Who is better, Lauda or Verstappen?
Niki Lauda leads with a GOAT score of 86.8 against 86.1 for Max Verstappen — a gap of 0.7 points on GOAT Rank's weighted model.
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Quick answer
GOAT Rank currently ranks Niki Lauda above Max Verstappen: 86.8 vs 86.1. Niki Lauda leads on Longevity, Honours. Max Verstappen leads on Peak, Dominance, Statistics.
How the GOAT Score is calculated →Lauda wins: Longevity, Honours
Verstappen wins: Dominance, Peak, Statistics
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Showing full careers. Pick a window to recalculate the selected period.
Lauda leads in 2 of 5 weighted categories.
Cumulative output season by season — the shape of each career against the other.
Setting the pace at age 21
No verified birth date for Lauda — shown in the pro-debut view instead.
Every career is cut at the season the athlete turned 21, so a rookie today is measured against exactly what a legend had banked by the same birthday.
| Metric | LaudaRetired | VerstappenActive |
|---|---|---|
| World titles | 3 | 4 |
| Grand Prix wins | 25 | — |
| Podiums | 54 | 117 |
| Pole positions | 24 | 44 |
| Race starts | 171 | — |
| Fastest laps | 24 | 34 |
| Race wins | — | 63 |
| Win rate | — | 30.1% |
| Dominance w25% | 86 | 93 |
| Peak w20% | 89 | 99 |
| Longevity w20% | 86 | 62 |
| Honours w20% | 87 | 84 |
| Statistics w15% | 86 | 92 |
Niki Lauda leads with a GOAT score of 86.8 against 86.1 for Max Verstappen — a gap of 0.7 points on GOAT Rank's weighted model.
Verstappen scores higher on peak, dominance, statistics. Lauda leads on honours, longevity.
Both are scored on peak, dominance, honours, statistics, longevity within their sport. Lauda: 86.8, Verstappen: 86.1.
Make your case for Lauda vs Verstappen. The scoring is published in full — if you can point at the pillar or the weight you disagree with, we read it. Read the methodology paper.