The 10 best Formula 1 drivers who never won the World Championship: A Celebration of Talent and Tragedy
In the world of Formula 1, the World Championship is often the ultimate metric of success. But what about the drivers who came so close, yet never quite reached the top spot? These 10 drivers are among the best of all time, and their stories are as much about talent and tragedy as they are about the pursuit of victory.
Stirling Moss: The London-born driver finished runner-up on four occasions, a feat that only Alain Prost matched, and won just under a quarter of the races he took part in at a time when reliability was no guarantee. Moss' place in F1 history is not diminished by the lack of a World Championship, and his sportsmanship and selflessness set a standard that has been unmatched since he retired.
Ronnie Peterson: Nicknamed the Superswede, Peterson may have only won 10 of his 123 races, but it was often the car that let him down. He failed to register a point in his first season but a move to March in 1971 had him finishing second in the Championship behind Jackie Stewart. Peterson's tragic death at the Italian Grand Prix in 1978 cut short a promising career, and he remains the best driver to have ever come from Sweden.
Jacky Ickx: Ickx's talents were not just confined to F1, and the multiple Le Mans winner picked up plenty of titles. But the F1 championship eluded him, with Ickx finishing second in back-to-back seasons in 1969 and 1970. In that latter season, he finished just five points off winner Jochen Rindt, who had a fatal crash at the Italian Grand Prix.
Gilles Villeneuve: Gilles Villeneuve was within four points of a world title and yet never managed to win one despite his talent. His route into F1 came via a North American Formula Atlantic race in which he bested James Hunt, and he was soon signed by Ferrari. The Canadian is remembered less for his statistics, more for the way he drove, and he still holds a soft spot in plenty of Ferrari hearts even if he never won the Championship.
Didier Pironi: The Frenchman Pironi joined Ferrari in 1981 and was soon battling for the world title against his team-mate Villeneuve. But tragedy struck when Villeneuve was killed during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, and Pironi looked certain for the title. In tragic circumstances, Pironi too was to be part of a serious crash during practice for the German Grand Prix, and he was never able to race again.
Daniel Ricciardo: There will always be a sense of what could have been with Daniel Ricciardo. His sliding doors moment came with a decision to leave Red Bull and join Renault as a young Max Verstappen gained control of the Milton Keynes outfit. Ricciardo's time at Renault is often harshly remembered, but a move to McLaren never worked out, and he fell down the Formula 1 pecking order. A return to the Red Bull family, this time with AlphaTauri, demonstrated how far his star had fallen, but at his best, Ricciardo was a fantastic driver.
Rubens Barrichello: Barrichello was the ultimate wingman for Michael Schumacher, but you don’t drive for Ferrari for that long without an immense level of talent. The Brazilian started 322 races, winning 11 of them. He has 68 podiums on his record, 14 poles, and 658 points, and yet he was behind possibly the best driver of all-time. Without Schumacher, Barrichello may have been able to win a title during Ferrari’s dominant years.
David Coulthard: Coulthard’s is perhaps a similar story to Webber’s in that there was always just one driver who was better. In his early career, he was competing alongside Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher before a move to McLaren seemed to present him with a chance of a title. Except for the presence of Mika Hakkinen. Coulthard came closest in the 2001 season, finishing second behind Schumacher, but ended his career as one of the greatest British drivers of all-time.
Mark Webber: Unfortunately for Mark Webber, there was just one driver better than him. After a solid career, the Australian’s main Championship chance came via a move to Red Bull, and Webber helped elevate the team from F1 upstarts to genuine title contenders. Webber’s best season was 2010 when he made it to the final race in Abu Dhabi within touching distance of the title, but strategy errors and tyre issues saw Sebastian Vettel crowned champion.
Robert Kubica: Kubica’s F1 career looked to be on an upward trajectory when he suffered a near-fatal accident whilst rally driving. He was on the verge of a Ferrari move, set to partner Fernando Alonso in 2012, but crashed in the first stage of the Ronde di Andora rally ahead of his final season with Lotus. He required surgery that lasted seven hours and understandably, was never able to get back to the level he once was. His return to racing of any form is remarkable given the extent of his injuries, and he even recovered enough to race in F1 once more, for Williams in 2019.
These drivers are a testament to the talent and determination that goes into the pursuit of Formula 1 glory. While they may not have won the World Championship, their stories are a reminder that success in F1 is not just about the trophy, but also about the journey and the impact they have on the sport.
In my opinion, the lack of a World Championship for these drivers is a tragedy, but it does not diminish their legacy. Stirling Moss, for example, set a standard of sportsmanship and selflessness that has been unmatched since he retired. And while Gilles Villeneuve may not have won the Championship, his talent and impact on Ferrari will forever be remembered. These drivers are a reminder that sometimes, the pursuit of victory is not just about the destination, but also about the journey and the people we meet along the way.
