The 8 Greatest Formula 1 Cars Of All Time

8. Red Bull RB9

The team’s 2013 car just beat the RB7 to a spot on this list. Sebastian Vettel raced the car to the drivers’ title. He was the only driver to win a race at the wheel of the RB9, standing on the top step of the podium 13 times in total during the 2013 season. It was also Red Bull’s fourth constructors’ championship.

7. Ferrari F2002

The car was raced by F1’s most successful team in 2002, as well as the first four races of 2003. Powered by a 3.0-litre V10 engine, it was driven by Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. It won 15 races and took both world titles – Schumacher’s third with Ferrari.

6. Ferrari F2004

The Maranello-based outfit’s 2004 car followed on from the successes of the F2002 and the F2003-GA, and was based heavily on both designs. It won 15 of the 20 races it entered, as an updated version was used at the start of the 2005 season. Ferrari won the constructors’ championship, with Michael Schumacher taking the drivers’ title.

5. McLaren MP4/4

This car was only raced in one season, but took 15 of the 16 victories in 1988, as well as the constructors’ title and the drivers’ title with the great Ayrton Senna, who beat his team-mate Alain Prost by three points. Sporting the iconic Marlboro red and white livery and powered by 1.5-litre turbocharged Honda V6, it remains one of the greatest F1 cars of all time.

4. Mercedes W05

The German manufacturer kicked off F1’s new hybrid turbo era by dominating the 2014 season. With Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at the wheel, the car won 16 races and arguably should have scored more victories, were it not for mechanical issues and the drivers clashing at Spa. Mercedes secured the constructors’ title, with Hamilton taking his second world championship.

3. Williams FW14

The British team raced this great car in 1991 and 1992, using the updated FW14B in the latter. Sporting the well-known navy, yellow and white livery, the Adrian Newey-designed machine was the most technically sophisticated on the grid. By its final season, it had semi-automatic transmission, active suspension and traction control. It won 17 of the 32 races it competed in, dominating 1992 to win the constructors’ and drivers’ (Nigel Mansell) titles.

2. McLaren M23

The Gordon Coppuck-designed McLaren machine was entered in 85 races, winning 16 of them and taking one constructors’ title and two drivers’ titles (Emerson Fittipaldi and James Hunt). It was introduced early in the 1973 season and hit the track for the final time at the 1977 Italian Grand Prix. It was powered by a 3.0-litre Ford V8.

1. Lotus 72

The Ford V8-powered Lotus 72 was raced by the British outfit between 1970 and 1976, winning an incredible 20 races, three constructors’ championships and two drivers’ titles. It was updated throughout its time racing in F1, from the standard 72 introduced part-way through 1970 to the 72F that was then replaced by the Lotus 77.