Juan Manuel Fangio

Five-time World Champion with four different constructors — the master of 1950s Grand Prix racing.

Juan Manuel Fangio was born in Balcarce, Argentina in 1911 and won 5 Formula 1 World Championships — a record that stood for 46 years until Michael Schumacher won his 6th in 2003. He drove for Alfa Romeo (1950–1951), Maserati (1953, 1954, 1957), Mercedes-Benz (1954–1955) and Ferrari (1956) — winning the championship with four different constructors, a unique achievement. He won 24 Grand Prix from just 52 starts — a win rate of 46.2% that remains the highest in Formula 1 history. His pole position rate of 55.8% (29 from 52) is also the highest in the sport's history. He did not begin his Formula 1 career until he was 39 — his earlier motorsport career in Argentina having been delayed by the Second World War. His most celebrated race was the 1957 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring — starting on fuel and tyre strategy that left him behind after pit stops, he set the fastest lap of the race on 10 of the final 11 laps to overcome a 45-second deficit and win, producing what he himself called the greatest drive of his life. He died in 1995 aged 84. He is consistently voted the greatest Formula 1 driver in history by contemporaries who drove against him, including Stirling Moss.

Calculated, smooth driving style with exceptional car control and racecraft

Considered greatest F1 driver until modern era, held championship record for 46 years

• F1 World Champion 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957 (record 5 titles until Schumacher 2003)
• 24 wins from 52 starts — 46.2% win rate (record)
• 29 pole positions from 52 starts — 55.8% rate (record)
• Changed teams every year and won with 4 different constructors
• Greatest F1 driver of all time (voted by many contemporaries)