What is the greatest comeback in motorsport history?

Careers that were written off in a hospital bed and then went back to work. Some returns took six weeks, others took five years.

1. 1
   Niki Lauda

   Back in a Ferrari six weeks after the burns and the last rites at the Nurburgring in 1976, and champion again in 1977.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Michael Schumacher

   Came out of retirement at 41 for three seasons with Mercedes, a year after a neck injury stopped an earlier return.
   874pts
3. 3
   Marc Marquez

   Broke his right arm at Jerez in 2020, had four operations over three seasons, and won the MotoGP title again in 2025.
   753pts
4. 4
   Jorge Lorenzo

   Crashed in practice at Assen in 2013, had a plate put in his collarbone and finished fifth in the race two days later.
   753pts
5. 5
   Barry Sheene

   Survived a 175mph crash at Daytona in 1975 with a broken femur and wrist, and was winning grands prix again months later.
   565pts
6. 6
   Dario Franchitti

   Walked away from a failed NASCAR season in 2008, went back to IndyCar and won three straight titles and the 2010 Indianapolis 500.
   565pts
7. 7
   Mick Doohan

   Nearly lost a leg at Assen in 1992, then won five straight 500cc world championships.
   439pts
8. 8
   Mika Hakkinen

   Survived a skull fracture in qualifying at Adelaide in 1995 and won the Formula 1 championship in 1998 and 1999.
   439pts
9. 9
   Freddie Spencer

   Won the 250cc and 500cc world championships in the same 1985 season, a double nobody has repeated.
   439pts
10. 10
    Kimi Raikkonen

    Spent two years in the World Rally Championship, returned to Formula 1 in 2012 and won in Abu Dhabi.
    439pts
11. 11
    Alex Zanardi

    Lost both legs in a 2001 CART crash, then won a touring-car race with hand controls and four Paralympic golds.
    282pts
12. 12
    Robert Kubica

    Partially severed his forearm in a 2011 rally crash and returned to a Formula 1 race seat in 2019.
    282pts
13. 13
    Valentino Rossi

    Left Honda for a Yamaha that had not won a premier-class title since 1992, and won the 2004 opener on it at Welkom.
    282pts
14. 14
    Fernando Alonso

    Left Formula 1 in 2018 for Le Mans and the Dakar, then came back to the grid in 2021 and stood on the podium.
    282pts