5 most successful F1 driver-team combinations in history

Lewis Hamilton (L), Toto Wolff (C) and Michael Schumacher (R) (Images via Getty)
Lewis Hamilton (L) and Toto Wolff, Michael Schumacher (R) [Images via Getty]

F1 drivers and teams form a special bond when they work together. A driver needs to understand the team's vision, car, and members, while the team needs to understand a driver's emotions, driving style, and comfort zones. When both team and driver work flawlessly together, they create a recipe for success and dominance in F1.

In the past, several driver-team pairings have reigned supreme in the sport and collected multiple wins and championships. Here is a list of the five most successful alliances.


The five most successful driver-team pairings in F1

#1 Lewis Hamilton & Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes from McLaren in 2013, replacing the great Michael Schumacher as he retired from the sport for good. It was considered risky since F1 was about to introduce hybrid power units in 2014 which would level the field. As Mercedes struggled, McLaren was considered one of the best teams on the grid.

However, this transfer was extremely fruitful since Mercedes developed one of the best cars in 2014, allowing Hamilton to win his second world championship. From that point onwards, the British driver dominated the sport for six long years and only finished second in 2016, when he was beaten by his former teammate, Nico Rosberg.

While he won six of his seven titles with the Silver Arrows, the team won eight from 2014 to 2021 with Hamilton. After 2021, Max Verstappen and Red Bull started dominating the sport.

After the 2024 F1 season, Lewis Hamilton will end his 12-year partnership with Mercedes and move to Ferrari.


#2 Michael Schumacher & Ferrari

Michael Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996, after winning his first two world championships with Benetton. The German driver already had a winning mentality and arrived in the Italian camp to rebuild the team's confidence and performance. In the mid-90s, Ferrari was struggling for the world championship.

Amid Schumacher's arrival, the Italian team was trying to turn its fortunes by developing a new line of F1 cars. The German driver also lured engineers like Rory Bryne and Ross Brawn from Benetton to work with the Italian giants. With Jean Todt at the top, Ross Brawn as a strategist, and Schumacher behind the wheel, the team started its dominant era from 2000 to 2004, winning five consecutive constructors' and drivers' titles.

Schumacher remained integral to Ferrari even after briefly retiring from racing after 2006. Eventually, he left the Italian team and re-entered F1 with Mercedes in 2010. Though they tried to be competitive in 2005 and 2006, Fernando Alonso and Renault were stronger and took both championships.


#3 Sebastian Vettel & Red Bull

Sebastian Vettel was Red Bull's junior driver. He started his F1 career racing in Toro Rosso (currently Racing Bulls) in 2008 but was soon promoted to Red Bull Racing in 2009 after the team saw potential in him. Though the Austrian giants struggled to keep up in F1 after entering the sport in 2005, they gradually improved, and Vettel joined them at their turning point.

From 2010, Vettel's second year with the team, to 2013, both Red Bull and the German driver dominated the sport, winning four consecutive drivers' and constructors' titles. Vettel's early journey in F1 was tremendously successful.

After 2013, however, Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton stole the top spot and began their era of dominance. Vettel continued with Red Bull for one more year, before shifting to Ferrari in 2015.


#4 Max Verstappen & Red Bull

Max Verstappen was also a Red Bull protege who joined the team in 2016, replacing Daniil Kvyat. He first entered F1 in 2015 with Toro Rosso (currently Racing Bulls), after which he was promoted mid-season to Red Bull Racing in 2016. Soon after he joined, he started winning races and became one of the fastest drivers. However, he and the team were still unable to beat Mercedes.

From 2014 to 2021, Red Bull tried everything to stay near the top while Mercedes dominated the sport. In the 2021 F1 season, however, Verstappen and Red Bull had a monumental title battle with Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. While Mercedes was able to win the constructor title that year, Verstappen won his maiden world title in the last race on the last lap, overtaking Hamilton.

Since then, Verstappen and Red Bull have won two consecutive world championships and three back-to-back drivers' titles. However, Verstappen's tally of 61 race wins is much higher than Vettel's 38 when he was in Red Bull.


#5 Ayrton Senna & McLaren

Ayrton Senna was regarded as one of the most talented F1 drivers in the sport. The Brazilian's most successful stint was with McLaren, where they won three drivers' and constructors' world championships together in 1988, 1990, and 1991. In his three championship-winning years, he won 35 races.

In 1989, Senna's teammate, Alain Prost, took the drivers' championship for himself. This is considered Senna's peak in the sport and also the peak of rivalry with Prost.

After 1991, Senna was unable to take the top step with McLaren. After trying for two years, he left the team in 1994 to join Williams. Unfortunately, in that same year, he retired from the first two races and tragically passed away in the third race at Imola after crashing at the Tamburello corner.

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Edited by Aayush Kapoor
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