# Who is the best karting champion of the 2010s to reach Formula 1?

> From wunderkinds who dominated go-kart tracks as kids to grid veterans who took years to find their groove, this lineup mixes world champions with under-the-radar talents. Who do you back to win?

*By YPB Team · Published June 7, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-karting-champion-of-the-2010s-to-reach-formula-1*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Charles Leclerc** — score 1000/1000
   Won the Karting World Cup in 2011 before climbing through GP3 and Formula 2 to become a Ferrari Formula 1 driver.
2. **Alex Albon** — score 790/1000
   A prolific karting champion across multiple categories before reaching Formula 1 with Toro Rosso and Williams.
3. **Lance Stroll** — score 789/1000
   A dominant North American karting champion before fast-tracking through European single-seaters into a Formula 1 race seat.
4. **Yuki Tsunoda** — score 663/1000
   A Japanese karting champion before moving through Formula 4 and Super Formula into a Formula 1 seat with Red Bull's program.
5. **Max Verstappen** — score 609/1000
   Won the KZ Karting World Championship in 2013 before becoming a multiple-time Formula 1 World Champion with Red Bull.
6. **Pierre Gasly** — score 474/1000
   A French national karting champion before progressing through Formula Renault and GP2 into a Formula 1 race seat.
7. **Lando Norris** — score 284/1000
   Claimed the CIK-FIA World KF Karting Championship in 2014 before rising through junior single-seaters to McLaren stardom.
8. **Oscar Piastri** — score 284/1000
   A world karting champion as a junior before sweeping Formula Renault, Formula 3, and Formula 2 titles en route to McLaren.
9. **George Russell** — score 1/1000
   A dominant junior karting champion in Europe before sweeping GP3 and Formula 2 titles on his way to Mercedes.
10. **Esteban Ocon** — score 1/1000
   A junior karting world champion before working his way up through Formula Renault and GP3 into Formula 1.
11. **Mick Schumacher** — score 1/1000
   A German junior karting champion before winning the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles en route to a Formula 1 seat with Haas.
12. **Carlos Sainz Jr.** — score 1/1000
   A Spanish national karting champion before climbing through Formula Renault and GP3 into long-running Formula 1 stints with several teams.

Tags: europe, cars, racing, 2010s