- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1971–1985
- Country
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- Peak
- 89.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 87.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
GOAT Rank · 25
Greatest Formula 1 Drivers who debuted in the 1970s
This ranking is led by Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Jody Scheckter. GOAT Rank currently ranks 25 eligible Formula 1 drivers who debuted in the 1970s using verified career records across dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.
Quick answer
According to GOAT Rank's current model, Niki Lauda ranks #1 on this list with a GOAT Score of 86.8.
How the GOAT Score is calculated →#AthleteGOAT Score
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1978–1991
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1972–1980
- Country
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1970–1996
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1978–1998
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 66.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 66.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1970–1980
- Country
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 70.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1978–1989
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 70.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 68.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1974–1986
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 68.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 66.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1973–1985
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 68.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 66.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1972–1982
- Country
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 70.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1973–1979
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 74.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 64.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1975–1986
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 70.0
- Statistics
- 74.0
- Honours
- 72.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1977–1993
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 76.0
- Dominance
- 64.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 62.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1977–1986
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 66.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 62.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1978–1982
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 66.0
- Longevity
- 58.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1979–1986
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 68.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 64.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1971–1983
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 60.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 56.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1977–1982
- Country
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 70.0
- Statistics
- 72.0
- Honours
- 68.0
- Longevity
- 60.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1978–1986
- Country
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- Peak
- 80.0
- Dominance
- 68.0
- Statistics
- 70.0
- Honours
- 72.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1972–1980
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 66.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 62.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1972–1977
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 68.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 62.0
- Longevity
- 60.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1974–1981
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 64.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 58.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1974–1980
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 58.0
- Statistics
- 76.0
- Honours
- 52.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1974–1977
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 62.0
- Statistics
- 76.0
- Honours
- 56.0
- Longevity
- 54.0
- Sport
- Formula 1
- Career
- 1970–1978
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 78.0
- Dominance
- 66.0
- Statistics
- 68.0
- Honours
- 58.0
- Longevity
- 54.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Niki Lauda | Formula 1 | 🇦🇹 Austria | 1971–1985 | 86.8 |
| 16 | Nelson Piquet | Formula 1 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1978–1991 | 83.9 |
| 22 | Jody Scheckter | Formula 1 | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 1972–1980 | 82.3 |
| 23 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Formula 1 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1970–1996 | 81.9 |
| 40 | Eddie Cheever | Formula 1 | 🇺🇸 United States | 1978–1998 | 76.9 |
| 45 | Clay Regazzoni | Formula 1 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 1970–1980 | 76.4 |
| 51 | René Arnoux | Formula 1 | 🇫🇷 France | 1978–1989 | 75.9 |
| 57 | Jacques Laffite | Formula 1 | 🇫🇷 France | 1974–1986 | 75.0 |
| 58 | John Watson | Formula 1 | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1973–1985 | 74.7 |
| 61 | Carlos Reutemann | Formula 1 | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 1972–1982 | 74.5 |
| 67 | James Hunt | Formula 1 | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1973–1979 | 73.9 |
| 69 | Alan Jones | Formula 1 | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1975–1986 | 73.8 |
| 81 | Riccardo Patrese | Formula 1 | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1977–1993 | 72.9 |
| 86 | Patrick Tambay | Formula 1 | 🇫🇷 France | 1977–1986 | 72.2 |
| 88 | Didier Pironi | Formula 1 | 🇫🇷 France | 1978–1982 | 72.1 |
| 91 | Elio de Angelis | Formula 1 | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1979–1986 | 71.9 |
| 92 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | Formula 1 | 🇫🇷 France | 1971–1983 | 71.9 |
| 102 | Gilles Villeneuve | Formula 1 | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1977–1982 | 71.1 |
| 103 | Keke Rosberg | Formula 1 | 🇫🇮 Finland | 1978–1986 | 71.1 |
| 105 | Patrick Depailler | Formula 1 | 🇫🇷 France | 1972–1980 | 71.0 |
| 108 | Carlos Pace | Formula 1 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1972–1977 | 70.3 |
| 111 | Jean-Pierre Jabouille | Formula 1 | 🇫🇷 France | 1974–1981 | 69.7 |
| 124 | Vittorio Brambilla | Formula 1 | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1974–1980 | 66.3 |
| 128 | Tom Pryce | Formula 1 | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1974–1977 | 65.7 |
| 130 | Ronnie Peterson | Formula 1 | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 1970–1978 | 64.7 |
Compare the leaders
Niki Lauda vs Nelson PiquetRead the full methodology
Sport lists use the raw In-Sport GOAT Score. Cross-sport lists use the official competition-depth adjustment. No scores are recalculated for this page.
Read the full methodologyFrequently asked questions
How is this ranking calculated?
Five verified components are weighted consistently: dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.
Who is included?
According to GOAT Rank's current data model, only verified athletes with sufficient career history, metrics, honours and independent sources are eligible. Rank and score are read live.
Related rankings
Greatest Boxers of all timeGreatest Swimmers of all timeGreatest Football Players of all timeGreatest Tennis Players of all timeGreatest Golfers of all timeGreatest Formula 1 Drivers of all timeGreatest active Formula 1 DriversGreatest retired Formula 1 DriversGreatest Formula 1 Drivers from United KingdomGreatest Formula 1 Drivers from GermanyGreatest Formula 1 Drivers from FranceGreatest Formula 1 Drivers from United States