Statistical figures of World Champions

The 2011 Formula One season was predicted to be the most spectacular World Championship with five world champions on the grid for the first time has come to an end. The season resulted in the domination of Sebastian Vettel, who won the title with four races remaining.

F1 got to witness maximum tension and a spectacular battle with the five World Champions on the grid, although often only for a podium and not for a victory in The Grand Prix.

After the season’s end, it is time to balance the sheets and arrange the statistics between these five giants who share 13 world titles between them – Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Now it’s time to ask: Who is the best driver? The answer always comes from the numbers and percentage statistics. After considering percentage and statistics it is concluded that Michael Schumacher is still the King. The German who holds seven world titles heads almost all statistical percentages of the Formula One history, although since his return to F1, he has not achieved any success.

Michael Schumacher holds a record for a number of race wins, 91 wins in 288 race starts, with a win percentage of 31.59. Race win odds of Schumacher still betters the performance of newly crowned double world champion, Sebastian Vettel with 25.92 race win percentage in 81 race starts. Fernando Alonso, double world champion, has a very dismal performance in 2011 with just a single win resulting in drop in race win percentage from 16.35 to 15.16%.

Vettel has claimed 15 pole positions in this season creating a world record that betters all champions in pole position percentage with 37.03%, a big jump from 24.19% at the end of 2010 season. Schumacher has a percentage of 23.61 with record 68 pole positions in his career. Hamilton shares a third best pole percentage with 21.11%. In terms of podium finishes Schumacher is still unbeaten with 154 podiums in his career with a percentage of 53.47; Hamilton has got second best with podium finish percentage 46.66 ahead of Vettel’s 44.44.

The seven-time world champion has clocked a record 76 fastest laps with a percentage of 23.61. He appears to be untouchable as the other champions have a very low percentage of setting the fastest lap in a race. Hamilton has 12.22%, Vettel 11.11%, Alonso 11.11% and 2.85% of Button.

Following are the career percentages of five world champions who competed in 2011 F1 season:

Race Win Percentage:

1. Michael Schumacher : 31.59
2. Sebastian Vettel : 25.92
3. Lewis Hamilton : 18.88
4. Fernando Alonso : 15.16
5. Jenson Button : 5.71

Podium Finish Percentage:

1. Michael Schumacher : 53.47
2. Lewis Hamilton : 46.66
3. Sebastian Vettel : 44.44
4. Fernando Alonso : 41.01
5. Jenson Button : 20.47

Qualifying Percentage:

1. Sebastian Vettel : 37.03
2. Michael Schumacher : 23.61
3. Lewis Hamilton : 21.11
4. Fernando Alonso : 11.23
5. Jenson Button : 3.33

Fastest Laps:

1. Michael Schumacher : 26.38
2. Lewis Hamilton : 12.22
3. Sebastian Vettel : 11.11
4. Fernando Alonso : 10.67
5. Jenson Button : 2.85