Ranking the Greatest Australian Formula One Drivers
Ever wondered who the greatest Australian Formula One drivers are? We’ve compiled a list based on their achievements in the sport, considering the cars they had at their disposal. Let’s dive into the top five!
5. Oscar Piastri
A rookie sensation, Oscar Piastri has already made his mark in F1. After impressive performances in Formula Renault Eurocup, F3, and F2, he joined McLaren in 2023. Despite some tyre management issues, he finished ninth in the standings, ahead of teammate Lando Norris’s sixth place. Piastri also won the Qatar sprint race in October.
4. Mark Webber
With nine wins and 42 podiums to his name, Mark Webber is a formidable force on our list. Starting his F1 career with Minardi, he scored a sensational fifth on his debut and went on to perform strongly in mediocre equipment. After a tumultuous stint at Williams, Webber joined Red Bull in 2007, where he took his first pole and victory in the German GP.
Despite Sebastian Vettel’s rise within the team, Webber continued to shine. He finished fourth in the championship after a second win in Brazil in 2009. The 2010 season was Webber’s big chance, but a series of unfortunate events cost him the title.
3. Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo has fewer wins and podiums than Webber, but his ability to outscore teammates is what sets him apart. After impressing at HRT and Toro Rosso, Ricciardo joined Red Bull just as the turbo-hybrid era began. He finished third in the championship and 71 points clear of Sebastian Vettel in 2014.
Despite being outscored by Daniil Kvyat in 2015, Ricciardo still led the Red Bull charge more often than not. He repeated this feat in 2016 and finished best-of-the-rest behind Mercedes duo Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.
2. Alan Jones
Alan Jones is a tough racer who probably would have won more had he not retired at the end of 1981. With 12 GP victories, he is tied with American legend Mario Andretti for this record. After struggling financially to get his career going in the 1970s, Jones joined Williams and became the pacesetter in the second half of 1979.
He won four of the last six GPs and finished third in the championship. All the promise was realised in 1980 when he beat Nelson Piquet and Carlos Reutemann to the crown.
1. Jack Brabham
Jack Brabham is one of F1’s legends, not just because he won three world titles during his long career but also because he founded his eponymous team, with which he took his final F1 crown. After building up considerable technical and mechanical experience in Australia, he joined Cooper’s F1 effort in 1957.
The agile mid-engined Coopers were at an engine capacity disadvantage until 1959, when the 2.5-litre Coventry Climax unit arrived. Brabham scored his F1 win in the BRDC International Trophy in the T51 and took his maiden world championship GP success just 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 greater reliability than either, scoring two wins and three other podiums, and clinched the title at the Sebring finale, famously pushing his car over the line after it ran out of fuel.
