Who is the best racing driver in the world right now?

Max Verstappen is the best racing driver in the world right now, based on sustained dominance at the highest level of single-seater racing, Formula 1, since 2021. While “best” is inherently subjective and varies by discipline, Verstappen’s combination of pace, racecraft, adaptability, and relentless execution has set the benchmark across modern motorsport.

Why consensus points to Max Verstappen

In contemporary motorsport, Formula 1 is widely regarded as the pinnacle for single-seater drivers, and Verstappen has defined the era. He became a three-time F1 world champion (2021–2023), set all-time records for consecutive wins (10 in 2023) and most victories in a season (19 in 2023), and continued to lead the 2024 campaign with commanding performances, repeatedly turning front-row qualifying efforts into controlled race victories. Crucially, the Dutchman has excelled across conditions—dry, wet, high-deg, safety-car restarts—while keeping errors rare and extracting peak pace over long stints.

His standout qualities aren’t just raw speed: he manages tires with surgical precision, reads strategy on the fly, and executes overtakes decisively but cleanly. Even accounting for Red Bull’s top-tier machinery, Verstappen’s intra-team deltas, consistency, and race control under pressure make a persuasive case that he is the most complete racing driver on the planet right now.

How to judge “best” across series

Cross-discipline comparisons are tricky—IndyCar, endurance racing, rallying, and Formula E all test different skill sets. Still, common standards help frame the debate across categories.

• Peak pace: one-lap speed and the ability to deliver under pressure in qualifying.
• Racecraft: overtaking, defensive driving, start and restart management, and traffic handling.
• Consistency: minimizing mistakes, maximizing points on off-days, and thriving across track types and conditions.
• Adaptability: switching between tire compounds, fuel/energy targets, changing weather, and evolving car balance.
• Mechanical sympathy and strategy feel: preserving tires/brakes/fuel, and making the right calls with engineers.
• Big-stage performance: delivering in championship deciders, blue-riband races, and mixed conditions.

Viewed through these lenses, Verstappen’s profile is unusually complete. He leads in raw speed while also excelling in the subtleties—tyre life, pace management, and race reading—that often separate great from greatest.

The competition: who else has a claim?

“Best” isn’t a one-name universe. Several elite drivers in F1 and other series make strong arguments based on recent form, versatility, or big-event pedigree.

• Lando Norris (F1, McLaren): Emerged as Verstappen’s most frequent on-track challenger in 2024, taking his first F1 victory (Miami) and stacking podiums with scintillating qualifying speed and improved race management.
• Lewis Hamilton (F1, Mercedes): A seven-time world champion with the most F1 wins in history, he ended a long win drought with an emotional home victory at Silverstone in 2024, underscoring his enduring class and racecraft.
• Fernando Alonso (F1, Aston Martin): At 40-plus, he remains a relentless competitor with peerless race intuition, converting opportunities and thriving in changeable conditions.
• Charles Leclerc (F1, Ferrari): Among the fastest qualifiers on the grid, he translated pace into a marquee home win at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, highlighting his precision under pressure.
• Alex Palou (IndyCar, Chip Ganassi Racing): A multiple-time champion (2021, 2023) with metronomic consistency, tire mastery, and racecraft suited to ovals, street circuits, and road courses—arguably IndyCar’s modern benchmark.
• Scott Dixon (IndyCar, Chip Ganassi Racing): The consummate all-rounder and strategist with late-race pace and fuel-saving prowess; a perennial title threat.
• Endurance aces (WEC/Le Mans): Ferrari AF Corse’s Nicklas Nielsen, Miguel Molina, and Antonio Fuoco won the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, while Toyota stalwarts like Sébastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley have set the standard for multi-class traffic management and error-free endurance speed.
• Kalle Rovanperä (WRC, Toyota): Though rallying is a different discipline, his two world titles (2022, 2023) and outrageous car control on gravel, tarmac, and snow place him among the best pure drivers in any form of motorsport.

These contenders demonstrate how the answer can vary by category: IndyCar rewards adaptability across formats, endurance racing prizes consistency and teamwork over 24 hours, and rally demands instinctive car control at the limit on ever-changing surfaces.

