The 18 Greatest Junior Single-Seater Champions Who Reached F1

From title-winning prodigies who became world champions to cult one-season wonders, these graduates all conquered the junior single-seater ladder before reaching the big stage. Who climbed highest?

1. 1
   Ayrton Senna

   Won the 1983 British Formula 3 title before becoming a three-time F1 world champion with McLaren.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Michael Schumacher

   German F3 champion in 1990 who went on to win a record-tying seven F1 world titles.
   733pts
3. 3
   Charles Leclerc

   Dominant 2017 FIA F2 champion who graduated to Sauber and then Ferrari in F1.
   498pts
4. 4
   Stoffel Vandoorne

   Record-setting 2015 GP2 champion who graduated to McLaren's F1 team.
   498pts
5. 5
   Nico Hulkenberg

   2009 GP2 champion who moved straight into a Williams F1 seat for 2010.
   498pts
6. 6
   Pierre Gasly

   2016 GP2 champion who reached F1 and won the 2020 Italian Grand Prix.
   440pts
7. 7
   Robert Kubica

   2005 World Series by Renault champion who won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix for BMW Sauber.
   440pts
8. 8
   Timo Glock

   2007 GP2 champion who graduated to Toyota's F1 team for the 2008 season.
   372pts
9. 9
   Lewis Hamilton

   2006 GP2 champion who debuted with McLaren in 2007 and became a seven-time F1 world champion.
   372pts
10. 10
    Oscar Piastri

    Won the F3 title in 2020 and the F2 title in 2021 before racing for McLaren in F1.
    372pts
11. 11
    Jules Bianchi

    2009 F3 Euro Series champion who reached F1 with Marussia and scored the team's only points.
    372pts
12. 12
    Romain Grosjean

    2011 GP2 champion who returned to F1 with Lotus and scored multiple podiums.
    293pts
13. 13
    George Russell

    2018 FIA F2 champion who rose through Williams to a Mercedes F1 race seat.
    293pts
14. 14
    Fernando Alonso

    Junior single-seater title winner who became a two-time F1 world champion with Renault.
    200pts
15. 15
    Nico Rosberg

    Won the inaugural 2005 GP2 championship and later took the 2016 F1 world title with Mercedes.
    200pts
16. 16
    Valtteri Bottas

    2011 GP3 champion who reached F1 with Williams and won races for Mercedes.
    200pts
17. 17
    Nelson Piquet Jr

    2004 British F3 champion and son of a three-time world champion who raced in F1 for Renault.
    200pts
18. 18
    Lando Norris

    2017 FIA European F3 champion who broke through to F1 with McLaren.
    200pts