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Formula One World Drivers' Championship trophy.
The Formula One World Drivers' Championship (WDC) is awarded by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) to the most successful Formula One race car driver over a season, as determined by a points system based on Grand Prix results. The Drivers' Championship was first awarded in 1950, to Nino Farina. The first driver to win multiple Championships was Alberto Ascari, in 1952 and 1953.
The FIA do not officially declare the Champion until the end of the season, but a driver is said to have "clinched" the Championship after it is no longer possible for another to obtain more points than them, even if the former driver were to not compete in the remaining races of the season, and the latter to score the maximum number of points possible. The Drivers' Championship has been clinched in the final race of the season 23 times in the 56 seasons it has been awarded. The earliest in a season that the Drivers' Championship has been clinched was in 2002, when Michael Schumacher secured the title with six races remaining.
Overall, twenty-nine different drivers have won the Championship, with German Michael Schumacher holding the record for most titles, at seven. Schumacher also holds the record for most consecutive Drivers' Championships, winning five from 2000 to 2004. The current Drivers' Champion is Kimi Räikkönen, who won his first World Championship in 2007.
[edit] By season
- * Indicates the team also won the Constructors' Championship (awarded since 1958).
- ^ Fangio shared the win of the 1951 French Grand Prix with Luigi Fagioli.
- ^ Fangio competed in the 1954 Argentine and Belgian Grands Prix with Maserati, then completed the season with Mercedes.
- ^ Fangio shared the win of the 1956 Argentine Grand Prix with Luigi Musso.
- ^ Fangio shared 2nd position in the 1956 Monaco and Italian Grands Prix with Peter Collins.
- ^ Hill won the Championship at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix, where teammate Wolfgang von Trips died after an accident in the race.
- ^ Surtees became the first person to win World Championships on motorcycles and cars, having previously won seven titles in both 350cc and 500cc.
- ^ Rindt died during practice for the 1970 Italian Grand Prix, but his Championship was not confirmed until two rounds later, making him Formula One's first (and only) posthumous World Drivers' Champion.
- ^ Andretti became Champion after teammate Ronnie Peterson died following an operation due to a collision at the 1978 Italian Grand Prix.
- ^ Ayrton Senna won the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix, but was disqualified for cutting the chicane after receiving a push-start from track-side marshalls. McLaren appealed the decision but lost, handing Prost the title.
- ^ Damon Hill is the son of Graham Hill, who won the Drivers' Championship in 1962 and 1968, making them the first father-son pair to both win Drivers' Championships.
- ^ Michael Schumacher scored 78 points during the 1997 season, only 3 points behind Villeneuve. However, Schumacher was disqualified from the championship, leaving Villeneuve with a 39 point margin over Heinz-Harald Frentzen with 42 points.
- ^ Kimi Räikkönen won by 1 point over both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
[edit] By driver
| Driver |
Total |
Seasons |
 Michael Schumacher |
7 |
1994-1995, 2000-2004 |
 Juan Manuel Fangio |
5 |
1951, 1954-1957 |
 Alain Prost |
4 |
1985-1986, 1989, 1993 |
 Jack Brabham |
3 |
1959-1960, 1966 |
 Jackie Stewart |
3 |
1969, 1971, 1973 |
 Niki Lauda |
3 |
1975, 1977, 1984 |
 Nelson Piquet |
3 |
1981, 1983, 1987 |
| Ayrton Senna |
3 |
1988, 1990-1991 |
 Alberto Ascari |
2 |
1952-1953 |
| Jim Clark |
2 |
1963, 1965 |
| Graham Hill |
2 |
1962, 1968 |
| Emerson Fittipaldi |
2 |
1972, 1974 |
 Mika Häkkinen |
2 |
1998-1999 |
 Fernando Alonso |
2 |
2005-2006 |
| Nino Farina |
1 |
1950 |
| Mike Hawthorn |
1 |
1958 |
 Phil Hill |
1 |
1961 |
| John Surtees |
1 |
1964 |
 Denny Hulme |
1 |
1967 |
| Jochen Rindt |
1 |
1970 |
| James Hunt |
1 |
1976 |
| Mario Andretti |
1 |
1978 |
 Jody Scheckter |
1 |
1979 |
| Alan Jones |
1 |
1980 |
| Keke Rosberg |
1 |
1982 |
| Nigel Mansell |
1 |
1992 |
| Damon Hill |
1 |
1996 |
 Jacques Villeneuve |
1 |
1997 |
| Kimi Räikkönen |
1 |
2007 |
[edit] By nationality
[edit] By constructor
Constructors in bold are still competing in the World Championship.
