No sooner had Mercedes entered F1 than it started winning with Juan Manuel Fangio. He drove the W196 streamliner to victory both in 1954 and 1955. But the success didn’t last long. After the 1955 Le Mans disaster, Mercedes left Formula 1 not to return for almost 40 years, and only then as an engine supplier.
Photo: Mercedes
It actually wasn’t until 2010 that it came back as a full works team. As a result, there aren’t as many F1 Mercedes drivers as there are for Renault, Ferrari, or Honda, but many won titles in its cars nonetheless. Here, we take a look at drivers who’ve had the most success with it.
Why Mercedes’ Driver History Matters
Mercedes’ reputation in F1 really comes down to its drivers, both old legends such as Fangio and modern icons. That’s why fans don’t just follow races anymore, but also rewatch big moments from the past and follow current drivers. They go to YouTube and social media for short clips or place bets during big events, for the same reason players opt for a deposit 1 euro casino – it’s accessible and fun. While slots, video poker, and other games at these sites are available at any time of day, F1 enthusiasts can keep the excitement going even after races end thanks to betting platforms, news, and similar. In this way, they stay connected to the sport.
But keeping up with Mercedes F1 drivers also does something else: it helps predict how they might drive in the future. And that’s not only of interest to fans and their predictions, but for the sport too. Teams also look at previous performances in order to choose whom to sign.
Drivers who’ve been fast, kept winning, and proved they can handle pressure are the ones who earn the respect of motorsport fans, teams, and sponsors. They’re also the ones who frequently pop up in chats about the best Mercedes Formula 1 drivers.
Overview of the Most Iconic Mercedes Drivers
In the top 5 table, you’ll find drivers who’ve made a strong name with Mercedes F1 cars. Some are retired, some now compete for other teams, but others are key in the Mercedes lineup today.
| Driver | Mercedes career | Career Overview | Wins | Podiums |
| Lewis Hamilton | 2013-2024 | One of the most successful F1 drivers overall. With Mercedes, he won 6 titles. In 2020, he matched Schumacher’s record for the most World Drivers’ Championships. | 84 Grand Prix wins (record) – 12 seasons | 153 podium finishes |
| Juan Manuel Fangio | 1954-1955 | A two-time world champion. He also won big races like the French and German Grand Prix. Interestingly, he went to work for Mercedes-Benz after retiring from racing. | 10 race wins + 2 world titles – 2 seasons | 12 podium finishes |
| Nico Rosberg | 2010-2016 | Won the 2016 Formula 1 World Championship alongside 23 Grand Prix wins. Also known as the biggest Hamilton’s competitor. | 23 wins – 7 seasons | 55 podium finishes |
| Valtteri Bottas | 2017-2021 | As soon as he signed with Mercedes, he brought 3 wins. However, he peaked in 2019 and 2020 as a runner-up behind teammate Hamilton. In his last year with Mercedes, he won the Turkish Grand Prix. | 10 wins – 5 seasons | 58 podium finishes |
| George Russel | 2022-present | Here’s someone who drives for Mercedes F1 in 2026, and is actually the best driver right now. Russel secured numerous Grand Prix wins: Sao Paolo in 2022, Austrian and Las Vegas Grand Prix of 2024, Canadian and Singapore in 2025, and Australian this year. | 6 wins – 5 seasons | 26 podium finishes |
What Makes a Great Mercedes Driver
There’s a good reason why F1 is among the most challenging sports disciplines. Imagine having to race sometimes up to two hours without breaks, all while your head feels five times heavier, and it’s a hundred degrees in the cockpit. To make things worse, you have to be alert at all times, since you’re moving at 300+ km/h, and any error can be fatal.
So, what are the qualities and skills of F1 drivers that actually give them this almost super-human ability to think, race, and on top of that, win over and over at such speeds? Here’s what:
- Reacting in a split second – Top Formula 1 Mercedes drivers react in about 200-300ms. Compared to an average person’s reaction time, they’re more than twice as fast. To achieve this insane speed, they have to train their response time and coordination all the time.
- Using the car to the maximum – At the top level, only tiny margins make a difference among racers. So, while being fast matters, it’s also important to have good control over the racecar and keep consistent results.
- Making smart calls fast – Great drivers can sense if there are any changes in balance or grip, so they can adjust their driving as soon as that happens.
- Technical knowledge – Drivers must also have a good understanding of their car. Using that knowledge, they can change how they drive for an optimal outcome.
- Explaining what’s going on in the car – While F1 cars do offer much valuable data, there are some things that it can’t show, and this is where drivers step in. So, as long as they understand their car, they should be able to communicate clearly with the team so that engineers can make quick fixes to enhance performance.
- Working well with the team – In order to become a successful Mercedes F1 driver, you need to be a team player. Drivers are just part of the story – there are also engineers, strategists, and other people who work behind the scenes to make those wins possible.
Who Is Driving in 2026?
For the 2026 F1 season, Mercedes F1 team drivers include George Russle and a rookie Kimi Antonelli. As we’ve seen, Russell has already proven he can take the lead, thanks to all those grand Prix wins and standings. Meanwhile, the Italian driver joined the forces at the beginning of 2025 after Hamilton left. So, how are they stacking up this year? Well, at the time of writing, Russell is first in the standings, and Antonelli’s right behind him.
