Figure 1 Ferrari has a long ad successful history – Source: Unsplash
It is already looking like it will be Mercedes’ year. The new regulations brought in for the 2026 F1 season have benefited the German constructor more than most, and Kimi Antonelli, in particular, is looking very impressive. Ferrari is just about staying in contention, but a few checkered flags might well end up being the main hope for this season.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are two incredibly talented drivers, so there is always a chance for one or both of them to make the podium, as has already been proved repeatedly this year. But most people planning to place an F1 bet on the outright winner are probably looking elsewhere for their champion.
It was not always the case, of course. Ferrari is the most successful constructor in F1 history, and its drivers have also won more titles than any other in the history of the most prestigious event in motorsports. As we continue to cheer on the team throughout the rest of the season, we thought it would be a good idea to take a look back at some of the greatest ever Ferrari drivers and remember the times when the Scuderia reigned supreme.
Michael Schumacher
Where else to begin but with the German legend? Not only is he the most successful driver in F1 history, with seven titles (five with Ferrari), but he can be credited with bringing the Scuderia back to the summit of motorsports after a championship drought. He is still the driver that most people associate with Ferrari colors.
The Campionissino sits behind only current Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton for most Grand Prix wins, and actually won his first two drivers’ championships with Benetton. But it is his time at Ferrari that will be remembered most. At his best, Schumacher was simply unbeatable, and his legacy as a true icon of the sport will remain forever.
Niki Lauda
Just how do you follow arguably the greatest F1 driver of all time? Well, Niki Lauda was no slouch either. Ferrari hadn’t won a drivers’ title for ten years when he joined the Scuderia in 1974. It had been a particularly fallow time for the team, but this excellent technical driver beat everyone the very next year to claim his first championship.
The Austrian driver’s determination was legendary. After suffering horrific burns in a crash at the German Grand Prix in 1976, he returned to the track just 40 days later to claim a fourth-place finish at Monza. He did even better the next season, winning his second Ferrari title. He would later join Alain Prost as part of a formidable McLaren team to win his third and final title in 1984.
Juan Manuel Fangio
Although his relationship with Ferrari was rocky at best, Fangio’s domination of the sport in its early days earns him a place on this list. He may have only won one of his titles with the Scuderia, but his legacy cannot be ignored. His win and pole percentages are incredible, and he is still the most successful Argentinian driver of all time.
Fangio pioneered the four-wheel drift, and it is his daring and fearsome style of driving that consistently puts him near the top of lists about the best F1 drivers ever. Although he was generally older than the competition, Fangio won titles with Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, and Maserati, as well as the one for Ferrari in 1956 when he only raced six times, winning five Grand Prix in the process.
Fernando Alonso
Although he failed to win a title in his time with Ferrari, Alonso’s legacy in the sport is assured and remains well-loved by Scuderia fans thanks to his ability to get the most out of a car that was evidently inferior to some of its competition at the time. Sebastian Vettel may not have won so many championships if Alonso had had a better car.
Alonso had already won two championships with Renault before joining Ferrari in 2010, and his final positions with the team are a testament to his immense talent for driving. A champion in other motorsports events, his passion for driving is infectious, proven by the fact that he is still competing in F1 for Aston Martin.
Alberto Ascari
Ascari will always be considered a Ferrari legend due to the fact that he was the first driver to win a title for the team. He was also the first driver to win back-to-back championships when he took the honors in 1952 and 1953. He had initially taken advantage of an injury to Juan Manuel Fangio, but his talent cannot be denied.
One of only two Italians to win the title, Ascari was Ferrari’s first superstar, in a very long list. He still has the highest win ratio of any driver in Scuderia history and would surely have won more titles if it were not for his tragic death at Monza in 1955 when he crashed while taking a test car for a few practice laps. All of Italy fell silent for his funeral, as they commemorated the life of a true Ferrari and F1 icon.
Figure 2 Every Ferrari fan will have their own favorites – Source: Pixabay
Charles Leclerc
Can a current Ferrari driver be included in this honored list? It could be argued that both members of the 2026 team might have a case, considering the fact that Lewis Hamilton has won more championships than any other driver aside from Schumacher. But as the British driver has only been with Ferrari for a little over a year, we’ll put forward Charles Leclerc first.
A member of the Scuderia since 2019, Leclerc has had to deal with the domination of Verstappen and Red Bull but has impressed with his exciting style, making the podium on a number of occasions already this year. Leclerc’s belief in his ability is contagious, and if there is a current driver who could end the Ferrari championship drought, it might just be him.
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