What is the earliest, a F1 driver ever won a championship in the season?
Here you will find insights into the outliers in F1 history. This view provides insight into who became champion as early as possible in the season. Or in other words: the fastest world champion ;-). Both in absolute terms (number of grandprix before the end of the season) and in relative terms (% of season passed before becoming champion). Please note that championships are calculated based on the selected point scoring system.
| Nr | Champion | % of season done | #GPs before end | Champion at GP | Total GPs | Points champion | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Jackie Stewart | 64% | 4 | Germany (GP nr 7) 1969 | 11 | 61 | 62 |
| 2 | Jim Clark | 70% | 3 | Germany (GP nr 7) 1965 | 10 | 53 | 54 |
| 2 | Jim Clark | 70% | 3 | Italy (GP nr 7) 1963 | 10 | 53 | 72 |
| 4 |  Michael Schumacher | 71% | 5 | Germany (GP nr 12) 2002 | 17 | 129 | 129 |
| 5 | Michael Schumacher | 72% | 5 | Hungary (GP nr 13) 2004 | 18 | 126 | 126 |
| 6 | Jackie Stewart | 73% | 3 | Austria (GP nr 8) 1971 | 11 | 59 | 59 |
| 6 |  Max Verstappen | 73% | 6 | Japan (GP nr 16) 2023 | 22 | 175 | 175 |
| 8 | Sebastian Vettel | 74% | 5 | Singapore (GP nr 14) 2011 | 19 | 128 | 128 |
| 9 |  Juan Manuel Fangio | 75% | 2 | Germany (GP nr 6) 1957 | 8 | 40 | 46 |
| 9 |  Alberto Ascari | 75% | 2 | Germany (GP nr 6) 1952 | 8 | 36 | 53.5 |
| 9 | Nigel Mansell | 75% | 4 | Belgium (GP nr 12) 1992 | 16 | 98 | 98 |
| 12 |  Jack Brabham | 78% | 2 | Italy (GP nr 7) 1966 | 9 | 39 | 42 |
| 12 | Alberto Ascari | 78% | 2 | Germany (GP nr 7) 1953 | 9 | 34.5 | 46.5 |
| 12 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 78% | 2 | Switzerland (GP nr 7) 1954 | 9 | 42 | 57.14 |
| 15 | Sebastian Vettel | 79% | 4 | Japan (GP nr 15) 2013 | 19 | 131 | 131 |
| 16 | Max Verstappen | 82% | 4 | Japan (GP nr 18) 2022 | 22 | 135 | 135 |
| 16 | Lewis Hamilton | 82% | 3 | Turkey (GP nr 14) 2020 | 17 | 111 | 111 |
| 16 |  Niki Lauda | 82% | 3 | Italy (GP nr 14) 1977 | 17 | 72 | 72 |
| 16 | Michael Schumacher | 82% | 3 | Belgium (GP nr 14) 2001 | 17 | 108 | 108 |
| 20 |  Emerson Fittipaldi | 83% | 2 | Italy (GP nr 10) 1972 | 12 | 56 | 56 |
| 21 | Lewis Hamilton | 84% | 3 | United States (GP nr 16) 2015 | 19 | 128 | 128 |
| 22 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 86% | 1 | Great Britain (GP nr 6) 1955 | 7 | 40 | 41 |
| 22 | Lewis Hamilton | 86% | 3 | Mexico (GP nr 18) 2019 | 21 | 131 | 131 |
| 22 | Lewis Hamilton | 86% | 3 | United States (GP nr 18) 2018 | 21 | 129 | 129 |
| 25 |  Alain Prost | 88% | 2 | Spain (GP nr 14) 1989 | 16 | 76 | 82 |
| 25 | Alain Prost | 88% | 2 | Europe (GP nr 14) 1985 | 16 | 73 | 76 |
| 25 | Alain Prost | 88% | 2 | Portugal (GP nr 14) 1993 | 16 | 91 | 91 |
| 25 | Michael Schumacher | 88% | 2 | Pacific (GP nr 15) 1995 | 17 | 92 | 92 |
| 29 | Jack Brabham | 90% | 1 | Italy (GP nr 9) 1960 | 10 | 45.33 | 45.33 |
| 29 | Lewis Hamilton | 90% | 2 | Mexico (GP nr 18) 2017 | 20 | 117 | 117 |
| 31 |  Denny Hulme | 91% | 1 | United States (GP nr 10) 1967 | 11 | 51 | 51 |
| 32 | Niki Lauda | 93% | 1 | Italy (GP nr 13) 1975 | 14 | 60 | 60 |
| 32 | Alan Jones | 93% | 1 | Canada (GP nr 13) 1980 | 14 | 66 | 71 |
| 32 | Jackie Stewart | 93% | 1 | Canada (GP nr 14) 1973 | 15 | 67 | 67 |
| 35 | Nelson Piquet | 94% | 1 | Japan (GP nr 15) 1987 | 16 | 74 | 77 |
| 35 | Ayrton Senna | 94% | 1 | Japan (GP nr 15) 1990 | 16 | 74 | 74 |
| 35 | Ayrton Senna | 94% | 1 | Japan (GP nr 15) 1991 | 16 | 85 | 85 |
| 38 | Sebastian Vettel | 95% | 1 | United States (GP nr 19) 2012 | 20 | 85 | 85 |
| 39 | Giuseppe Farina | 100% | 0 | Italy (GP nr 7) 1950 | 7 | 30 | 30 |
| 39 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 100% | 0 | Spain (GP nr 8) 1951 | 8 | 31 | 37 |
