Introduction
Winning a Formula 1 world championship is the dream of every driver, but securing another title after years away from the top is an even rarer achievement. In a sport where rules evolve, competitors change and teams rise and fall in performance, repeating the ultimate success often requires resilience, timing and a little fortune. As fans follow the F1 points battle in real time using our RaceMate watch companion app, it’s fascinating to look back at drivers who triumphed again after long waits — and to consider which modern stars might follow in their footsteps. This article explores the longest gaps between F1 championship wins, offering context from the past and the present 2025 F1 standings.
How the F1 points system shapes championship battles
Before diving into the history, it’s important to understand how titles are decided. Since 2010 the FIA has awarded points to the top 10 finishers on Sunday, plus a bonus point for the fastest lap when the driver finishes in the top 10. Sprints also allocate points to the top eight finishers, and in shortened races points may be halved or otherwise reduced depending on the distance completed. Tie‑breakers are resolved by counting race wins, then second places and so on. The F1 drivers’ championship is a cumulative contest across the season, while the constructors’ championship sums the points of both team cars.
Our companion app uses the official scoring rules to update standings in real time. If you want deeper dives into specific aspects of the scoring system, check out our explanations of the sprint race points, points in shortened races, fastest lap bonus history and constructors’ points system. Understanding these nuances makes the stories below even more impressive, because many past champions faced very different scoring formats.
Drivers with the biggest gaps between championships
Every driver on this list has won at least two world titles and endured a gap of four seasons or more between successes. In many cases the circumstances were dramatic – retirements, comebacks, team changes and even tragedy played roles in shaping their journeys.
| Driver | Championship years | Length of gap |
|---|---|---|
| Niki Lauda | 1975, 1977, 1984 | 7 years between his second and third titles |
| Lewis Hamilton | 2008, 2014, 2015–2020 | 6 years from his first to his second title; 12 years between first and last (so far) |
| Graham Hill | 1962, 1968 | 6 years between championships |
| Jack Brabham | 1959, 1960, 1966 | 6 years between his second and third titles |
| Michael Schumacher | 1994, 1995, 2000–2004 | 5 years between his second and third titles |
| Alain Prost | 1985–1986, 1989, 1993 | 4 years between his third and fourth titles |
| Nelson Piquet | 1981, 1983, 1987 | 4 years between his second and third titles |
Niki Lauda – a comeback for the ages
Lauda’s tale remains one of the most remarkable in motorsport. The Austrian claimed his first championship with Ferrari in 1975 and narrowly missed out on a second after surviving a horrendous crash at the Nürburgring in 1976. He bounced back to win again in 1977 before leaving Ferrari in 1979 and briefly retiring. Invited back by McLaren several years later, Lauda patiently helped the team rebuild its competitiveness. In 1984 he returned to the top, edging team‑mate Alain Prost by just half a point – the smallest margin in history. The seven‑year, nineteen‑day wait between his second and third titles remains the longest gap between consecutive championships. His perseverance and willingness to reinvent himself with a new team set a benchmark for comeback champions.
Lewis Hamilton – spanning eras
Hamilton burst onto the scene with McLaren in 2007, missing the title by a single point in his rookie year. Twelve months later he became F1’s youngest world champion at the time, clinching the 2008 crown on the final lap in Brazil. A winless 2009 season and an evolving points system meant he did not return to championship contention until he moved to Mercedes. Six seasons after his maiden triumph, Hamilton dominated 2014, kicking off a run of six titles in seven years. His seventh championship in 2020 equalled Michael Schumacher’s record and marked 12 years and 13 days since his first – the longest span between a driver’s first and most recent titles. With his switch to Ferrari in 2025 and 109 points so far this season, Hamilton could yet extend that record if he captures another crown in his forties.
Graham Hill – a champion through adversity
Britain’s Graham Hill exemplified determination. He earned his first title with BRM in 1962, winning four Grands Prix and finishing ahead of Lotus star Jim Clark. Hill then endured years of near‑misses and mechanical misfortune. By 1968 he had moved to Lotus and took on team leadership when Clark and Mike Spence were tragically killed. Hill guided the shattered squad to wins in Spain, Monaco and Mexico, securing his second championship six years after his first. The moustachioed extrovert remains the only driver to win motorsport’s Triple Crown (Indianapolis 500, Le Mans 24 Hours and Monaco Grand Prix). His long gap illustrates how persistence and leadership can overcome personal and technical setbacks.
Jack Brabham – building success from scratch
Australian legend Jack Brabham captured back‑to‑back titles with Cooper in 1959 and 1960 during the rear‑engine revolution. After two quieter seasons he founded his own team, Brabham Racing Organisation, and spent the early 1960s developing competitive cars. In 1966 he returned to the top, becoming the only driver to win the world championship in a car bearing his own name. The six‑year gap between his second and third titles underscores how entrepreneurial spirit and technical insight can bring long‑term rewards. Brabham’s achievement paved the way for driver‑team owners such as Bruce McLaren.
Michael Schumacher – Ferrari’s renaissance
Schumacher’s path to seven titles involved two distinct eras. He claimed his first two championships with Benetton in 1994 and 1995. Switching to Ferrari in 1996, he faced years of rebuilding alongside team principal Jean Todt and technical director Ross Brawn. The project came good in 2000 when Schumacher ended Ferrari’s 21‑year drivers’ championship drought. He would then dominate until 2004. The five‑year wait between his second and third titles may not be a record, but it highlights how patience and continuity can transform a team’s fortunes. Schumacher’s post‑retirement comeback with Mercedes yielded no further titles but demonstrated his enduring passion for racing.
