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 |  Michael Schumacher | 76% | 4 | Hungary (GP nr 13) 2002 | 17 | 405 | 405 |
| 2 |  Max Verstappen | 77% | 5 | Qatar (GP nr 17) 2023 | 22 | 546 | 546 |
| 3 |  Jackie Stewart | 82% | 2 | Canada (GP nr 9) 1969 | 11 | 192 | 192 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | 82% | 3 | Turkey (GP nr 14) 2020 | 17 | 356 | 356 |
| 5 | Michael Schumacher | 83% | 3 | Italy (GP nr 15) 2004 | 18 | 373 | 373 |
| 6 | Sebastian Vettel | 84% | 3 | India (GP nr 16) 2013 | 19 | 422 | 422 |
| 6 | Sebastian Vettel | 84% | 3 | South Korea (GP nr 16) 2011 | 19 | 410 | 410 |
| 8 | Max Verstappen | 86% | 3 | United States (GP nr 19) 2022 | 22 | 453 | 453 |
| 9 |  Juan Manuel Fangio | 88% | 1 | Pescara (GP nr 7) 1957 | 8 | 136 | 154 |
| 9 | Nigel Mansell | 88% | 2 | Portugal (GP nr 14) 1992 | 16 | 279 | 279 |
| 9 | Michael Schumacher | 88% | 2 | Italy (GP nr 15) 2001 | 17 | 352 | 352 |
| 12 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 89% | 1 | Italy (GP nr 8) 1954 | 9 | 130 | 192 |
| 13 | Jim Clark | 90% | 1 | Mexico (GP nr 9) 1963 | 10 | 175 | 237 |
| 14 | Jackie Stewart | 91% | 1 | Canada (GP nr 10) 1971 | 11 | 188 | 188 |
| 15 |  Emerson Fittipaldi | 92% | 1 | Canada (GP nr 11) 1972 | 12 | 176 | 176 |
| 16 |  Niki Lauda | 93% | 1 | Italy (GP nr 13) 1975 | 14 | 230 | 234 |
| 16 | Jackie Stewart | 93% | 1 | Canada (GP nr 14) 1973 | 15 | 221 | 221 |
| 18 | Ayrton Senna | 94% | 1 | Japan (GP nr 15) 1991 | 16 | 287 | 287 |
| 18 |  Alain Prost | 94% | 1 | Japan (GP nr 15) 1993 | 16 | 289 | 289 |
| 18 | Alain Prost | 94% | 1 | South Africa (GP nr 15) 1985 | 16 | 221 | 233 |
| 18 | Michael Schumacher | 94% | 1 | Japan (GP nr 16) 1995 | 17 | 268 | 268 |
| 22 | Lewis Hamilton | 95% | 1 | Brazil (GP nr 18) 2015 | 19 | 399 | 399 |
| 22 | Lewis Hamilton | 95% | 1 | Brazil (GP nr 20) 2018 | 21 | 433 | 433 |
| 22 | Lewis Hamilton | 95% | 1 | Brazil (GP nr 20) 2019 | 21 | 432 | 432 |
| 25 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 100% | 0 | Italy (GP nr 7) 1955 | 7 | 143 | 143 |
| 25 |  Giuseppe Farina | 100% | 0 | Italy (GP nr 7) 1950 | 7 | 112 | 118 |
| 25 |  Phil Hill | 100% | 0 | United States (GP nr 8) 1961 | 8 | 101 | 118 |
| 25 | Alberto Ascari | 100% | 0 | Italy (GP nr 8) 1952 | 8 | 125 | 175 |
| 25 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 100% | 0 | Spain (GP nr 8) 1951 | 8 | 111 | 125.5 |
| 25 | Stirling Moss | 100% | 0 | Italy (GP nr 8) 1956 | 8 | 105.5 | 105.5 |
| 25 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 100% | 0 | Italy (GP nr 9) 1953 | 9 | 104 | 110 |
| 25 |  Jack Brabham | 100% | 0 | Mexico (GP nr 9) 1966 | 9 | 136 | 148 |
| 25 | Jack Brabham | 100% | 0 | United States (GP nr 9) 1959 | 9 | 107 | 122 |
| 25 | Graham Hill | 100% | 0 | South Africa (GP nr 9) 1962 | 9 | 143 | 183 |
| 25 | Jack Brabham | 100% | 0 | United States (GP nr 10) 1960 | 10 | 149 | 149 |
| 25 | Jim Clark | 100% | 0 | Mexico (GP nr 10) 1965 | 10 | 150 | 151 |
| 25 | John Surtees | 100% | 0 | Mexico (GP nr 10) 1964 | 10 | 137 | 137 |
