Alberto Ascari is considered one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history, despite only competing in three full seasons. In 1952, his dominance was on full display, winning all six of the remaining races after missing the season-opener in Switzerland and retiring from the Indy 500. Ascari’s 1953 season was equally impressive, outshining Juan Manuel Fangio to secure the title. Although his life was tragically cut short in a crash at Monza in 1955, Ascari’s impressive record of 13 victories from 32 starts solidifies his place among the sport’s legends.
Number 1. Juan Manuel Fangio
Jackie Stewart and other Formula 1 legends of the past believe that Juan Manuel Fangio is the greatest driver of all time, surpassing the likes of Hamilton and Schumacher. It’s hard to dispute this claim when you consider Fangio’s remarkable win rate of almost one victory per two Grand Prix. Defeating Fangio was an incredibly difficult task, as evidenced by his five World Championships and two runner-up finishes between 1950 and 1958. With 24 wins from 52 starts, Fangio dominated the first decade of Formula 1. One can only imagine how many Grand Prix victories he could have amassed if F1 had been introduced earlier or had a longer season. At 39 years old, Fangio was already a veteran driver when the World Championship was established, having started his racing career in 1936. He became the oldest F1 champion at the age of 46.
