees was a British motorcycle road racer and racecar driver. He won the Grand Prix motorcycle World Championship title on seven occasions and the 1964 F1 World Championship title, becoming the first person to win World Championships on both four and two wheels.

 47 
Donald Campbell
(English Speed Record Breaker Who Broke Eight World Speed Records on Land and on Water)
Donald Campbell
5
Birthdate: March 23, 1921
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kingston upon Thames
Died: January 4, 1967

Donald Campbell was an English speed record breaker. He is best remembered for breaking eight world speed records on land and on water in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1964, he became the first person to set both world water speed and land records in the same year. Campbell died while attempting to set a water speed record in England.

 48 
Elio de Angelis
(Italian Racing Driver)
Elio de Angelis
2
Birthdate: March 26, 1958
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Died: May 15, 1986

Born into an affluent Roman family, Elio de Angelis joined the Formula One scene with the Shadow team. He was also a talented pianist. Unfortunately, he lost his life in a fiery accident at the Paul Ricard Circuit in 1986, sparking debates about race car safety standards.

 49 
Jean-Éric Vergne
(French Racing Driver)
Jean-Éric Vergne
2
Birthdate: April 25, 1990
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Pontoise, France
 50 
Mika Salo
(Retired Finnish Formula One Racer, Who Is Now a Commentator and TV Host)
Mika Salo
2
Birthdate: November 30, 1966
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland

Finnish racing driver Mika Salo was once a prominent member of Formula One. Post-retirement, he has worked for Finnish MTV3 Formula One as a commentator and has also been a host on Test Drive by Mika Salo. He has been featured on Driven to Extremes, too.