Alain Prost – the professor’s final lesson
Nicknamed “the Professor” for his calculated approach, Prost won his first two championships in 1985 and 1986 with McLaren. In 1988 he famously lost to team‑mate Ayrton Senna despite scoring more points under the old dropped‑scores system, but he reclaimed the title in 1989 during their fierce rivalry. A fractious year at Ferrari in 1991 led to a sabbatical, and it wasn’t until 1993, at the wheel of a dominant Williams FW15C, that Prost returned to the top. The four‑year gap between his third and fourth titles coincided with enormous technological change – active suspension, semi‑automatic gearboxes and the rise of electronic driver aids. Prost’s ability to adapt and out‑think his rivals ensured he bowed out of F1 as a four‑time champion.
Nelson Piquet – political masterclass
Piquet’s championships (1981, 1983 and 1987) showcased his ability to extract maximum advantage from shifting power dynamics. After winning with Brabham in 1983 he experienced two lean years. A move to Williams in 1986 put him in a car capable of winning, but internal conflict with team‑mate Nigel Mansell and the explosive BMW engine produced spectacular yet unreliable performances. Piquet kept scoring points, and in 1987 he outlasted Mansell to claim his third title. Although the four‑year gap is shorter than others on this list, it underlines how strategic thinking and political manoeuvring off track can be as decisive as raw speed.
What creates long gaps between titles?
Several factors contribute to extended waits between championships:
-
Changing technical regulations: Overhauls in aerodynamics, power units and tyres can reshuffle the competitive order. Champions must either adapt with their current teams or time a move to a more competitive outfit.
-
Team cycles: Constructors often go through development cycles. A driver’s form might coincide with a peak (Mercedes 2014–2020 or Red Bull 2021–2024), but maintaining dominance is challenging. Drivers who persevere through lean years, like Schumacher and Hamilton, can reap rewards when the team finds the right formula again.
-
Injuries and sabbaticals: Accidents (Lauda 1976) or burnout (Prost 1992) can sideline champions. Returning to peak fitness and motivation takes time.
-
Intra‑team rivalries: Sharing a car with another elite driver can postpone success. Piquet vs Mansell, Hamilton vs Rosberg and Prost vs Senna are prime examples where points were split and championships delayed.
Understanding these dynamics can help fans appreciate why a seemingly long drought is often less about declining skill and more about the complex ecosystem of Formula 1. Modern scoring emphasises consistency; collecting points even during uncompetitive phases keeps drivers within reach should circumstances change.
2025 update: current contenders and potential records
As of mid‑August 2025, the championship battle is finely poised. After 14 rounds McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are separated by just nine points at the top of the standings. Piastri leads with 284 points while Norris sits on 275 points. Max Verstappen, the triple champion who dominated 2021–2024, is third on 187 points, ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell on 172 and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on 151. Lewis Hamilton, in his first season with Ferrari, has scored 109 points and is sixth overall. In the constructors’ championship McLaren leads with 559 points, ahead of Ferrari (260), Mercedes (236) and Red Bull (194).
These numbers highlight how quickly fortunes can change. Red Bull’s dominance has faded, while McLaren’s rise has been meteoric. Piastri or Norris could become the first Australian or British champion since 2023 and 2024 respectively, and either would join the list of drivers vying for multiple crowns. Verstappen faces his own wait – if he reclaims the title next year it would be a gap of two seasons. Hamilton, should he add an eighth title with Ferrari in the coming years, would set a new record for the longest span between first and last championships. Our app tracks these scenarios live, showing how each race’s points affect both the drivers’ and constructors’ standings in real time.
FAQ: your questions answered
Which driver has the longest gap between F1 championships?
Niki Lauda holds the record for the longest interval between successive titles, waiting seven years and 19 days between his 1977 triumph with Ferrari and his 1984 win with McLaren. Lewis Hamilton has the longest span between his first and most recent titles, with 12 years and 13 days separating 2008 and 2020.
How are F1 points awarded in 2025?
Drivers score 25 points for a race win, 18 for second place, 15 for third down to a single point for tenth. The driver with the fastest lap inside the top 10 earns an extra point. Sprint events award eight points to the winner down to one point for eighth, and the results of the sprint do not influence the grid for the main race. In severely shortened Grands Prix, half points or other scaled systems may be applied depending on distance completed.
Do constructors matter for individual titles?
Absolutely. The f1 constructors championship reflects the combined performance of both drivers in a team. A strong second car can help by taking points away from rivals, providing data for set‑ups and pressuring competitors strategically. That’s why McLaren’s current line‑up is so potent: Piastri and Norris push each other while maximising team points.
What happens if drivers are tied on points?
If two or more drivers finish the season equal on points, the FIA uses a tie‑breaker system: the driver with more wins is ranked higher. If wins are also equal, second places are compared, then thirds, and so on until the tie is broken. Our article on tie‑breaker rules explains how these countbacks have decided championships in the past.
How can I keep track of live standings?
Our RaceMate app calculates the f1 points system in real time. During each session you’ll see updated drivers’ and constructors’ standings, fastest lap bonuses and the impact of sprints or shortened races. It’s the perfect companion for watching Grands Prix in 2025 and beyond.
Conclusion
The stories of Lauda, Hamilton, Hill and others illustrate how winning multiple Formula 1 championships is about more than raw speed. Technological revolutions, team rebuilding phases, personal resilience and shifting competitive landscapes all influence when – and whether – a driver adds another crown. As the 2025 season unfolds with McLaren leading the charge and heavyweights like Hamilton and Verstappen plotting comebacks, fans may witness new chapters in this narrative. Whatever happens, the RaceMate watch companion app will be there to track every point, highlight emerging patterns and help you appreciate the historic context behind today’s battles. Stay tuned, and never miss a moment in the race for F1 glory.