I have summarized the most valuable F1 driver records after the conclusion of the 2025 season. See what changes have occurred at the top of the rankings, who leads them, and how modern drivers compare.
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For the tenth time after the end of the F1 season, I have prepared a summary of the most valuable Formula 1 records among drivers. When I made the first such summary (after the 2016 season), the most important records were held by Michael Schumacher, who still had a large lead in the individual tables. Back then, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton were chasing him together, and it was unknown which of them would be better. In subsequent years, the British driver took the lead and currently holds most of the records, in some cases improving them very significantly. In recent years, Fernando Alonso has emerged as the leader in F1 longevity records and has not yet said his last word. In previous seasons, the main protagonist of these rankings is Max Verstappen, who is approaching record levels in most statistics but still needs a few more years of driving at the highest level to achieve them.
As in previous years, I have chosen ten of what I consider to be the most important statistics regarding driver results in Formula 1 history. I only took into account statistics covering entire careers. I deliberately omitted any achievements from single seasons (e.g., number of wins or podiums in one season) or for single tracks (e.g., number of wins or podiums at one track), because this is a different type of record, which is also easier to break due to the expanding calendar. I also omitted records related to percentages (e.g., percentage of races won in a career, etc.). The only problem is the points record due to changing rules; it cannot be objectively compared historically.
The following rankings contain data updated after the end of the 2025 season. Next to the names of currently active drivers, two numbers appear: the first represents the current result, and the second in parentheses represents the result from the end of the 2024 season. This way, you can see by how much individual drivers have improved or not changed their achievements over twelve months.
The most valuable F1 driver records – 2025 edition
Most race wins in F1 history:
- Lewis Hamilton – 105 (105 at the end of 2024)
- Michael Schumacher – 91
- Max Verstappen – 71 (63)
- Sebastian Vettel – 53
- Alain Prost – 51
In 2025, Lewis Hamilton, who leads this ranking, did not improve his statistics. The Briton still has a chance to improve his record; for that to happen, Ferrari must enter the new technical regulations very well, and he himself must find his place in this team better than in the past year. In my opinion, there is still a chance for literally individual victories for him.
In 2025, Max Verstappen won eight races and strengthened his third place in this ranking. The Dutchman still has at least a few years ahead of him in Formula 1, he is still young and far from the age when his form will naturally decline. If he drives for teams fighting for the world championship in the coming years, he will have a great chance to improve Hamilton’s record. He needs 4-5 years of competing at the very top for this.
Forecast: Hamilton can only slightly improve his record, and in the perspective of a few years, Verstappen will threaten him.
Most Pole Positions in F1 history:
- Lewis Hamilton – 104 (104)
- Michael Schumacher – 68
- Ayrton Senna – 65
- Sebastian Vettel – 57
- Max Verstappen – 48 (40)
Lewis Hamilton remained at the top of the Pole Position ranking, but did not improve his result during 2025. The Briton has only won one Pole Position in the last four seasons. The Briton is no longer performing as well in qualifying as he used to; age and the changed generation of cars, which does not suit him, are likely taking their toll. Perhaps in 2026, the new cars will make him start driving better, but to fight for Pole Position, he also needs a great Ferrari car. It is unknown whether these two conditions will be met. In my opinion, it will be easier for him to win a race than to secure a Pole Position.
During 2025, Max Verstappen strengthened his fifth position by winning eight Pole Positions. The Dutchman has never been a true qualifying expert; he has significantly fewer successes in them than in races. If he drives in F1 for a few more years and has a car capable of fighting for the highest goals at his disposal, he should have no problem moving up to second place in this ranking. He has a relatively small gap (2-3 seasons of driving at the top) to Schumacher. In my opinion, Hamilton’s result is out of his reach; Verstappen would need several years of total dominance to catch him.
Forecast: Hamilton has little chance of improving his own record. There is no threat of anyone else overtaking him.
