Top eleven best drivers of Formula One
For those who don’t have any interest in the Formula one as a race, there’s at least one other reason to take an interest: the F1’s greatest drivers ever!
1. DANIEL RICCIARDO – TEAM Crimson BULL
Daniel Ricciardo (or DRiccy as he is commonly known in our office) is very much adored by many F1 enthusiasts, but there’s no shortage of Australians who love him for simply being Australian. In two thousand fourteen he took Mark Webber’s place on the Crimson Bull team where he finished third in the championship. And while two thousand fifteen was a quiet year for the 26-year-old, eyes are anxiously watching him at the two thousand sixteen Australian Grand Prix. The Italian stud was born in Perth and is also affectionately known as The Honey Badger.
@danielricciardo PHOTO: Instagram
Two. SERGIO PÉREZ – TEAM FORCE INDIA
Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez, 26, embarked with the Force India team in two thousand fourteen after a year with McLaren in two thousand thirteen and two years at Sauber in 2011-2012. During his Formula One career, the Mexican born Pérez has had five podium finishes with two thousand fifteen his best season ending nine th overall.
@schecoperez PHOTO: Instagram
Three. NICO ROSBERG – TEAM MERCEDES
One of the most successful F1 drivers in latest seasons, Rosberg has been contesting at Formula One level since 2006. Since 2010, Rosberg, 30, has won fourteen Grands Prix, and has won the Monaco Grand Prix three times in a row, an achievement only three other drivers have managed. Rosberg competes under the German flag and is the son of Finnish Formula One champ Keke Rosberg. He is married to his long-time sweetheart Vivian Sibold.
@ nicorosbergofficial PHOTO: Instagram
Four. JENSON BUTTON – TEAM MCLAREN-HONDA
This British born 36-year-old often has ladies powerless at the knees. Another very successful driver, over fifteen seasons of F1, Button has two hundred eighty four races to his name of which he has won fifteen and finished on the podium fifty times. If good looks and success aren’t enough, Button also created The Jenson Button Trust which distributes funds to various charitable beneficiaries. However, he’s also married to the stunning model Jessica Michibata. Sorry ladies.
@ jenson_ichiban PHOTO: Instagram
Five. LEWIS HAMILTON – TEAM MERCEDES
Button’s fellow Brit, Lewis Hamilton, is one of the most recognisable F1 drivers to those outside the racing world. Hamilton made his F1 debut at age 22, and has seen an utterly successful career ever since. He was the youngest Formula One world champ in history in two thousand eight (before Sebastian Vettel broke the record in 2010), the only F1 driver to have won at least one race in every season he’s competed in, has more victories than any other British driver, was named Big black cock Sports Personality of the Year in two thousand fourteen and has collated forty three wins which puts him third on the all-time wins list. He’s also had many connections to other celebrities such as Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussycat Dolls, has a paraffin wax replica of him at Madame Tussauds and was also spotted last year with the likes of Kendall Jenner and Pharrell Williams.
@lewishamilton PHOTO: Instagram
6. FERNANDO ALONSO – TEAM MCLAREN-HONDA
Team mates with Jenson Button, Alonso is a two-time World Champ. The Spaniard made his F1 debut in 2001, and his long career has been riddled with controversy. Across his fourteen years of racing, Alonso has graced the podium one hundred seven times, under various teams, including Minardi, Renault, McLaren and Ferrari. His career puts him at number six for the highest number of GP wins (32). Add to that he’s an ambassador for UNICEF and you’ve got our heart-strings pulled.
@ fernandoalo_oficial PHOTO: Instagram
7. KIMI RAIKKONEN – TEAM FERRARI
Kimi Raikkonen is a name that seems to pop up regularly in F1 news, having raced against names like Michael Schumacher and now Daniel Ricciardo. In 2007, when Raikkonen left McLaren for Ferrari, it was estimated he earnt $51 million per year, and was named the highest-paid driver in motorsport, and 2nd highest paid athlete in the world in two thousand nine according to Forbes. He’s had thirteen years in Formula One, excluding two thousand ten and 2011, in which he has amassed eighty podium placements and a championship in two thousand seven in his very first year with Ferrari.
Even if you don’t know anything about F1, you should recognise this surname. Bruno is the nephew of the late Ayrton Senna. Bruno, 32, raced in Formula one for HRT (2010), Renault (2011) and Williams (2012). While he is not presently an F1 driver, and instead races in the FIA World Stamina Championship, we felt he was an significant name to include.
@ bsennaofficial PHOTO: Instagram
Retiring in two thousand thirteen after seven years in Formula 1, the Finnish racing driver has raced for Renault, McLaren, Team Lotus and Lotus F1. In his career, he managed four podium finishes with his best years in two thousand seven and two thousand eight completing seven th overall. While he spent two thousand fifteen racing in Super GT, we won’t see this blonde-haired blue-eyed stud back at the Grand Prix this year.
@ heikkikovalainen PHOTO: Instagram
Everyone loved the Australian Webber, and we’re not talking about the BBQ diversity. Mark Webber is a legend when it comes to motorsport and his straight talking nice-guy persona only intensifies Australia’s love for him. While Webber hasn’t raced in the F1 since 2012, he resumes to take on the motorsport world with Porsche in the FIA World Stamina Championship. In two thousand ten and 2011, he finished in the top three on ten occasions, with forty two podiums overall. In his entire career, he never finished below 16, and finished three rd overall in 2010, two thousand eleven and 2013. Webber is presently with long-time playmate and manager Ann Neal. The duo have featured intensely in the media over the years.
@ aussiegrit PHOTO: Instagram
The Italian Stallion of F1, Fisichella, otherwise known as Fisico or Fisi, won three races in his thirteen year career in which he raced for Minardi, Jordan, Benetton, Sauber, Renault, Force India and Ferrari. One of those wins was the controversial two thousand three Brazilian Grand Prix in which the race was abandoned before the final fifteen laps.
@giancarlofisichellaofficial PHOTO: Instagram