| 25 |  Denny Hulme | 100% | 0 | Mexico (GP nr 11) 1967 | 11 | 176 | 176 |
| 25 | Stirling Moss | 100% | 0 | Morocco (GP nr 11) 1958 | 11 | 143 | 143 |
| 25 | Graham Hill | 100% | 0 | Mexico (GP nr 12) 1968 | 12 | 168 | 168 |
| 25 |  Jacky Ickx | 100% | 0 | Mexico (GP nr 13) 1970 | 13 | 149 | 149 |
| 25 | Alan Jones | 100% | 0 | USA East (GP nr 14) 1980 | 14 | 219 | 234 |
| 25 | Nelson Piquet | 100% | 0 | South Africa (GP nr 15) 1983 | 15 | 198 | 198 |
| 25 | Emerson Fittipaldi | 100% | 0 | United States (GP nr 15) 1974 | 15 | 193 | 194 |
| 25 | Nelson Piquet | 100% | 0 | Las Vegas (GP nr 15) 1981 | 15 | 176 | 176 |
| 25 |  Gilles Villeneuve | 100% | 0 | USA East (GP nr 15) 1979 | 15 | 170 | 198 |
| 25 | James Hunt | 100% | 0 | Japan (GP nr 16) 1976 | 16 | 220 | 220 |
| 25 | Eddie Irvine | 100% | 0 | Japan (GP nr 16) 1999 | 16 | 252 | 252 |
| 25 |  Mika Hakkinen | 100% | 0 | Japan (GP nr 16) 1998 | 16 | 296 | 296 |
| 25 | Damon Hill | 100% | 0 | Japan (GP nr 16) 1996 | 16 | 283 | 283 |
| 25 | Damon Hill | 100% | 0 | Australia (GP nr 16) 1994 | 16 | 252 | 252 |
| 25 | Ayrton Senna | 100% | 0 | Australia (GP nr 16) 1990 | 16 | 231 | 231 |
| 25 | Alain Prost | 100% | 0 | Australia (GP nr 16) 1989 | 16 | 223 | 245 |
| 25 | Ayrton Senna | 100% | 0 | Australia (GP nr 16) 1988 | 16 | 272 | 293 |
| 25 | Nelson Piquet | 100% | 0 | Australia (GP nr 16) 1987 | 16 | 216 | 228 |
| 25 | Alain Prost | 100% | 0 | Australia (GP nr 16) 1986 | 16 | 242 | 258 |
| 25 | Alain Prost | 100% | 0 | Portugal (GP nr 16) 1984 | 16 | 238.5 | 238.5 |
| 25 | Keke Rosberg | 100% | 0 | Las Vegas (GP nr 16) 1982 | 16 | 165 | 165 |
| 25 | Mario Andretti | 100% | 0 | Canada (GP nr 16) 1978 | 16 | 196 | 196 |
| 25 | Michael Schumacher | 100% | 0 | Japan (GP nr 16) 2003 | 16 | 240 | 240 |
| 25 | Jenson Button | 100% | 0 | Abu Dhabi (GP nr 17) 2009 | 17 | 254.5 | 254.5 |
| 25 | Kimi Räikkönen | 100% | 0 | Brazil (GP nr 17) 2007 | 17 | 297 | 297 |
| 25 | Michael Schumacher | 100% | 0 | Malaysia (GP nr 17) 2000 | 17 | 311 | 311 |
| 25 | Jacques Villeneuve | 100% | 0 | Europe (GP nr 17) 1997 | 17 | 237 | 237 |
| 25 | Niki Lauda | 100% | 0 | Japan (GP nr 17) 1977 | 17 | 220 | 220 |
| 25 |  Fernando Alonso | 100% | 0 | Brazil (GP nr 18) 2006 | 18 | 339 | 339 |
| 25 | Felipe Massa | 100% | 0 | Brazil (GP nr 18) 2008 | 18 | 265 | 265 |
| 25 | Lewis Hamilton | 100% | 0 | Abu Dhabi (GP nr 19) 2014 | 19 | 384 | 384 |
| 25 | Fernando Alonso | 100% | 0 | China (GP nr 19) 2005 | 19 | 347 | 347 |
| 25 | Sebastian Vettel | 100% | 0 | Abu Dhabi (GP nr 19) 2010 | 19 | 281 | 281 |
| 25 | Fernando Alonso | 100% | 0 | Brazil (GP nr 20) 2012 | 20 | 296 | 296 |
| 25 | Lewis Hamilton | 100% | 0 | Abu Dhabi (GP nr 20) 2017 | 20 | 381 | 381 |
| 25 | Lewis Hamilton | 100% | 0 | Abu Dhabi (GP nr 21) 2016 | 21 | 405 | 405 |
| 25 | Max Verstappen | 100% | 0 | Abu Dhabi (GP nr 22) 2021 | 22 | 408.5 | 408.5 |
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: 2024-04-22 23:03:32 - 3 days ago