| 39 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 100% | 0 | Italy (GP nr 8) 1956 | 8 | 30 | 33 |
| 39 |  Phil Hill | 100% | 0 | United States (GP nr 8) 1961 | 8 | 33 | 38 |
| 39 | Graham Hill | 100% | 0 | South Africa (GP nr 9) 1962 | 9 | 40 | 50 |
| 39 | Jack Brabham | 100% | 0 | United States (GP nr 9) 1959 | 9 | 31 | 34 |
| 39 | John Surtees | 100% | 0 | Mexico (GP nr 10) 1964 | 10 | 40 | 40 |
| 39 | Mike Hawthorn | 100% | 0 | Morocco (GP nr 11) 1958 | 11 | 42 | 49 |
| 39 | Graham Hill | 100% | 0 | Mexico (GP nr 12) 1968 | 12 | 45 | 45 |
| 39 |  Jacky Ickx | 100% | 0 | Mexico (GP nr 13) 1970 | 13 | 41.5 | 41.5 |
| 39 | Carlos Reutemann | 100% | 0 | Las Vegas (GP nr 15) 1981 | 15 | 49 | 49 |
| 39 | Nelson Piquet | 100% | 0 | South Africa (GP nr 15) 1983 | 15 | 60 | 60 |
| 39 |  Clay Regazzoni | 100% | 0 | United States (GP nr 15) 1974 | 15 | 54 | 54 |
| 39 |  Jody Scheckter | 100% | 0 | USA East (GP nr 15) 1979 | 15 | 48 | 56 |
| 39 | Michael Schumacher | 100% | 0 | Japan (GP nr 16) 2003 | 16 | 69 | 69 |
| 39 |  Mika Hakkinen | 100% | 0 | Japan (GP nr 16) 1999 | 16 | 72 | 72 |
| 39 | Mario Andretti | 100% | 0 | Canada (GP nr 16) 1978 | 16 | 60 | 60 |
| 39 | Nelson Piquet | 100% | 0 | Australia (GP nr 16) 1986 | 16 | 71 | 72 |
| 39 | Damon Hill | 100% | 0 | Japan (GP nr 16) 1996 | 16 | 86 | 86 |
| 39 | Mika Hakkinen | 100% | 0 | Japan (GP nr 16) 1998 | 16 | 89 | 89 |
| 39 | Niki Lauda | 100% | 0 | Portugal (GP nr 16) 1984 | 16 | 72 | 72 |
| 39 | Keke Rosberg | 100% | 0 | Las Vegas (GP nr 16) 1982 | 16 | 43 | 43 |
| 39 | Niki Lauda | 100% | 0 | Japan (GP nr 16) 1976 | 16 | 66 | 67 |
| 39 | Alain Prost | 100% | 0 | Australia (GP nr 16) 1988 | 16 | 87 | 105 |
| 39 | Michael Schumacher | 100% | 0 | Australia (GP nr 16) 1994 | 16 | 84 | 84 |
| 39 | Michael Schumacher | 100% | 0 | Malaysia (GP nr 17) 2000 | 17 | 92 | 92 |
| 39 | Jenson Button | 100% | 0 | Abu Dhabi (GP nr 17) 2009 | 17 | 66 | 66 |
| 39 | Kimi Räikkönen | 100% | 0 | Brazil (GP nr 17) 2007 | 17 | 87 | 87 |
| 39 |  Jacques Villeneuve | 100% | 0 | Europe (GP nr 17) 1997 | 17 | 70 | 70 |
| 39 |  Fernando Alonso | 100% | 0 | Brazil (GP nr 18) 2006 | 18 | 107 | 107 |
| 39 | Felipe Massa | 100% | 0 | Brazil (GP nr 18) 2008 | 18 | 73 | 73 |
| 39 | Lewis Hamilton | 100% | 0 | Abu Dhabi (GP nr 19) 2014 | 19 | 121 | 121 |
| 39 | Fernando Alonso | 100% | 0 | China (GP nr 19) 2005 | 19 | 103 | 103 |
| 39 | Sebastian Vettel | 100% | 0 | Abu Dhabi (GP nr 19) 2010 | 19 | 76 | 76 |
| 39 | Nico Rosberg | 100% | 0 | Abu Dhabi (GP nr 21) 2016 | 21 | 124 | 124 |
| 39 | Max Verstappen | 100% | 0 | Abu Dhabi (GP nr 22) 2021 | 22 | 130 | 130 |
Explanation
In the earliest champion view, drivers are ranked based how fast they became champion in a season. There are two variations. The first one is in terms of absolute grandprix before the end of the season (so zero GP meaning, the driver became champion in the last GP). The second is relative to reflect the differences in season length. As a percentage of GP completed (100% meaning the driver became champion on the last GP of the season). The championships are based on the selected point scoring system. For some seasons additional rules apply to calculate the champion.
In the earliest champion view, drivers are ranked based how fast they became champion in a season. There are two variations. The first one is in terms of absolute grandprix before the end of the season (so zero GP meaning, the driver became champion in the last GP). The second is relative to reflect the differences in season length. As a percentage of GP completed (100% meaning the driver became champion on the last GP of the season). The championships are based on the selected point scoring system. For some seasons additional rules apply to calculate the champion.
Date last modified: 2024-04-20 01:00:51 - 4 hours ago