Context that could shift perceptions

Factory performance cycles, regulation shifts, and driver moves can reshape the landscape. In F1, development pace and strategic execution can compress gaps quickly; outside F1, evolving tech in WEC hypercars and Formula E’s energy management demands can vault new names into the conversation. Even so, the top tier remains relatively stable: the best drivers prove it across seasons, cars, and conditions.

Bottom line

Given the breadth and depth of evidence at the sport’s pinnacle, Max Verstappen is the best racing driver in the world right now. Others are close—and on any given weekend in their disciplines, superior—but Verstappen’s sustained dominance, versatility under pressure, and minimal-error execution put him, at present, a step ahead.

Summary

Max Verstappen leads the global pecking order thanks to record-setting form and comprehensive racecraft in Formula 1. Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc, Alex Palou, Scott Dixon, top WEC winners, and Kalle Rovanperä illustrate how excellence looks across different disciplines. Performance cycles will ebb and flow, but at this moment, Verstappen’s consistency and completeness make him the sport’s defining driver.

Who’s the best F1 driver in the world right now?

Lewis Hamilton (UK): Currently the man to beat, 6 world championships under his belt, considered to be amongst (if not the) greatest of all time, known for his incredible consistency.

Who is the best racer in the world?

There’s no single “best racer” as greatness is subjective and depends on the specific racing discipline and the era being considered, but in Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher are often cited due to their record seven championships each and numerous wins, while Max Verstappen is the current dominant force and widely considered the best in the current era. Other legends like Ayrton Senna and Juan Manuel Fangio are also frequently mentioned for their impact and success.
 
Formula 1 Legends

• Lewis Hamilton: Opens in new tabHolds records for wins, pole positions, and podiums, and is a seven-time World Champion. 
• Michael Schumacher: Opens in new tabAlso a seven-time World Champion and a leader in race wins for a long time. 
• Max Verstappen: Opens in new tabThe reigning World Champion who is considered the best in the current F1 era due to his consistent performance and achievements, particularly winning multiple consecutive championships. 
• Ayrton Senna: Opens in new tabA legendary and controversial driver known for his speed, skill, and intense rivalries, often cited as one of the greatest ever. 
• Juan Manuel Fangio: Opens in new tabA dominant figure in the early days of Formula 1, widely considered a legend from his era. 

Other Motorsports

• Dale Earnhardt: Considered one of the greatest NASCAR drivers, known for his aggressive driving style and numerous wins and championships. 
• Richard Petty: Nicknamed “The King,” he is considered an icon in NASCAR history with a record number of wins. 
• Fernando Alonso: A two-time Formula 1 World Champion who has also found success in other disciplines, including winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice. 

Why It’s Subjective 

• Different Eras: It’s challenging to compare drivers from different eras due to improvements in technology, safety, and overall professionalism in the sport, as noted in a discussion with DHH and Lex Fridman.
• Data Limitations: There isn’t enough data to make definitive comparisons between drivers across different historical periods.
• Nostalgia: There can be a tendency to romanticize drivers from the past, leading to subjective views on who was “best”.

Who is ranked 1 in F1?

In Formula 1, the number 1 is reserved for the reigning Formula 1 World Champion and is optional for them to use. Currently, Max Verstappen is using the number 1 on his car because he is the reigning champion and chose to switch from his previous number, 33, after winning his first title in 2021.
 
Why Drivers Use Number 1

• World Champion’s Privilege: The number 1 is a prestigious symbol of the World Champion. 
• Driver’s Choice: While the number is reserved, drivers are not obligated to use it. Some drivers, like Lewis Hamilton, choose to retain their personal numbers for branding and personal significance. 
• Max Verstappen’s Choice: After winning his first world championship in 2021, Verstappen made the straightforward decision to take number 1. 

History of Driver Numbers

• Pre-2014: Numbers were largely assigned based on the previous year’s Constructors’ standings, with the champion always using #1. 
• Post-2014: Drivers gained the ability to select their own permanent numbers at the start of their careers, with number 1 still available to the reigning champion. 

Who is the no. 1 racer in F1?

Max Verstappen has used number 1 since 2022, following his titles in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.