Sixteen Australians have began world championship grands prix since 1950. Six have taken podiums, 5 have gained races and two grew to become world champions, with Oscar Piastri’s robust place at McLaren elevating the potential for a 3rd.
There have been a number of Australian skills who made it to F1 however didn’t get respectable equipment. David Brabham and Larry Perkins suffered torrid occasions and failed to attain some extent however went on to success elsewhere.
Dave Walker’s promising profession was destroyed by a troubled season at Lotus in 1972, when team-mate Emerson Fittipaldi took the drivers’ title and Walker failed to attain some extent.
So, right here is our listing of the highest Australian drivers that did have a big effect on F1. Our rating is predicated on what they achieved in F1, factoring within the automobiles at their disposal.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Pictures
Years: 2023-presentStarts: 51Wins: 5Podiums: 14Poles: 2Titles: 0
After we did the primary model of this listing in 2022, we mentioned Piastri is likely to be on his solution to being a contender and he has already executed sufficient to make it, knocking out Tim Schenken.
A rookie champion in Components Renault Eurocup, F3 and F2, Piastri was then the topic of a battle between Alpine and McLaren for his companies. McLaren gained and Piastri made his F1 race debut in 2023.
He rapidly impressed alongside Lando Norris, ending ninth within the standings to Norris’s sixth, though tyre administration was generally a difficulty. Piastri additionally took an F1 victory of types when he gained the Qatar dash race in October.
Though Norris continued to guide the revitalised McLaren workforce in 2024, Piastri’s growth and rise was robust. A barely messy first GP win got here amid workforce orders in Hungary however his second, in Azerbaijan, was brilliantly taken after a duel with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Piastri ended up fourth within the championship and his contribution helped McLaren take its first constructors’ crown since 1998.
Piastri began 2025 with three wins from 5 GPs. The battle with Norris has elevated in depth, with the speedy Briton making extra errors than his 24-year-old team-mate.
Given Piastri’s age, coolness below strain and skill, it appears very possible he’ll quickly climb above his supervisor to get greater on this listing…
Mark Webber, Paul Stoddart and the boxing kangaroo celebrating
Picture by: Minardi Components 1
Years: 2002-13 Begins: 215 Wins: 9 Podiums: 42 Poles: 13 Titles: 0
A race winner in F3000, Webber scored a sensational fifth on his F1 debut with Minardi, the workforce’s first factors for greater than two years.
That set the tone for Webber’s first three years in F1, performing strongly in mediocre tools, first at Minardi after which at Jaguar. There have been some star qualifying efforts, most notably second within the 2004 Malaysian GP, however when Webber joined Williams for 2005 his finest end was nonetheless that well-known fifth.
Webber arrived at Williams at simply the flawed time, the workforce beginning a long-term dip as its relationship with engine provider BMW deteriorated. He narrowly beat team-mate Nick Heidfeld within the standings and scored his first podium within the Monaco GP, however the next yr’s Cosworth-powered contender was much less aggressive and factors had been scarce.
Webber made the important thing transfer of his F1 profession for 2007, becoming a member of Crimson Bull alongside David Coulthard. The workforce was on the up and, by 2009, was a frontrunner, Webber taking his first pole and victory within the German GP.
However that was additionally the yr Crimson Bull protege Sebastian Vettel arrived. The inexperienced German made the odd error however was quick – and it was Vettel who took the battle to Brawn’s Jenson Button within the championship, Webber ending fourth after a second win in Brazil.
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The 2010 season was Webber’s huge probability. The RB6 was the quickest automobile of the season and wins in Spain, Monaco, Britain and Hungary helped Webber right into a 14-point lead with simply three GPs to go. However then two essential issues occurred.
The primary was Webber’s mistake within the moist Korean GP, crashing out whereas chasing chief Vettel. And the second was the workforce permitting Vettel to guide a Crimson Bull 1-2 in Brazil.
That meant Webber went to the Abu Dhabi finale eight factors behind Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and 7 forward of Vettel. Famously, Webber pitted too quickly within the race, Ferrari made the identical mistake attempting to cowl him and Vettel was left to take victory and the title.
Thereafter, Vettel was more and more dominant throughout the workforce. Not solely normally quicker, he additionally had the help of the administration, as proven by the fallout (or lack thereof) from Vettel’s misjudgement on the 2010 Turkish GP and ignoring of workforce orders within the 2013 Malaysian GP.
Webber’s ninth and final F1 win got here within the 2012 British GP, although he had earlier underlined his skills across the difficult streets of Monte Carlo with a second Monaco GP success.
Total, Webber was left trailing as Vettel scorched to 4 consecutive drivers’ crowns. After a winless 2013, when Vettel gained 13 occasions, Webber retired from F1 to embark on a profitable World Endurance profession with Porsche that peaked with the title in 2015.
