F1 Drivers Who Led the Championship but Didn’t Win the Title

If you’ve followed Formula 1 for any length of time you’ll know that a comfortable early lead can evaporate in the blink of an eye. The F1 points system has always rewarded consistency and reliability over all‑out speed, and since 2010 the top ten finishers in every race have scored points on a 25‑18‑15‑12‑10‑8‑6‑4‑2‑1 basis. Extra bonuses – such as the now‑abolished fastest‑lap point and the eight points available at sprint rounds – mean drivers can accrue large totals in short order, but a single retirement or strategic misstep can undo weeks of good work. Tie‑breakers favour the driver with the most wins, emphasising how crucial race victories remain.

The real‑time scoring in our F1 watch companion app works by continuously tallying these drivers’ championship points as laps are completed. It’s why we pay close attention to current standings. As of 22 August 2025 the drivers’ standings show McLaren’s Oscar Piastri on 284 points, nine ahead of team‑mate Lando Norris. Former champion Max Verstappen sits third on 187 points, followed by George Russell (172) and Charles Leclerc (151). In the constructors’ championship McLaren lead with 559 points, well clear of Ferrari (260) and Mercedes (236). A glance at the table underlines how quickly fortunes can change – within a couple of races a 10‑point cushion can vanish. To demonstrate why, let’s dive into some of the most memorable seasons where drivers led but didn’t ultimately take the crown.

How the Formula 1 points system creates twists and turns

Before looking at individual tales it helps to understand how Formula 1 points are allocated. Since 2010 the winner receives 25 points, with 18 for second and 15 for third. Fourth through tenth place earn 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 points respectively. There are no points for finishing outside the top ten, so a single retirement leaves a driver with zero. For 2019–2024 an additional point was available for the fastest lap, provided the driver finished in the top ten. That incentive was dropped for 2025, reducing the maximum haul per Grand Prix from 44 to 43 points.

Sprint weekends add another layer. The sprint race – a 100 km dash on Saturday – awards points to the top eight finishers on an 8‑7‑6‑5‑4‑3‑2‑1 scale. These points count towards both the drivers and constructors championships. With up to six sprint events each year, it’s possible to earn almost fifty extra points. Our separate explainer, Sprint race points, goes deeper into how sprint results interact with Grand Prix outcomes.

The combination of standard and sprint points means a driver can build a cushion quickly; however, only a few mechanical failures or strategic errors are needed to wipe it out. That’s why some of the sport’s greatest names feature on this list – leading the table in F1 standings is no guarantee of a championship.

Early era examples: points and tragedy

In the 1950s and early 1960s drivers often competed in numerous non‑championship races alongside world championship events. Ferrari dominated much of this period, but even their drivers occasionally stumbled. In 1952 Piero Taruffi won the Swiss Grand Prix and temporarily headed the standings while team‑mate Alberto Ascari skipped the round for the Indianapolis 500. Ascari returned to win every remaining race and take the title. Similarly, Maurice Trintignant led briefly after a shock victory in Monaco in 1955, but Juan Manuel Fangio’s consistency brought the world championship back to Mercedes. Frenchman Jean Behra and British Peter Collins both topped the table early in 1956 yet lost out to the relentless Fangio.

Other early contenders saw their hopes dashed by tragedy. Ferrari’s Luigi Musso shared the championship lead in 1958 but died in a crash at Reims. German aristocrat Wolfgang von Trips headed the standings for Ferrari in 1961 but lost his life at Monza just as he seemed destined to become West Germany’s first world champion. These stories illustrate the fragility of early points leads in an era when reliability and safety were anything but assured.

Consistency matters: Regazzoni and Reutemann in the 1970s and early ’80s

By the 1970s Formula 1 adopted a more familiar points system and introduced constructors’ titles. Swiss veteran Clay Regazzoni made an early charge in 1974 for Ferrari but ultimately fell short as Emerson Fittipaldi and McLaren team‑mate Denny Hulme proved more consistent. Even stronger heartbreak awaited Argentine star Carlos Reutemann. Driving for Williams in 1981, he won twice and scored three podiums in the opening eight races, leading Brabham’s Nelson Piquet by 11 points at mid‑season. After Piquet injured his leg at Silverstone, Reutemann’s advantage swelled to 17 points. But a run of indifferent results allowed Piquet to close in. At the Las Vegas finale, Reutemann started from pole but struggled with gearbox trouble, slipped backwards and finished well outside the points, leaving Piquet champion by a single point. Reutemann never again came so close.

