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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 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 when no other driver can possibly obtain more points than them, even if they score the maximum in the remaining races of the season. 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-eight 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 Fernando Alonso, who won his second World Championship in 2006.
[edit] By season
Season |
Driver |
Team |
Poles |
Wins |
Podiums |
Fastest Laps |
Points |
Clinched |
Difference (pts) |
1950 |
Nino Farina |
Alfa Romeo |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
30 |
Race 7 of 7 |
3 |
1951 |
Juan Manuel Fangio |
Alfa Romeo |
4 |
3[1] |
5 |
5 |
31 |
Race 8 of 8 |
6 |
1952 |
Alberto Ascari |
Ferrari |
5 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
36 |
Race 6 of 8 |
12 |
1953 |
Alberto Ascari |
Ferrari |
6 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
34.5 |
Race 8 of 9 |
6.5 |
1954 |
Juan Manuel Fangio |
Maserati, Mercedes[2] |
5 |
6 |
7 |
3 |
42 |
Race 7 of 9 |
16.9 |
1955 |
Juan Manuel Fangio |
Mercedes |
3 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
40 |
Race 6 of 7 |
16.5 |
1956 |
Juan Manuel Fangio |
Ferrari |
6 |
3[3] |
5[4] |
4 |
30 |
Race 8 of 8 |
3 |
1957 |
Juan Manuel Fangio |
Maserati |
4 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
40 |
Race 6 of 8 |
15 |
1958 |
Mike Hawthorn |
Ferrari |
4 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
42 |
Race 11 of 11 |
1 |
1959 |
Jack Brabham |
Cooper* |
1 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
31 |
Race 9 of 9 |
4 |
1960 |
Jack Brabham |
Cooper* |
3 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
43 |
Race 8 of 10 |
9 |
1961 |
Phil Hill |
Ferrari* |
5 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
34 |
Race 7[5] of 8 |
1 |
1962 |
Graham Hill |
BRM* |
1 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
42 |
Race 9 of 9 |
12 |
1963 |
Jim Clark |
Lotus* |
7 |
7 |
9 |
6 |
54 |
Race 7 of 10 |
21 |
1964 |
John Surtees[6] |
Ferrari* |
2 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
40 |
Race 10 of 10 |
1 |
1965 |
Jim Clark |
Lotus* |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
54 |
Race 7 of 10 |
14 |
1966 |
Jack Brabham |
Brabham* |
3 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
42 |
Race 7 of 9 |
14 |
1967 |
Denny Hulme |
Brabham* |
0 |
2 |
8 |
2 |
51 |
Race 11 of 11 |
5 |
1968 |
Graham Hill |
Lotus* |
2 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
48 |
Race 12 of 12 |
12 |
1969 |
Jackie Stewart |
Matra* |
2 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
63 |
Race 8 of 11 |
26 |
1970 |
Jochen Rindt |
Lotus* |
3 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
45 |
Race 12[7] of 13 |
5 |
1971 |
Jackie Stewart |
Tyrrell* |
6 |
6 |
7 |
3 |
62 |
Race 8 of 11 |
29 |
1972 |
Emerson Fittipaldi |
Lotus* |
3 |
5 |
8 |
0 |
61 |
Race 10 of 12 |
16 |
1973 |
Jackie Stewart |
Tyrrell |
3 |
5 |
8 |
1 |
71 |
Race 13 of 15 |
16 |
1974 |
Emerson Fittipaldi |
McLaren* |
2 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
55 |
Race 15 of 15 |
3 |
1975 |
Niki Lauda |
Ferrari* |
9 |
5 |
8 |
2 |
64.5 |
Race 13 of 14 |
19.5 |
1976 |
James Hunt |
McLaren |
8 |
6 |
8 |
2 |
69 |
Race 16 of 16 |
1 |
1977 |
Niki Lauda |
Ferrari* |
2 |
3 |
10 |
3 |
72 |
Race 15 of 17 |
17 |
1978 |
Mario Andretti |
Lotus* |
8 |
6 |
7 |
3 |
64 |
Race 14[8] of 16 |
13 |
1979 |
Jody Scheckter |
Ferrari* |
1 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
51 |
Race 13 of 15 |
4 |
1980 |
Alan Jones |
Williams* |
3 |
5 |
10 |
5 |
67 |
Race 13 of 14 |
13 |
1981 |
Nelson Piquet |
Brabham |
4 |
3 |
7 |
1 |
50 |
Race 15 of 15 |
1 |
1982 |
Keke Rosberg |
Williams |
1 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
44 |
Race 16 of 16 |
5 |
1983 |
Nelson Piquet |