Most front-row starts in F1 history:
- Lewis Hamilton – 176 (176)
- Michael Schumacher – 116
- Sebastian Vettel – 101
- Ayrton Senna – 87
- Alain Prost – 86
- Max Verstappen – 85 (73)
The situation in this ranking is analogous to the previous one. Lewis Hamilton leads decisively in the ranking of career front-row starts but did not improve his achievement in 2025. It is easier to secure a front-row start than a Pole Position, so there are chances that he will improve slightly next year. Max Verstappen is systematically chasing, but currently occupies only sixth place in this ranking. In 2026, he should move up to fourth position, and in the perspective of a few seasons, to second. Catching Hamilton seems unattainable; Verstappen would need many more seasons of driving at the top or several of total dominance for that.
Forecast: Hamilton will maintain his record and may still slightly improve it.
Most fastest laps in races in F1 history:
- Michael Schumacher – 77
- Lewis Hamilton – 68 (67)
- Kimi Raikkonen – 46
- Alain Prost – 41
- Sebastian Vettel – 38
- Max Verstappen – 36 (33)
The record for the number of fastest laps in races is the only major achievement that remains on Michael Schumacher’s individual account. When the German achieved his greatest successes, refueling in races was in effect in F1. This meant that the best drivers usually set the fastest lap times in races and had two or three opportunities to do so when there was very little fuel in the car. Currently, fastest laps are set at the very end of the race, and the leader is most often not forced to drive at 100% and fight on the final laps. For several years, an extra point was awarded for this, so the best drivers had motivation and fought for them, but from 2025, the awarding of this point was discontinued.
Lewis Hamilton, who occupies second place in this ranking, slightly improved his achievements in 2025. He is nine fastest laps short; there are very small chances that he will manage to win that many in F1. He would need a truly top car and regular fights for victories for that. Younger drivers from the current grid are trailing significantly (Verstappen has 36 to his name), and after the resignation of points for fastest laps, it is not expected that the leaders will fight for them. Rather, they will gain a few per year, which is too few to break the record.
Forecast: The chances of breaking Schumacher’s record are close to zero.
Most podium finishes in F1 history:
- Lewis Hamilton – 202 (202)
- Michael Schumacher – 155
- Max Verstappen – 127 (112)
- Sebastian Vettel – 122
- Alain Prost and Fernando Alonso – 106
Lewis Hamilton did not stand on the podium once in 2025; it was his first such season in his career. The Briton has a very large lead in this statistical ranking; in my opinion, he will stand on the podium several more times in his career. Much depends on the Ferrari car and the driver’s own form. In the optimistic version, he will have a dozen or so more podiums, and in the pessimistic one, a few.
During 2025, Max Verstappen moved up to third place in this ranking, having regularly achieved over 10 podium finishes per year for several years. Given his age and form, moving up to second place within a few seasons is in the bag, unless his career ends suddenly or he makes serious mistakes regarding teams. Currently, it is easier to get podiums because the calendars are long and the number of car failures is very small. If someone has a car from the top, they easily have a chance for a dozen or so podium finishes in a season. To catch Hamilton, Verstappen would need 5-6 more very strong seasons in F1.
Forecast: Hamilton will still improve his record a bit. In the perspective of a few years, Verstappen could be a threat.
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Most points in F1 history:
- Lewis Hamilton – 5 018,5 (4 862,5)
- Max Verstappen – 3 444,5 (3 023,5)
- Sebastian Vettel – 3 098
- Fernando Alonso – 2 393 (2 337)
- Kimi Raikkonen – 1 873
This statistic, due to changing scoring systems over the years, is highly unrepresentative, but it must be recognized as one of the most important. Since 2010, there are significantly more points to be earned in F1 than before, so all drivers from before that year are disadvantaged. Additionally, the calendar is getting longer, and bonus points for fastest laps and sprints have been added. It cannot be ruled out that the points system will undergo further changes in the future, which will further overturn historical rankings.
Lewis Hamilton leads this ranking with a very large margin, but let’s remember that he drove in F1 for several seasons when the old scoring system was in place, and there were also fewer races. Hamilton’s record is impressive, but in my opinion, the Briton has no chance of maintaining it in the perspective of several / a dozen years. In the future, those who drove their entire careers when more points were awarded and calendars were long will be at the top. Verstappen has a real chance to improve Hamilton’s result if he drives in F1 for a few more years. In the future, drivers who recently debuted in F1 will be at the top of this ranking.
Forecast: This record will be regularly improved in the coming years.
Most F1 race starts in history:
- Fernando