Who is the most overrated Formula 1 world champion?

Every champion has a case against them: the car, the era, the teammate, one lucky afternoon. Reputations get audited here.

1

Ayrton Senna

Three titles and a reputation that outgrew them, helped by a career cut short at its peak.

2

Alain Prost

Four titles won in the best car more often than not, which is the case against him.

3

Nico Rosberg

Beat Lewis Hamilton over one season in equal machinery and retired five days later.

4

Jenson Button

Won the 2009 title in a car with a double diffuser nobody else had for half a season.

5

Sebastian Vettel

Four titles in the Newey Red Bull, then years of struggling to repeat it at Ferrari.

6

Damon Hill

Took the 1996 championship in the dominant Williams and was dropped for the following season.

7

Mika Häkkinen

Two titles against a Ferrari that was still being built, and little afterwards.

8

Lewis Hamilton

Record wins and poles, most of them in the fastest car of the hybrid era.

9

Michael Schumacher

Seven titles alongside team orders, a purpose-built Ferrari and two deliberate collisions.

10

Keke Rosberg

Won the 1982 championship with one victory in a season nobody dominated.

11

James Hunt

One title in 1976, decided by his rival's crash and the weather at the final round.

12

Max Verstappen

Titles won in a car that lapped the field, plus a 2021 finale settled by a safety car call.

13

Nigel Mansell

One championship from thirteen seasons, taken in the most advanced car on the grid.