It’s no doubt that F1 produces its fair share of on-track and off-track action between drivers. From friends turned enemies to intra-team battles, The Fastest Sector takes a look back at four of the greatest rivalries in Formula 1 so far.
Alain Prost v Ayrton Senna
The rivalry between Brazilian Ayrton Senna and French racing driver Alain Prost began while the pair were teammates at McLaren. It was defined by their differences in driving styles, Senna’s flat-out, intense approach contrasting Prost’s smooth and controlled on-track performance – proving that competing styles can still clash on track while being equally dominant. Between them, they won seven out of nine Formula 1 World Championships from 1985 to 1993, including two during their time as teammates in 1988 and 1989. The rivalry transferred off-track too, where the pair accused each other of dishonourable conduct and receiving unfair favouritism and better treatment during their time as drivers.
Despite their differences, Prost and Senna ultimately respected each other, acknowledging that their rivalry ultimately propelled them forward as drivers and fuelled their personal improvement. The rivalry ended when Prost retired in 1993, three races before Senna’s untimely death at the San Marino Grand Prix the following season, just as he was beginning a tense rivalry with Michael Schumacher.
By the end of their rivalry, Prost held several records between the pair: the fastest laps (41), the most podium finishes (106), and the most wins (51), as well as the most World Drivers’ Championships – four, three with McLaren and one with Williams. Senna won three World Drivers’ Championships, all with McLaren, and held the record for the most pole positions (65) between the pair.
Lewis Hamilton v Nico Rosberg
Dubbed ‘Brocedes’ by fans in reference to their previously close connection, the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg formed one of the most dramatic intra-team battles in all of Formula 1. From teammates, to friends, to enemies on-and-off track, tensions escalated to the point where they were threatened with suspension in 2016 due to their competitveness culminating in an on-track collision at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The rivalry defined their four years as teammates at Mercedes from 2013-2016, during which the pair dominated the sport. Together, Hamilton and Rosberg won 54 of 78 races over four seasons. Hamilton secured 32 victories and 55 podium finishes, with teammate Rosberg just behind at 22 victories and 50 podium finishes. Ultimately, Hamilton asserted his dominance by qualifying ahead of Rosberg 42 times and winning two World Drivers’ Championships. However, Rosberg clinched the title once in 2016, retiring immediately after and bringing their on-track rivalry to an end.
Lewis Hamilton v Max Verstappen
Rosberg wasn’t Hamilton’s only on-track rival, either. Tensions sprouted between him and Max Verstappen in 2021, forming a dynamic, intense and all-consuming battle shrouded in controversy. It began as a slow-burn build up, with Verstappen climbing the ranks until he was pitted head-to-head with Hamilton in 2021, where the pair both vying for the World Drivers’ Championship. Often described as a generational battle due to the 12-and-a-half year age gap between the pair, the British Formula 1 veteran was forced to prove himself against the Dutch rising star.
A collision at Copse Corner – the famous high-speed right-hand bend at Silverstone – was when tensions reached an all-time high. FIA stewards penalised Hamilton for his actions at the British Grand Prix, and later penalised Verstappen after the pair clashed at Monza a few weeks later. The two incidents significantly contributed to the rising tensions escalating not just between the drivers, but their various teams as well. The rivalry lasted up until Abu Dhabi, where the pair headed into the season finale on equal points. It was Max Verstappen who ultimately out-performed the Mercedes driver and was crowned World Drivers’ Champion in 2021, a decision that sparked controversy that still lingers on today.
Despite the on-track drama and pointed comments made during post-race interviews and heated media days, it was clear that respect remained – and still remains – between the pair, as they continue to race together this season.
James Hunt v Niki Lauda
Regarded as one of the most notable rivalries in the sport’s history, the rivalry between British racing driver James Hunt and Austrian racing driver Niki Lauda spanned from 1973 until Hunt’s retirement in 1979. Often compared to the Prost-Senna feud due to the differences in racing styles and overall impact on the sport, Lauda’s analytical, tactical and structured approach to driving heavily contrasted Hunt’s dynamic, aggressive and less-controlled strategy.
Despite initially being friends in their days together at Formula 3, the pair’s relationship soon progressed from companions to rivals. Their competitiveness peaked in 1976 after Lauda suffered a near-fatal crash at the German Grand Prix, suffering severe burns and inhaling toxic fumes. He made a comeback at the Italian Grand Prix, finishing fourth despite still suffering from his injuries.
However, their friendship persisted throughout, enduring their on-track rivalry until Hunt’s death in 1993, with Lauda noting that Hunt was “among the very few [drivers] I liked, and even fewer I respected”. Their story was immortalised in the 2013 film Rush, which details and captures the intense rivalry that brewed between the pair during their time racing against each other in Formula 1.
With the sport constantly evolving and a new generation rising through the ranks, the question remains: who will be the next great rivalry to define this era of Formula 1?
[Image credits: Flickr.com]
Edited by Reo Lane.
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