Daniel Ricciardo, Crimson Bull Racing RB14
Picture by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Pictures
Years: 2011-24Starts: 257Wins: 8Podiums: 32Poles: 3Titles: 0
Ricciardo has fewer wins, fewer podiums and didn’t come as near successful a world title as Webber, so why is he forward on this listing?
Ricciardo by no means had as persistently a aggressive bundle as Webber had with these Crimson Bulls of 2009-13 and he managed one thing his predecessor by no means did: outscore team-mate Vettel over a season.
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After making his debut with minnow squad HRT and impressing at Toro Rosso, Ricciardo graduated to Crimson Bull simply because the turbo-hybrid period started. The workforce misplaced its aggressive benefit to Mercedes, however Ricciardo brilliantly took three wins on his solution to third within the championship and completed 71 factors away from Vettel, who then left for Ferrari.
Though narrowly outscored by new team-mate Daniil Kvyat in 2015, Ricciardo nonetheless led the Crimson Bull cost most of the time. He did so once more in 2016, regardless of the victorious arrival of rising star Max Verstappen, and Ricciardo completed best-of-the-rest behind Mercedes duo Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, and for the second time topped Autosport’s High 50 listing on the finish of the yr.
Ricciardo beat Verstappen to fifth within the 2017 standings and began 2018 with very good victories in China and Monaco, however the momentum at Crimson Bull was shifting. Sensing that Verstappen was the workforce’s future, Ricciardo jumped ship to Renault.
There have been some difficult moments and no wins on the French producer however Ricciardo outscored team-mates Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon. He topped his time there with podiums on the Nurburgring and Imola earlier than heading to McLaren.
Ricciardo struggled to get on phrases with McLaren equipment in 2021-22 and was largely outperformed by new colleague Norris. He did, nevertheless, present his class when the chance arose at Monza, main a McLaren 1-2 within the 2021 Italian GP.
Ricciardo acquired yet one more probability when he changed the disappointing Nyck de Vries at what was then AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) in 2023 and there was even the possibility of a return to Crimson Bull to exchange Sergio Perez. However he struggled to rediscover his outdated magic and, after being outperformed by Yuki Tsunoda, was changed by Liam Lawson after the 2024 Singapore GP.
At his peak, Ricciardo was in all probability ok to be world champion, or at the least problem for a title, however he by no means acquired the possibility. There may be little doubt that he was a winner of nice GPs, virtually all eight of his victories coming in dramatic fashion.
2. Alan Jones
Alan Jones, Williams FW07C Ford
Picture by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Pictures
Years: 1975-81, 1983, 1985-86 Begins: 116 Wins: 12 Podiums: 24 Poles: 6 Titles: 1 (1980)
Maybe underrated by historical past, Jones was a tricky racer who in all probability would have gained extra had he not determined to retire on the finish of 1981. As it’s, he’s certainly one of solely two Australians to win the world championship and is tied with American legend Mario Andretti on 12 GP victories.
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Son of revered Fifties racer Stan, Jones struggled financially to get his profession going within the Nineteen Seventies however stored plugging away. He made his first world championship F1 begins in 1975, driving a Hesketh for Harry Stiller, who Jones had raced for beforehand.
Jones was then picked up by Graham Hill’s Embassy workforce to exchange the injured Rolf Stommelen, scoring his first factors with fifth within the German GP. He joined Surtees for 1976 however discovered workforce boss and former world champion John Surtees troublesome to work with regardless of the potential of the TS19.
Such was the depth of the issue at Surtees that Jones was ready to stroll away, solely to get again into F1 with Shadow following Tom Pryce’s horrible loss of life in the course of the 1977 South African GP, spherical three of the marketing campaign. Thereafter, Jones was a factors risk within the strong however unspectacular DN8.
The undoubted spotlight of the yr was a exceptional victory within the rain-affected Austrian GP. Beginning 14th, Jones climbed the order within the early slippery circumstances and inherited victory when James Hunt’s main McLaren blew its engine.
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After courting Ferrari, Jones joined the fledgling Williams workforce. The no-nonsense Jones rapidly gelled with Frank Williams and Patrick Head, with some promising performances within the easy FW06.
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As soon as the workforce acquired on high of the FW07, Head’s model of the ground-effects Lotus 79, Jones grew to become the pacesetter within the second half of 1979. He gained 4 of the final six GPs and completed third within the championship.
All of the promise was realised in 1980. Jones gained 5 time and took 5 different podium finishes to beat Brabham’s Nelson Piquet and Williams team-mate Carlos Reutemann to the crown. He additionally gained the Spanish GP, later stripped of its factors standing because of the FISA-FOCA struggle, and the non-championship Australian GP.
Jones was arguably even higher in 1981 however some dangerous luck and the odd error restricted him to 2 victories and third within the desk. Jones shocked Williams by retiring from F1 on the finish of the season, thereby giving up the possibility to drive the FW08 that Keke Rosberg would take to the 1982 title.
