The 13 Greatest Formula 1 Drivers of the 1980s

Turbo engines, four different world champions and a grid where a great car mattered as much as a great driver. Pick the one who defined the decade.

1

Ayrton Senna

Brazilian who arrived in 1984 and took the 1988 world title in his first McLaren season.

2

Alain Prost

French driver who won three of his four world titles inside the decade, in 1985, 1986 and 1989.

3

Nelson Piquet

Brazilian who took world championships in 1981, 1983 and 1987 with Brabham and Williams.

4

Nigel Mansell

British driver whose Williams and Ferrari years made him the decade's most-watched nearly-man.

5

Niki Lauda

Austrian who came out of retirement and won a third title with McLaren in 1984 by half a point.

6

Keke Rosberg

Finn who took the 1982 world championship with a single race win all season.

7

Gilles Villeneuve

Ferrari driver whose spectacular car control defined the turn of the decade until his death in 1982.

8

Michele Alboreto

Italian who came closest to a Ferrari title in the mid-1980s, finishing runner-up in 1985.

9

Elio de Angelis

Elegant Lotus driver and the last man to win a race for the team before Senna arrived.

10

Riccardo Patrese

Italian whose career spanned the whole decade and beyond, from Arrows to Brabham to Williams.

11

René Arnoux

French driver remembered for the 1979 Dijon duel and a hard-fought Renault and Ferrari career.

12

Alan Jones

Australian who opened the decade as reigning champion after taking the 1980 title for Williams.

13

Didier Pironi

Ferrari driver leading the 1982 championship when a practice crash at Hockenheim ended his career.