Who is the world’s best car racer?

There isn’t a single definitive “world’s best,” but the most defensible all-time pick across global motorsport is Lewis Hamilton for his record-setting Formula 1 career; on current form over the last few seasons, Max Verstappen has been the benchmark. In rallying, Sébastien Loeb is the career standout, and in endurance racing Tom Kristensen remains the gold standard. The answer ultimately depends on which discipline and criteria—career totals, peak dominance, adaptability, or era strength—you value most.

Why the question has no single right answer

Motorsport isn’t one sport—it’s many. Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, rallying, and endurance racing demand different skills, reward different strengths, and unfold under vastly different rules and team dynamics. Comparing drivers across eras adds another layer of complexity: safety, technology, competition depth, and calendar size have changed dramatically. That’s why most experts frame “best” in context, weighing either all-time career achievements or current peak performance within a category.

The leading candidates by discipline

To make sense of the debate, it helps to look at the drivers who set the standard within their own branches of the sport and why they’re most often cited in “greatest” discussions.

• Formula 1 (career achievements): Lewis Hamilton — Holder of the most Grand Prix wins (104, including his record ninth British GP victory in 2024) and the most pole positions, with seven world titles (tied with Michael Schumacher). His longevity and performance across regulation eras underpin his case.
• Formula 1 (peak dominance, recent seasons): Max Verstappen — Three-time world champion (2021–2023) who set the single-season wins record and the longest consecutive wins streak in 2023, and continued to be the field’s pace-setter through 2024.
• Formula 1 (historical greats): Juan Manuel Fangio and Ayrton Senna — Fangio won five titles in the 1950s with an unmatched win rate of nearly 47%; Senna’s raw speed and 65 poles (a record for years) alongside three titles keep him central to any GOAT conversation.
• IndyCar/Champ Cars: Scott Dixon and A.J. Foyt — Dixon is a six-time series champion and second all-time in wins, renowned for racecraft and consistency; Foyt set the template for American open-wheel greatness and is also a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner.
• NASCAR: Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson — Each has seven Cup Series titles; Petty also holds the all-time NASCAR Cup wins record (200), while Johnson’s 2006–2010 five-title streak is a modern-era benchmark.
• World Rally Championship: Sébastien Loeb (with Sébastien Ogier close behind) — Loeb’s nine WRC titles and 80 wins are records; Ogier’s eight titles and a haul of marquee victories make him the only close peer on career numbers.
• Endurance racing: Tom Kristensen — The “Mr. Le Mans” of sports cars with a record nine overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• Versatility across disciplines: Mario Andretti, Graham Hill, Fernando Alonso — Andretti won in F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, and sports cars; Hill achieved the sport’s unofficial Triple Crown (Monaco GP, Indy 500, Le Mans); Alonso added Le Mans wins and a World Endurance title to his F1 championships.

Taken together, these names explain why no single driver can own the “world’s best” title outright; each dominates a different definition of greatness, from statistical supremacy to versatility and peak performance.

How experts tend to judge “best”

When analysts and historians weigh drivers across eras and series, they typically lean on a mix of quantitative and qualitative criteria to avoid overrating raw totals that can be inflated by longer calendars or dominant machinery.

1. Career achievement: Championships, wins, podiums, poles, win rate, and records.
2. Peak dominance: Seasons or stretches where a driver was untouchable relative to strong competition.
3. Adaptability: Success in multiple cars, regulations, and disciplines.
4. Longevity and era strength: Sustained excellence and quality of opposition.
5. Team and context: Performance relative to teammates and machinery, not just results.

Applying these filters tends to elevate Hamilton (career breadth), Verstappen (recent peak), Loeb (rally supremacy), and Kristensen (endurance mastery), while keeping historic icons like Fangio and Senna firmly in the top tier.

The current picture (late 2024)

As of late 2024, Formula 1 remains the global reference point for single-seater performance. Hamilton holds the career records that define sustained greatness, while Verstappen’s recent seasons have set new standards for dominance in an era with deep competitive fields. In rallying, Loeb’s records still stand, with Sébastien Ogier active part-time and Kalle Rovanperä emerging as the sport’s generational talent. In endurance racing, the Hypercar era has intensified factory competition, yet Tom Kristensen’s Le Mans record remains the benchmark for career stature.

Formula 1 snapshot

Lewis Hamilton’s 104 wins and seven titles anchor the all-time case, particularly given his success across multiple regulation changes and with different team-mate dynamics. Max Verstappen, the reigning three-time champion through 2023, reset single-season records in 2023 and continued to dominate the competitive landscape in 2024, underscoring the difference between “best right now” and “best ever.”

