The 18 Greatest Italian F1 Drivers of All Time

From the nation's only world champions to plucky one-race wonders and a new prodigy carrying the tricolore, this lineup spans seven decades of Italian racing. Who tops the grid?

1. 1
   Luigi Musso

   1950s Ferrari driver who shared victory at the 1956 Argentine Grand Prix.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Nino Farina

   The inaugural Formula 1 World Champion in 1950, driving for Alfa Romeo.
   826pts
3. 3
   Alberto Ascari

   Italy's only multiple world champion, winning back-to-back Formula 1 titles in 1952 and 1953 with Ferrari.
   704pts
4. 4
   Andrea Kimi Antonelli

   Mercedes prodigy who became the first Italian Grand Prix winner in nearly two decades in 2026.
   587pts
5. 5
   Vittorio Brambilla

   The 'Monza Gorilla' who took a wild win in the rain-shortened 1975 Austrian Grand Prix.
   587pts
6. 6
   Michele Alboreto

   Ferrari stalwart who finished runner-up in the 1985 championship and won five Grands Prix.
   503pts
7. 7
   Pierluigi Martini

   Minardi mainstay who once led a lap of the 1989 Portuguese Grand Prix for the plucky underdog team.
   391pts
8. 8
   Lorenzo Bandini

   Ferrari favourite of the 1960s who won the 1964 Austrian Grand Prix before his fatal Monaco accident in 1967.
   391pts
9. 9
   Antonio Giovinazzi

   Modern Alfa Romeo driver who scored points across three full seasons in the late 2010s.
   235pts
10. 10
    Riccardo Patrese

    Long-serving racer who finished championship runner-up in 1992 and won six Grands Prix across 256 starts.
    235pts
11. 11
    Alessandro Nannini

    Benetton driver who won the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix before a helicopter crash ended his F1 career.
    235pts
12. 12
    Ludovico Scarfiotti

    Won the 1966 Italian Grand Prix at Monza for Ferrari, delighting the home crowd.
    1pts
13. 13
    Andrea de Cesaris

    Famously fast and crash-prone racer who held the record for most Grand Prix starts without a win.
    1pts
14. 14
    Elio de Angelis

    Elegant Lotus driver who won two Grands Prix in the early 1980s before his fatal 1986 testing crash.
    1pts
15. 15
    Jarno Trulli

    Qualifying specialist whose career highlight was a memorable victory at the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix.
    1pts
16. 16
    Giancarlo Fisichella

    Three-time Grand Prix winner whose 2006 Malaysia win was Italy's last for nearly twenty years.
    1pts
17. 17
    Ivan Capelli

    March and Ferrari driver who nearly won the 1990 French Grand Prix from the front.
    1pts
18. 18
    Nicola Larini

    Ferrari test driver who scored a podium at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
    1pts