10 Most Successful Formula One Drivers Of All Time

Championships: 3

Wins: 25

Poles: 24

Niki Lauda is synonymous with a fateful day in 1976. At the German Grand Prix, Lauda was leading comfortably before he crashed and his car burst into flames. Pulled from his wrecked and inflamed car by fellow drivers, his injuries were so severe that he was actually given the last rites.

Amazingly, Niki survived. More amazingly, he was back in the car mere months later to resume his title battle with James Hunt.

Niki's legendary determination awarded him three World Championships, two in a Ferrari and one in a McLaren, the two most famous teams of them all. In 1975 he beat Emmerson Fittipaldi to the title and in 1977 he beat Jody Scheckter. Seven years later in 1984 he pipped another man on this list to the title by half a point, still the closest result in F1 history.

Not the most likeable driver in his day, yet he was another, like Piquet, who maximised his talents to give himself the best results. Even today, in his role at Mercedes, his determination and straight talking make him one of the most compelling characters in the paddock.