The top Formula 1 drivers of the last decade

Formula 1, or “F1,” is among the world’s most prestigious open-wheeled racing competitions. In the context of racing, the word “Formula” refers to rules that guide all vehicles and participants in a typical F1 tournament. The inaugural edition of the series started in 1950. Since then, it has been one of the fiercest and most captivating racing sports tournaments that have continued to thrill fans. It features some of the world’s fastest cars and is sanctioned by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile).

A typical Formula One competition is known as the Grand Prix. It refers to races involving multiple drivers on different roads across different countries. A season runs from March to December across four continents, featuring 21 races in 21 countries. So far, some F1 drivers have consistently distinguished themselves over the past decades as team Red Bull continues to challenge Mercedes’ dominance, with Lewis Hamilton leading the pack. This article explores some of the top F1 drivers of the last decade.

Lewis Hamilton

Besides racing, Sir Lewis Hamilton is one of the most famous athletes in the world. He is arguably the most popular racing driver in F1, as he continues to lead the Mercedes team to a remarkable success. Born on January 7, 1985, the British racer started his driving career with the McLaren Young Driver Program in 1998. He was the first black driver to grace the F1 tracks between 2007 and 2012. Although he finished second in his debut season, he broke several records, making him the standout performer in the competition.

Lewis went on to win the next season of the Grand Prix, dramatically becoming the youngest player to win the F1 World Champion at the time. In 2013, he joined the Mercedes team, heralding a new era in his driving career. Every season, Hamilton stands out as the most wagered to win the competition on every top-ranked mobile casinos across the globe. These platforms feature F1 races and provide coverage throughout the entire tournament. Since his emergence, he has maintained a consistent position at the top, winning a cumulative seven F1 titles. He is currently joint record winner with Michael Schumacher, and he looks to overtake him as he joins Ferrari for the 2025 season.

Michael Schumacher

At some point in the history of F1, it was Lewis Hamilton chasing after Michael, which is why he made it to the list. Irrespective of what happens, he will always remain the first to win seven World Drivers Championships and a legend of the tracks. Born on the 3rd of January 1969, the German racer began his career in karting. After winning the European Karting Championship in 1987, he first appeared in the F1 for Jordan. It was a one-off appearance at the Belgian Grand Prix. Afterward, he signed for Benetton and recorded success, winning the driver’s title in 1994 and 1995.

He transferred to a struggling Ferrari team in 1996, and the results were devastating. He hit the rock-bottom moments of his career following successive failures in 1997 and 1998. This was followed by an injury in 1999 resulting from brake failure, which kept him out for the season. Eventually, his career experienced a U-turn following five consecutive wins with Ferrari from 2000 to 2004. He made it six and seven titles, breaking numerous records that position him as one of the greatest in the past two decades. Michael finally called it quits after an unsuccessful outing in 2005 and 2006, where he finished third and second, respectively. He made a brief outing for Mercedes between 2010 and 2012, and despite being retired for years, he remains one of the best F1 drivers of the past decade.

Sebastian Vettel

Since 2007, when Vettel first hit the F1 racing tracks, he has worked with five different teams. BMW Sauber, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, Ferrari, and Aston Martin. He started his career with BMW Sauber as a test driver until he eventually got his chance, making a one-off appearance in 2007. He participated in the Italian Grand Prix in 2008 as a junior driver for Toro Rosso, earning his first taste of victory and becoming the youngest race winner.

In 2009, he joined Red Bull as a senior driver and became the track champion for four consecutive seasons between 2010 and 2013. Vettel joined Team Ferrari in 2015 and later for Mercedes in 2016. At this time, Hamilton was the champion of the tracks, and Vettel came close twice to winning in 2017 and 2018. These were his best seasons after the four-year trophy streak. He retired in 2022 after joining Aston Martin in 2021.

Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen only debuted his F1 career in 2015 with Toro Rosso, but at age 17, making him the youngest driver in the competition’s history. But do not be deceived by his young age. Born to a family of racers, it can be said that he already had it in him from birth. While his dad, Jos Verstappen, was a Formula One racer, his mom, Sophie Kumpen, participated in go-kart racing. Unsurprisingly, Max started his career by participating and winning several honors in karting and single-seater competitions.

He spent his first season as a junior driver with Toro Rosso before getting promoted to the parent Red Bull team in 2016. He won the Spanish Grand Prix at age 18, making him the youngest ever to win the F1. His breakthrough season came in 2021 when he won his first Formula One World Drivers Championship. The streak continued for two consecutive seasons in 2022 and 2023. He holds many F1 ground-breaking records, including the season’s most successive wins and podium finish.

Final Thoughts

In recent years, Formula One has been marked by some predominant names. From Hamilton to the young Superstar Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna, many drivers have been remarkable on the tracks in the past decades. Verstappen currently tops the 2024 F1 standings with 195 points. The closest to him are Leclerc and Norris, currently at 138 and 131 points. Hamilton is currently off the top spot with just 55 points. Will the young superstar Max make it 4 out of 4? Time will tell.