Have you ever wondered where your favorite Formula 1 drivers rank in the all-time points standings? Let’s dive into the fascinating world of F1 and uncover the rankings of some of the most legendary drivers currently on the grid!
The current crop of F1 drivers rank among the highest-ever points scorers in the sport’s history. This is partly due to the way points are handed out today and partly because of the sheer talent of some drivers. Three of the World Champions racing now are in the top five of all-time points scorers. With the points system revised in 2010, giving more points for wins and rewarding the top 10 finishers, today’s drivers have a real advantage.
Back in the 2000 season, there were only 17 races, and points were handed out to just the top six finishers. The races were tougher on cars too, with less emphasis on fuel efficiency or reliability. This made it harder for drivers to score points compared to the modern era, where a more stable set of rules and more races provide more opportunities for points.
For example, let’s see where the drivers of today stand in the rankings. At number 188 is Zhou Guanyu with 12 points, while Yuki Tsunoda has 76 points and stands at 97th place. Moving up, we have Kevin Magnussen at 59th with 187 points, and Alex Albon in 52nd with 228 points.
Now, let’s talk about the top 10. Daniel Ricciardo kicks off the top 10 with 1322 points. Ricciardo, who recently returned to the grid, was overtaken by Sergio Perez after the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher, a seven-time World Champion, has 1566 points. Although he raced mostly under the old points system, he still makes the top 10 but would have had a lot more under today’s rules.
Next is Sergio Perez with 1593 points. Perez, who started racing just after the new points system came in, overtook Schumacher in early 2024 and will likely continue to climb. Nico Rosberg, who retired when he was at the top, finished his career with 1594.5 points. This includes his dominant years at Mercedes.
Valtteri Bottas follows with 1797 points. After replacing Rosberg at Mercedes, Bottas played a supporting role to Lewis Hamilton. Fifth place goes to Kimi Raikkonen with 1873 points. If Raikkonen had raced entirely under the new points system, he would have had over 3000 points!
Fernando Alonso, who debuted around the same time as Raikkonen, sits in fourth with 2300 points. Alonso’s competitive career at Aston Martin means he’s still adding to his tally. Max Verstappen, with an impressive 2747.5 points, holds third place. The Dutch driver has benefited from racing entirely under the new points system.
Sebastian Vettel, despite retiring, holds second place with 3098 points. His dominance in the early 2010s allowed him to rack up points quickly. Finally, the top spot goes to Lewis Hamilton with a staggering 4674.5 points. Hamilton has had an uninterrupted career since 2007 and has consistently been at the front, earning him the place of the highest points scorer of all time.
As you can see, today’s F1 drivers are not just competing on the track but also in the history books. With changes in the points system and more races, modern drivers have more chances to climb the rankings. Whether you’re a fan of Hamilton, Verstappen, or Alonso, it’s clear we’re witnessing some of the best drivers in the sport’s history.
Source: Planetf1