Didier Pironi: leading before disaster

The following year produced one of the most poignant examples. Didier Pironi joined Ferrari in 1981 and, after finishing second in that year’s championship, carried the team’s hopes into 1982. He won in Belgium and San Marino and built a commanding lead in the drivers championship. Then, during a wet practice session for the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, Pironi collided with Alain Prost’s Renault. The ferocious impact shattered his legs. Motorsport.com recalls that Pironi “was leading the world championship by a comfortable margin” when he crashed, and he never raced in F1 again. Keke Rosberg ultimately lifted the 1982 title by just five points over the incapacitated Frenchman.

Nigel Mansell and the 1986 Adelaide heartbreak

Perhaps the most dramatic lost championship of all came in 1986. Williams driver Nigel Mansell arrived at the season‑ending Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide leading the standings with 70 points, ahead of McLaren’s Alain Prost on 64 and team‑mate Nelson Piquet on 63. Under the 9‑6‑4‑3‑2‑1 scoring system, Mansell needed only third place to guarantee the title. After Williams colleague Keke Rosberg retired with a puncture, Mansell was running third when his left rear tyre exploded at 200 mph on lap 64. The resulting shower of sparks and carbon fibre forced him to retire. Piquet, fearing a similar failure, pitted for fresh tyres, leaving Prost to win the race and snatch the championship by two points. Mansell eventually captured the title in 1992, but the Adelaide blowout remains one of F1’s defining “what if” moments.

Late 1990s: Eddie Irvine’s near‑miss

With Michael Schumacher breaking his leg mid‑season in 1999, Ferrari unexpectedly found itself rallying around Irishman Eddie Irvine. He won four races and led the championship after the season‑opener in Australia and again following the European Grand Prix. However, a late surge from McLaren’s Mika Häkkinen – combined with Ferrari’s inconsistent pace – meant Irvine arrived at the Suzuka finale needing to outscore Häkkinen. He finished third; Häkkinen won to take back‑to‑back titles. Irvine never again threatened for a championship.

The closest finish: Felipe Massa and the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix

The 2008 Formula 1 season produced another unforgettable swing. Heading into the final round at Interlagos, Lewis Hamilton had 94 points while Ferrari’s Felipe Massa had 87; a maximum of ten points was on offer for a win under the 10‑8‑6‑5‑4‑3‑2‑1 system. Massa dominated his home Grand Prix and took victory, leaving Hamilton needing at least fifth place to clinch the championship. Late rain jumbled the order, and on the last lap Hamilton ran sixth behind Sebastian Vettel. As both cars approached the final corner, Toyota’s Timo Glock – on dry tyres – slid wide. Hamilton seized the opportunity to pass and claim fifth, winning the title by one point. Massa had briefly led the points on count‑back and celebrated with his crew, only to discover seconds later that the championship had slipped away.

Rookie heartbreak: Lewis Hamilton’s 2007 tilt

A year earlier, Hamilton experienced a similar pain. As a rookie in 2007, he led the drivers’ standings by 12 points heading into the Chinese Grand Prix. Starting from pole, he stayed on worn intermediate tyres too long on a drying track, slid into the pit‑lane gravel and retired. GrandPrix247 notes that Hamilton’s off allowed rivals to close in, and Kimi Räikkönen stole the championship at the Brazilian finale by a single point. Hamilton went on to win a record seven titles, but his debut season remains a reminder that even prodigious talent needs discipline and a bit of luck.

Mark Webber versus Sebastian Vettel in 2010

Red Bull’s Mark Webber was many observers’ favourite for the 2010 drivers championship. He won in Spain, Monaco and Britain to take the points lead mid‑season and reclaimed it with a triumph at Monza. According to RaceFans, Webber was the “long‑term championship leader” heading into the Abu Dhabi finale. Yet a strategic miscall from Ferrari and Red Bull’s decision not to impose team orders left Webber stuck behind traffic. He finished eighth while team‑mate Sebastian Vettel won the race and snatched the title, becoming the sport’s youngest champion. Webber never led a championship again.

Valtteri Bottas and the 2019 season opener

In more recent years, early leaders have emerged thanks to sprint points and high attrition. Valtteri Bottas won the 2019 Australian Grand Prix and topped the standings after round one. RaceFans notes that he became the 60th driver to lead the world championship, joining Eddie Irvine and Bruce McLaren among those who have led but never taken the title. Although Bottas won four races that year, he finished runner‑up to Mercedes team‑mate Lewis Hamilton.