Rally and endurance snapshots

Sébastien Loeb’s nine WRC titles and 80 wins are unmatched; Sébastien Ogier’s eight titles and big-event prowess put him within touching distance in the pantheon. In endurance racing, Tom Kristensen’s nine Le Mans victories still define the summit of career achievement, even as modern Hypercar battles among Ferrari, Toyota, Porsche, and others elevate the sport’s competitive intensity.

Bottom line

If pressed to name one “world’s best,” Lewis Hamilton is the most defensible all-time choice on career achievement; if the question is about current peak performance, Max Verstappen has been the standard-bearer in recent seasons. In other disciplines, Sébastien Loeb and Tom Kristensen hold similarly unassailable records. Ultimately, greatness in motorsport is multidimensional—and discipline-specific.

Summary

No single driver universally owns the title of “world’s best” car racer. By career metrics in the premier category, Lewis Hamilton stands tallest; by recent peak form, Max Verstappen leads. Sébastien Loeb (WRC) and Tom Kristensen (Le Mans) define greatness in their realms. The right answer depends on whether you value lifetime totals, peak dominance, versatility, or the demands of a particular discipline.

Is Jann Mardenborough still racing?

Yes, Jann Mardenborough is still actively racing. He is competing in the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup for HRT Ford Performance as a Ford factory driver, a position he secured after landing a full-time racing seat in 2025 following several one-off races in the preceding years. Mardenborough also returned to the Masters Historic Racing stage in 2025 and drove as a stunt driver in the “Gran Turismo” movie based on his life. 
Recent Racing Activities

• 2025: Returned to full-time racing with HRT Ford Performance in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup and was a Ford factory driver. 
• 2024: Competed in the British GT series, finishing third in one event to prove himself again after a period of other activities. 
• 2023: Competed in various races, including the Super Taikyu 24 Hours of Fuji. 

The “Gran Turismo” Connection

• Jann Mardenborough’s path from a gamer to a professional racer was dramatized in the 2023 movie Gran Turismo. 
• He also served as a stunt driver in the film. 

Who is the world’s best car racer?

There’s no single “best car racer” in the world, as it depends on the criteria and motorsports discipline. However, figures like Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher are often cited in Formula 1 due to their record-setting race wins and championships, while drivers like Mario Andretti are praised for their success across multiple racing series. 
Formula 1 Legends

• Lewis Hamilton: Opens in new tabCurrently holds the record for most Formula 1 race wins and has won seven World Drivers’ Championships. 
• Michael Schumacher: Opens in new tabThe former record-holder for race wins and a seven-time World Champion, he dominated the sport in the early 2000s. 

All-Around Racers 

• Mario Andretti: A unique legend who achieved success in Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, and sports car racing.

Current Top Drivers 

• Max Verstappen: A contemporary star and a multi-time world champion who is considered one of the best in the current Formula 1 era.

Why There Isn’t a Definitive “Best”

• Subjectivity: What constitutes the “best” is subjective, as different people value different attributes like race wins, consistency, or success in various disciplines. 
• Different Disciplines: A racer who excels in Formula 1 might not be as successful in NASCAR or Rallying, making cross-discipline comparisons difficult. 
• Defining “World’s Best”: For instance, Kyle Larson is considered the best all-around racer by some, due to his dominance in NASCAR, sprint cars, and midget cars, but he has not competed in F1. 

Who is the best auto driver in the world?

Winners and nominees

Year	Driver	Nationality
2018	Martin Truex Jr.	USA
2019	Kyle Busch (2)	USA
2020	Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021	Lewis Hamilton (2)	GBR

Is number 69 banned in F1?

Yes, a Formula 1 driver can technically choose the number 69, as the rules allow any number between 2 and 99 for a driver’s permanent career number, with only the number 1 being reserved for the reigning World Champion. However, since the permanent number system was introduced in 2014, no driver has chosen the number 69, and it remains available for use, though it’s not a commonly selected number.
 
Here are the rules for F1 driver numbers:

• Number 1: Reserved for the reigning World Champion. 
• Other Numbers: Drivers can choose any number from 2 to 99 for their career, which is then permanently theirs. 
• Availability: Numbers are chosen based on availability, with no two drivers having the same permanent number. 
• Reserved Numbers: If a driver retires or leaves the sport, their number is reserved for two seasons to prevent others from taking it. 
• Unchosen Numbers: If a driver does not choose a number, one is assigned based on their team’s historical entry. 
• Number 17: This number is not used as a mark of respect for Jules Bianchi. 

Since there’s no rule banning number 69 and it’s within the allowed range, a driver could pick it if they wish, provided another driver hasn’t already claimed it.