Brabham |
1 |
3 |
8 |
4 |
59 |
Race 15 of 15 |
2 |
1984 |
Niki Lauda |
McLaren* |
0 |
5 |
9 |
5 |
72 |
Race 16 of 16 |
0.5 |
1985 |
Alain Prost |
McLaren* |
2 |
5 |
11 |
5 |
73 |
Race 14 of 15 |
20 |
1986 |
Alain Prost |
McLaren |
1 |
4 |
11 |
2 |
72 |
Race 16 of 16 |
2 |
1987 |
Nelson Piquet |
Williams* |
4 |
3 |
11 |
4 |
73 |
Race 15 of 16 |
12 |
1988 |
Ayrton Senna |
McLaren* |
13 |
8 |
11 |
3 |
90 |
Race 15 of 16 |
3 |
1989 |
Alain Prost |
McLaren* |
2 |
4 |
11 |
5 |
76 |
Race 15[9] of 16 |
16 |
1990 |
Ayrton Senna |
McLaren* |
10 |
6 |
11 |
2 |
78 |
Race 15 of 16 |
7 |
1991 |
Ayrton Senna |
McLaren* |
8 |
7 |
12 |
2 |
96 |
Race 15 of 16 |
24 |
1992 |
Nigel Mansell |
Williams* |
14 |
9 |
12 |
8 |
108 |
Race 11 of 16 |
52 |
1993 |
Alain Prost |
Williams* |
13 |
7 |
12 |
6 |
99 |
Race 14 of 16 |
26 |
1994 |
Michael Schumacher |
Benetton |
6 |
8 |
10 |
8 |
92 |
Race 16 of 16 |
1 |
1995 |
Michael Schumacher |
Benetton* |
4 |
9 |
11 |
8 |
102 |
Race 15 of 17 |
33 |
1996 |
Damon Hill[10] |
Williams* |
9 |
8 |
10 |
5 |
97 |
Race 16 of 16 |
19 |
1997 |
Jacques Villeneuve |
Williams* |
10 |
7 |
8 |
3 |
81 |
Race 17 of 17 |
39[11] |
1998 |
Mika Häkkinen |
McLaren* |
9 |
8 |
11 |
6 |
100 |
Race 16 of 16 |
14 |
1999 |
Mika Häkkinen |
McLaren |
11 |
5 |
10 |
6 |
76 |
Race 16 of 16 |
2 |
2000 |
Michael Schumacher |
Ferrari* |
9 |
9 |
12 |
2 |
108 |
Race 16 of 17 |
19 |
2001 |
Michael Schumacher |
Ferrari* |
11 |
9 |
14 |
3 |
123 |
Race 13 of 17 |
58 |
2002 |
Michael Schumacher |
Ferrari* |
7 |
11 |
17 |
7 |
144 |
Race 11 of 17 |
67 |
2003 |
Michael Schumacher |
Ferrari* |
5 |
6 |
8 |
5 |
93 |
Race 16 of 16 |
2 |
2004 |
Michael Schumacher |
Ferrari* |
8 |
13 |
15 |
10 |
148 |
Race 14 of 18 |
34 |
2005 |
Fernando Alonso |
Renault* |
6 |
7 |
15 |
2 |
133 |
Race 17 of 19 |
21 |
2006 |
Fernando Alonso |
Renault* |
6 |
7 |
14 |
5 |
134 |
Race 18 of 18 |
13 |
- * - 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.
- ^ Surtees became the first person to win World Championships on motorcycles and cars, having won seven titles in both 350cc and 500cc classes earlier.
- ^ Rindt died in the practice for the 1970 Italian Grand Prix, making him Formula One's first (and only) World Drivers' Champion that won the title after death.
- ^ Andretti became Champion after teammate Ronnie Peterson died following an operation caused by a crash in 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 was disqualified from the 1997 Championship from second, on 78 points.
[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 |
1969, 1971, 1973 |
Niki Lauda |
1975, 1977, 1984 |
Nelson Piquet |
1981, 1983, 1987 |
Ayrton Senna |
1988, 1990-1991 |
Alberto Ascari |
2 |
1952-1953 |
Jim Clark |
1963, 1965 |
Graham Hill |
1962, 1968 |
Emerson Fittipaldi |
1972, 1974 |
Mika Häkkinen |
1998-1999 |
Fernando Alonso |
2005-2006 |
Nino Farina |
1 |
1950 |
Mike Hawthorn |
1958 |
Phil Hill |
1961 |
John Surtees |
1964 |
Denny Hulme |
1967 |
Jochen Rindt |
1970 |
James Hunt |
1976 |
Mario Andretti |
1978 |
Jody Scheckter |
1979 |
Alan Jones |
1980 |
Keke Rosberg |
1982 |
Nigel Mansell |
1992 |
Damon Hill |
1996 |
Jacques Villeneuve |
1997 |
[edit] By nationality
[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 |
Jochen Rindt |
28 years, 140 days |
1970 season |
8 |
Ayrton Senna |
28 years, 223 days |
1988 season |
9 |
James Hunt |
29 years, 56 days |
1976 season |
10 |
Nelson Piquet |
29 years, 190 days |
1981 season |
11 |
Mike Hawthorn |
29 years, 192 days |
1958 season |
12 |
Jody Scheckter |
29 years, 223 days |
1979 season |
-
- If Fernando Alonso wouldn't have won the 2005 title, he would still be the youngest driver ever to win the championship because of his 2006 title.
- Jochen Rindt's 1970 title was given out after his death.
[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 Drivers' Championships won in a row
[edit] References