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The Formula One World Drivers' Championship (WDC) is awarded by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) to the most successful Formula One racing car driver over a season, as determined by a points system based on Grand Prix results.
Contents
- Notes
- By driver
- By nationality
- By constructor
- By engine
- By tyre manufacturer
- Youngest Drivers Champion
- Consecutive Drivers Championships
- References
The Drivers' Championship was first awarded in 1950, to Giuseppe Farina. The first driver to win multiple Championships was Alberto Ascari, in 1952 and 1953. The current Drivers' Champion is Nico Rosberg, who won his one and only World Championship in 2016.
A driver becomes the World Champion each season as soon as it is no longer mathematically possible for another to beat him whatever the outcome of the remaining races. The Drivers' Championship has been won in the final race of the season 29 times in the 67 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, thirty-three 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 United Kingdom has produced the most World Championship winning drivers with ten; Brazil, Germany and Finland are next with three each. Of the 33 drivers to win the World Championship, 20 are still alive. The most recently deceased is John Surtees (1934–2017). Among teams, Scuderia Ferrari has produced the most World Championship winning drivers with 15.
Notes
Bold indicates the team also won the Constructors' Championship (awarded since 1958).
- ^ The 1952 and 1953 championships were run to Formula Two regulations.
- ^ Fangio competed in the 1954 Argentine and Belgian Grands Prix with Maserati, then completed the season with Mercedes.
- ^ Rindt's championship was confirmed two rounds after he had been killed in an accident during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix.
- ^ Michael Schumacher scored 78 points during the 1997 season, 3 points behind Villeneuve, but was disqualified from the championship for deliberately colliding with Villeneuve in the final race of the season, the European Grand Prix. This left Villeneuve with a 39-point margin over Heinz-Harald Frentzen with 42 points.
By driver
Drivers in bold will compete in the 2017 World Championship.
By nationality
Drivers in bold have competed in the 2016 World Championship.
By constructor
Constructors in bold have competed in the 2016 World Championship.
- ^ Fangio competed in the 1954 Argentine and Belgian Grands Prix with Maserati, then completed the season with Mercedes. This shared championship is counted for each of these constructors.
By engine
Engine manufacturers in bold have competed in the 2016 World Championship.
^ * Ford Cosworth United Kingdom
^ ** TAG Porsche Germany
By tyre manufacturer
Tyre manufacturers in bold have competed in the 2016 World Championship. Numbers in parentheses indicate championships won as the sole tyre supplier.
Notes
- ^ Goodyear was the sole tyre supplier for the 1987, 1988 & 1992–1996 seasons
- ^ Pirelli was the sole tyre supplier for the 2011–2016 seasons
- ^ Bridgestone was the sole tyre supplier for the 1999, 2000 & 2007–2010 seasons
- ^ Fangio competed in the 1954 Argentine and Belgian Grands Prix on Pirelli with Maserati, then completed the season on Continental with Mercedes
- ^ Ascari competed in the 1952 Indianapolis 500 on Firestone tyres, then completed the season on Pirelli
Youngest Drivers' Champion
* Bold text indicates driver has competed in the 2016 World Championship
** Measured at the race where the driver secured the championship (except for Rindt, measured at the day of his death)
Consecutive Drivers' Championships
Ten drivers have achieved consecutive wins in the Formula One Drivers' Championship. Of those, Michael Schumacher is the only driver to have won two sets of consecutive Formula One Drivers' Championships.
Bold text indicates driver has competed in the 2016 World Championship.