The greatest Formula 1 drivers in history

Much has changed in seven decades, but not the sport’s hunger for skill and courage

Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest F1 drivers
Much has changed in seven decades, but not the sport’s hunger for skill and courage
(Image credit: 2011 Getty Images)

Formula 1 is the fastest, richest and most technically advanced of all motor racing competitions. Its top drivers are the best paid of any in motor sport and are among the wealthiest sportsmen on the planet. Worldwide, more than 352 million television viewers tuned in during the 2017 season, making F1 one of the most popular global TV events after the football World Cup and the Olympic Games.

Aficionados relish F1’s combination of speed, strategy, glamour, brand appeal, cutting-edge automotive technology and, of course, danger. Liberty Media, which acquired the sport for £6.4bn in 2017, plans to broaden the sport’s already considerable fanbase by giving enthusiasts live access to data generated during a race, allowing them “to devise their own race strategies to share with fellow fans”, The Times reports.

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