Who is the youngest F1 world champion, will it be Max Verstappen?
Jack NicoleDecember 12, 2021
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There are now 34 F1 world champions, but who is the youngest? If Max Verstappen wins the 2021 title, can he beat it?
How many world champions are there?
Since the inception of the World Championship in 1950, 34 drivers have become world champions.
Giuseppe Farina was the first to drive an Alfa Romeo in 1950.
The most recent first-time world champion was Nico Rosberg in 2016.
Until Max Verstappen wins the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi.
- disclose: Lewis Hamilton wins three races in 2021 F1 World Championship
He beat Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to the title in a season-long battle before retiring.
Hamilton and Michael Schumacher each set a record seven points, with the Briton looking to overtake the German this season.
Mercedes driver Hamilton is currently 19 points behind his title rival Max Verstappen with four Grand Prix races remaining in the 2021 season.
- disclose: How many F1 world champions are there?
Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images
Who is the youngest F1 world champion?
The current record holder for the youngest F1 world champion is Sebastian Vettel.
In 2010, Vettel was 23 years and 134 days old when he won the four-man shootout in the Abu Dhabi final.
Vettel went on to win another three titles, taking the record from Hamilton.
- explain: How many wins has Max Verstappen in F1?
Photo by Darren Heath/Getty Images
Then at McLaren, Hamilton won his first title in 2008.
He was 23 years old and 300 days old – which means Vettel was 146 days ahead of him.
Interestingly, the record for the youngest world champion was broken three times in just six seasons in the 2000s.
The first driver to do so was Fernando Alonso.
In 2005, he ended Schumacher’s reign as the youngest world champion in more than 30 years.
The Spaniard was 24 years and 58 days old when he won the title in Brazil.
The youngest five F1 world champions
- 1. Sebastian Vettel – 2010 – 23 years 134 days
- 2. Lewis Hamilton – 2008 – 23 years 300 days
- 3. Fernando Alonso – 2005 – 24 years, 58 days
- 4. Max Verstappen – 2021 – 24 years 73 days
- 5. Emerson Fittipaldi – 1972 – 25 years 273 days
- disclose: Why the F1 world champion didn’t get the world championship trophy after the final
Photo by Clive Ross/Getty Images
What about the oldest?
While the record for the youngest F1 world champion may one day be broken, the oldest is likely to stand the test of time.
In 1957, Juan Manuel Fangio became world champion for the fifth time – a remarkable 46 years and 41 days old.
Photo by Bernard Cahill/Getty Images
In the 1950s and 1960s, there was less physical driving, which meant that drivers often raced in their 40s.
In fact, the three oldest drivers to win the championship all did so in their 40s.
The five oldest F1 world champions
- 1. Juan Manuel Fangio – 1957 – 46 years and 41 days
- 2. Giuseppe Farina – 1950 – 43 years and 308 days
- 3. Jack Brabham – 1966 – 155 days in 40 years
- 4. Graham Hill – 1968 – 262 days in 39 years
- 5. Nigel Mansell – 39 years, 8 days
If Hamilton is to break this particular F1 record, he must win the 2031 world championship.
Can Max Verstappen break the record for youngest F1 champion?
One of Red Bull’s dreams when they signed Max Verstappen was to make him the youngest world champion in history.
However, Verstappen is now 24 years old and cannot break Vettel’s record.
To do that, Verstappen needs to win the title in 2020 or earlier.
If Verstappen wins the 2021 title, he will become the fourth-youngest F1 world champion, between Alonso and Fittipaldi.
- trend: What’s the best F1 championship matchup before the Abu Dhabi duel?
Photography: Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Is there anything to tell us about this article?
Jack usually writes or reads anything related to motorsport – from Formula 1 to NASCAR to British truck racing. His work as a motorsport reporter has been published in prestigious outlets such as Autosport, Motorsport.com and Motorsport News. In addition to racing, he is an avid amateur astronomer, podcast listener, and enjoys walks in the park with his three dogs.
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