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. 1
   Ayrton Senna

   Three titles and a reputation that outgrew them, helped by a career cut short at its peak.
2. 2
   Alain Prost

   Four titles won in the best car more often than not, which is the case against him.
3. 3
   Nico Rosberg

   Beat Lewis Hamilton over one season in equal machinery and retired five days later.
4. 4
   Jenson Button

   Won the 2009 title in a car with a double diffuser nobody else had for half a season.
5. 5
   Sebastian Vettel

   Four titles in the Newey Red Bull, then years of struggling to repeat it at Ferrari.
6. 6
   Damon Hill

   Took the 1996 championship in the dominant Williams and was dropped for the following season.
7. 7
   Mika Häkkinen

   Two titles against a Ferrari that was still being built, and little afterwards.
8. 8
   Lewis Hamilton

   Record wins and poles, most of them in the fastest car of the hybrid era.
9. 9
   Michael Schumacher

   Seven titles alongside team orders, a purpose-built Ferrari and two deliberate collisions.
10. 10
    Keke Rosberg

    Won the 1982 championship with one victory in a season nobody dominated.
11. 11
    James Hunt

    One title in 1976, decided by his rival's crash and the weather at the final round.
12. 12
    Max Verstappen

    Titles won in a car that lapped the field, plus a 2021 finale settled by a safety car call.
13. 13
    Nigel Mansell

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

Comments 1