Charles Leclerc’s bright start in 2022

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc provided a contemporary example. After winning the Bahrain and Australian Grands Prix in 2022, he held a commanding 71‑point lead over George Russell’s 37, while Max Verstappen sat on just 24 points following two retirements. Leclerc himself cautioned that “we are only at the third race”. His warning proved prophetic: reliability issues and strategic errors later in the season allowed Verstappen to surge past and secure his second world championship with races to spare.

The 2025 context: Piastri’s lead and the unpredictable run‑in

As our watch companion continues to update, it’s important to remember this history. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri leads the 2025 drivers’ championship with 284 points, just nine clear of Lando Norris. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes duo George Russell and Lewis Hamilton remain within striking distance. Piastri’s consistency – winning multiple races and finishing every event – has been key, but the season still has eight rounds left. With sprint points available and reliability always a factor, the lead could change hands quickly. Our app’s real‑time calculations help fans stay on top of the evolving picture.

Why do leaders falter? Lessons learned

These stories share common themes:

  • Reliability – mechanical failures (Mansell’s tyre, Ferrari engines for Pironi/Musso, McLaren’s gearbox at Hockenheim) can wipe out a points advantage in seconds. That’s why our companion app tracks potential points in shortened races and can adjust if weather shortens an event; see our guide Standings in shortened races for details.

  • Strategy – staying out on worn tyres (Hamilton 2007) or misjudging a pit window (Webber 2010) can cost crucial positions. In modern F1, tyre management and the strategic flexibility offered by sprint weekends are critical.

  • Team dynamics and orders – the interplay between team‑mates can decide championships. Irvine needed stronger Ferrari support in 1999; Webber saw Vettel favoured by Red Bull; Reutemann’s relationship with Williams soured as his title bid faltered. Our article on the constructors’ points system explains why teams sometimes prioritise one driver over another.

  • Consistency – champions often accumulate points even when they aren’t winning. Prost in 1986 and Häkkinen in 1999 capitalised on finishing every race. Consistency is why our app highlights the importance of scoring in the points even when not on the podium.

  • Pressure – the mental strain of closing out a championship is immense. Drivers like Massa and Hamilton learned from narrow defeats and later became champions. Others, such as Pironi and Reutemann, never got another chance.

Understanding these factors helps fans appreciate the nuances of the F1 drivers championship and underlines why real‑time points tracking is invaluable. The margins are often razor‑thin, and a single race can swing the title.

FAQ – F1 points and standings explained

How are points awarded in Formula 1?

The Formula 1 points system awards 25 points for a win, 18 for second, 15 for third, then 12‑10‑8‑6‑4‑2‑1 down to tenth place. Only the top ten score in a Grand Prix. Sprint races award 8 points for first and 1 point for eighth. From 2025 there is no extra point for the fastest lap.

What happens if two drivers finish the season with the same points?

If drivers are tied on points, the tie‑breaker is the number of race wins. Should wins also be equal, second places are compared, then thirds, and so on until the deadlock is broken. Tie‑breakers rarely decide titles but can influence minor positions; our piece on F1 tie breaker rules explores this in detail.

How does the sprint race affect the championship?

Sprints are short Saturday races at select Grands Prix. They set the grid for the main race and award points to the top eight finishers on an 8‑7‑6‑5‑4‑3‑2‑1 scale. These points are added to the drivers’ and constructors’ totals. Check out Sprint race points for a full breakdown.

Who is currently leading the 2025 F1 drivers championship?

As of 22 August 2025, Oscar Piastri tops the standings with 284 points, ahead of McLaren team‑mate Lando Norris on 275. Max Verstappen, George Russell and Charles Leclerc round out the top five. Full and updated tables can always be found in our companion app.

Where can I learn more about F1 points history?

We’ve published several deep‑dive articles on specific aspects of the points system. If you’re curious about how points are awarded in shortened races, why an extra point was once offered for the fastest lap, or how teams tally their totals in the constructors championship, follow these links:

Final thoughts

From Piero Taruffi to Felipe Massa and now Oscar Piastri, Formula 1 is littered with stories of drivers who led the championship only to see it slip away. Those tales underline just how unforgiving and enthralling the sport can be. Early points leads are valuable, but they guarantee nothing; reliability, strategy, team harmony and mental resilience often decide who holds the trophy in December. As the 2025 season enters its critical phase, our watch companion app will keep you on top of the evolving f1 points picture in real time. Whether Piastri converts his lead into a maiden title or another contender mounts a comeback reminiscent of Prost in 1986 or Verstappen in 2022, history tells us that nothing is certain until the chequered flag falls.