He flirted with Ferrari for a late 1982 return, made a short return with Arrows in 1983 after which joined the Workforce Haas Lola operation for 1985-86.
The mission was not a hit, Jones taking its finest consequence with fourth within the 1986 Austrian GP, and closed on the finish of the season. Jones then grew to become a commentator, although continued to compete in sportscars and primarily touring automobiles by means of to the tip of the Nineties.
1. Jack Brabham
Race winner Jack Brabham on the rostrum
Picture by: Motorsport Pictures
Years: 1955-70 Begins: 126 Wins: 14 Podiums: 31 Poles: 13 Titles: 3 (1959-60, 1966)
Brabham is certainly one of F1’s legends, not simply because he gained three world titles throughout his lengthy profession but additionally as a result of he based his eponymous workforce, with which he took his last F1 crown.
He had already constructed up appreciable technical and mechanical expertise earlier than he went racing in Australia, first in Midget automobiles on grime ovals – the place he honed a dramatic fashion that he would carry to F1 – after which circuit racing.
Brabham was profitable and made the journey to the UK in 1955. He quickly grew to become a part of the Cooper concern’s efforts and, having made one world championship begin per season in 1955 and 1956, joined Cooper’s F1 effort in 1957.
The agile mid-engined Coopers had been at an engine capability drawback till 1959, when the two.5-litre Coventry Climax unit arrived. Brabham scored his F1 win within the BRDC Worldwide Trophy within the T51 and took his maiden world championship GP success only a week later in Monaco.
Brabham fought Ferrari’s Tony Brooks and the privateer Rob Walker Cooper of Stirling Moss for the championship. He had higher reliability than both, scoring two wins and three different podiums, and clinched the title on the Sebring finale, famously pushing his automobile over the road after it ran out of gasoline.
The improved T53, mixed with the fragility of the speedy Lotus 18, helped Brabham dominate in 1960. He recorded three poles and 5 wins, together with a victory towards the extra highly effective Ferraris within the French GP, which Brabham later picked as his biggest race.
Race of My Life: Jack Brabham on the 1960 French GP
Cooper misplaced its edge because the 1500cc period start in 1961 and Ferrari gained a bonus earlier than Lotus and BRM took over. Brabham’s ambitions had been higher and in 1962 he left to race for his personal workforce, Brabham Racing Organisation, provided with automobiles constructed by the Motor Racing Developments concern he had based with Ron Tauranac.
Reliability issues hampered the early Brabhams, plus Jack was comfortable to play second fiddle to Dan Gurney when it got here to driving. Certainly, it was Gurney who took Brabham’s first win as a constructor within the 1964 French GP and Jack thought-about retiring from driving.
However Gurney’s resolution to go away the workforce to begin his personal operation and the promise of the Brabham-Repco for the brand new three-litre rules for 1966 meant Jack continued. At all times at his finest when he knew the equipment was aggressive, Brabham rose to the event and stormed to the 1966 crown with 4 victories, his first world championship GP successes for six years. He stays the one driver to win the F1 title in a automobile bearing his personal title.
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Brabham appreciated to strive new components first and this contributed to him being overwhelmed to the 1967 crown by team-mate Denny Hulme. The workforce as soon as once more scooped the constructors’ championship, helped by the poor ending document of the pacesetting Lotus 49.
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Repco’s response to the Cosworth DFV for 1968 was woefully unreliable and Jochen Rindt was the workforce’s pacesetter. Jacky Ickx performed that function as a change to DFVs boosted the workforce in 1969 and the Belgian scored two GP victories, whereas Jack did handle a positive win within the non-championship Worldwide Trophy.
Brabham was once more ready to retire forward of 1970 if Rindt could possibly be persuaded to return from Lotus, however that didn’t occur. So Jack continued for yet one more yr and confirmed he was nonetheless aggressive on the age of 44.
Jack Brabham, Brabham BT33-Ford
Picture by: Motorsport Pictures
The BT33 was a on the tempo. Brabham gained the season-opening South African GP and may have gained at Monaco (denied by his well-known last-corner error that allowed Rindt previous) and Manufacturers Hatch (the place he had Rindt overwhelmed earlier than operating out of gasoline on the ultimate tour).
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Brabham lastly bowed out of F1 on the finish of 1970, after ending sixth within the standings, and offered his share of the workforce to Tauranac.
Brabham went on to develop different enterprise pursuits however stayed concerned in motorsport. His sons all grew to become racers and Jack continued to look at historic occasions, such because the Goodwood Revival, effectively into the 2000s. He died in 2014, aged 88.
On this article
Kevin Turner
Components 1
Mark Webber
Alan Jones
Jack Brabham
Daniel Ricciardo
Oscar Piastri
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