[edit] By engine
Engine manufacturers in bold are still competing in the World Championship.
[edit] By tyre manufacturer
| Pos |
Manufacturer |
Country |
Total |
Seasons |
| 1 |
G |
Goodyear |
United States |
24 |
1966-1967, 1971, 1973-1978, 1980, 1982, 1985-1997 |
| 2 |
D |
Dunlop |
Great Britain |
8 |
1959-1965, 1969 |
| 3 |
B |
Bridgestone |
 Japan |
8 |
1998-2004, 2007 |
| 4 |
P |
Pirelli |
Italy |
6 |
1950-1954[1][2], 1957 |
| 5 |
M |
Michelin |
France |
6 |
1979, 1981, 1983-1984, 2005-2006 |
| 6 |
F |
Firestone |
United States |
4 |
1952[2], 1968, 1970, 1972 |
| 7 |
C |
Continental |
Germany |
2 |
1954[1]-1955 |
| E |
Englebert |
 Belgium |
2 |
1956, 1958 |
[edit] Records
[edit] Youngest Drivers' Champion
|
Driver |
Age |
Season |
| 1 |
Fernando Alonso* |
24 years, 58 days |
2005 season |
| 2 |
Emerson Fittipaldi |
25 years, 273 days |
1972 season |
| 3 |
Michael Schumacher |
25 years, 314 days |
1994 season |
| 4 |
Niki Lauda |
26 years, 197 days |
1975 season |
| 5 |
Jacques Villeneuve |
26 years, 200 days |
1997 season |
| 6 |
Jim Clark |
27 years, 188 days |
1963 season |
| 7 |
Kimi Räikkönen |
28 years, 4 days |
2007 season |
| 8 |
Jochen Rindt |
28 years, 140 days |
1970 season (posthumously) |
| 9 |
Ayrton Senna |
28 years, 223 days |
1988 season |
| 10 |
James Hunt |
29 years, 56 days |
1976 season |
| 11 |
Nelson Piquet |
29 years, 190 days |
1981 season |
| 12 |
Mike Hawthorn |
29 years, 192 days |
1958 season |
| 13 |
Jody Scheckter |
29 years, 223 days |
1979 season |
- * Fernando Alonso is also the youngest ever double world champion.
[edit] Oldest Drivers' Champion
|
Driver |
Age |
Season |
| 1 |
Juan Manuel Fangio |
46 years, 41 days |
1957 season |
| 2 |
Nino Farina |
43 years, 308 days |
1950 season |
| 3 |
Jack Brabham |
40 years, 155 days |
1966 season |
| 4 |
Graham Hill |
39 years, 262 days |
1968 season |
| 5 |
Nigel Mansell |
39 years, 8 days |
1992 season |
| 6 |
Alain Prost |
38 years, 214 days |
1993 season |
| 7 |
Mario Andretti |
38 years, 193 days |
1978 season |
| 8 |
Damon Hill |
36 years, 26 days |
1996 season |
| 9 |
Niki Lauda |
35 years, 242 days |
1984 season |
| 10 |
Michael Schumacher |
35 years, 239 days |
2004 season |
| 11 |
Alberto Ascari |
35 years, 89 days |
1953 season |
| 12 |
Phil Hill |
34 years, 143 days |
1961 season |
| 13 |
Jackie Stewart |
34 years, 90 days |
1973 season |
[edit] Most consecutive Drivers' Championships
Eight drivers have achieved consecutive wins in the Formula One Drivers' Championship.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
Nino Farina
Juan Manuel Fangio
Mercedes
Mike Hawthorn
Jack Brabham
Phil Hill
Denny Hulme
Matra*
Jochen Rindt
Emerson Fittipaldi
Jody Scheckter
Keke Rosberg
Jacques Villeneuve
Fernando Alonso
Nelson Piquet
Japan
Belgium
