Formula One drivers from Germany

Since the first season in 1950 Germany has produced three F1 World Drivers' Champions. The first title did not come until 1994 when Michael Schumacher claimed his first of seven championship victories. Sebastian Vettel is the second German drivers' champion, winning back-to-back titles in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.{{cite web|url=http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/page/3421.html|title=Formula One World Drivers' Champions|work=ESPN F1|publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd|access-date=3 September 2012}} Nico Rosberg is the third German drivers' champion, winning the title in 2016. Wolfgang von Trips was leading the championship in {{F1|1961}} at the time of his fatal accident, and finished 2nd in the standings, just 1 point behind eventual champion Phil Hill.{{cite web|url=http://en.espnf1.com/cooper/motorsport/driver/713.html|title=Wolfgang von Trips|work=ESPN F1|publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd|access-date=9 September 2012}}

There have been seven race winners from Germany,{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/motor-racing-prix-winner-idINDEE83E03620120415|title=Rosberg takes first win with Mercedes|publisher=Reuters|first=Alan|last=Baldwin|date=15 April 2012|access-date=9 September 2012|archive-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404044344/https://in.reuters.com/article/motor-racing-prix-winner-idINDEE83E03620120415|url-status=dead}} with Michael Schumacher having by far the most victories (91).{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/7/ |title=Michael Schumacher (driver profile) |work=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One World Championship Limited |first=Gerald |last=Donaldson |access-date=5 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628195539/http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/hall_of_fame/7/ |archive-date=28 June 2007 }} Vettel scored 53 wins{{cite web|url=http://en.espnf1.com/redbull/motorsport/driver/1247.html|title=Sebastian Vettel|publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd|work=ESPN F1|access-date=9 September 2012}} and Nico Rosberg won 23.{{cite web|url=http://en.espnf1.com/ats/motorsport/driver/1243.html|title=Nico Rosberg|publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd|work=ESPN F1|access-date=7 September 2012}} Ralf Schumacher won six Grands Prix and Heinz-Harald Frentzen won three.{{cite web|url=http://en.espnf1.com/jordan/motorsport/driver/1190.html|title=Ralf Schumacher|work=ESPN F1|publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd|access-date=8 September 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://en.espnf1.com/arrows/motorsport/driver/1167.html|title=Heinz-Harald Frentzen|work=ESPN F1|publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd|access-date=9 September 2012}} Wolfgang von Trips, who became the first German driver to win a Grand Prix, won two races, both of which were in 1961. Jochen Mass won one.{{cite web|url=http://en.espnf1.com/arrows/motorsport/driver/962.html|title=Jochen Mass|publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd|work=ESPN F1|access-date=9 September 2012}}

Nico Hülkenberg joined F1 in 2010, replacing Rosberg in the Williams team. Despite some good performances he was dropped by the team for the following season and he became a test driver for Force India. For the 2012 season he was given a race seat,{{cite web |title=Nico Hulkenberg (biography) |url=http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/drivers/840/biography.html |access-date=7 September 2012 |work=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One World Championship Limited}} and he went on to achieve his career best result at the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix, finishing fourth.{{cite news |date=2 September 2012 |title=Hulkenberg records career-best fourth position at Belgian Grand Prix |work=The Times of India |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-02/top-stories/33549186_1_nico-hulkenberg-paul-di-resta-india-s-narain-karthikeyan |url-status=dead |access-date=7 September 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103090748/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-02/top-stories/33549186_1_nico-hulkenberg-paul-di-resta-india-s-narain-karthikeyan |archive-date=3 January 2013}} Continuing to race for Force India until the end of {{F1|2016}}, Hülkenberg then drove for Renault from {{F1|2017}} to {{F1|2019}}, but was dropped by the team at the end of the season. In {{F1|2020}}, he drove three races for Racing Point, replacing drivers who were ill. In {{F1|2022}}, he drove two races for Aston Martin, replacing Sebastian Vettel, who was suffering from COVID-19. After Haas decided not to renew their contract with Mick Schumacher for {{F1|2023}},{{Cite web |title=Mick Schumacher and Haas to part ways at the end of 2022 {{!}} Formula 1® |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-schumacher-and-haas-to-part-ways-at-the-end-of-2022.dmJ5UUmDDUL2v1mPVtUhs.html |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=www.formula1.com |language=en}} the team decided to hire Hülkenberg to fill his place.{{Cite web |title=Nico Hulkenberg seals F1 comeback with Haas in 2023 |url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/nico-hulkenberg-comeback-haas-2023/10400888/ |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=www.motorsport.com |language=en}}

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|File:Nico Hulkenberg 2016 Malaysia.jpg|alt2=Nico Hülkenberg, 2016|Nico Hülkenberg
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File:Michael Schumacher pole lap monaco 2012.JPG

Michael Schumacher has often been listed as one of the greatest drivers in the history of Formula One and the "most dominant driver in the history of the sport".{{cite web|url=http://f1greatestdrivers.autosport.com/?driver=2|title=Michael Schumacher|work=Autosport|access-date=5 September 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/37534-michael-schumacher-f1s-greatest-driver|title=Michael Schumacher: F1's Greatest Driver?|work=Bleacher Report|publisher=Turner Broadcasting System, Inc|first=Paul|last=Murtagh|date=14 July 2008|access-date=5 September 2012}} He is statistically one of the most successful drivers, holding many records including the most world championships and most fastest laps, and formerly held the record for most pole positions and most wins (both surpassed by Lewis Hamilton) and most points (surpassed by 8 drivers).{{cite web|url=http://f1-grandprix.com/?page_id=3158|title=All-Time F1 Records|first=Glenn|last=Manishin|date=19 October 2010|access-date=5 September 2012}} He won an unprecedented seven world championship titles, firstly in 1994 and then his second in 1995. Those titles came while Schumacher was a driver for Benetton but in 1996 he left to join Ferrari, a team who were, at the time, in disarray and without a champion driver since 1979. Over the next few seasons Schumacher and Ferrari saw some success and some controversy, including his disqualification from the 1997 season. However, the combination eventually proved highly successful and Schumacher won five consecutive championships between 2000 and 2004.

File:Nico Rosberg 2009 Turkey.jpg at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix]]

{{F1|2016}} World Champion Nico Rosberg, the son of 1982 World Champion Keke Rosberg, drove for Germany even though his father represented Finland. He joined Formula One as a driver with Williams before moving to Mercedes in 2010. He scored his first pole position at the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix and held on to win the race. He became the second son of a former champion to win a title.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17718458|title=Dominant Nico Rosberg wins Chinese Grand Prix|publisher=BBC News|first=Andrew|last=Benson|date=15 April 2012|access-date=7 September 2012}}

File:Bellof Tyrrell 012 1984 Dallas F1.jpg in a Tyrrell 012 at the 1984 Dallas Grand Prix]]

Stefan Bellof has been described as the "ultimate 'what-might-have-been' driver".{{cite web|url=http://f1greatestdrivers.autosport.com/?driver=35|title=Stefan Bellof|work=Autosport|access-date=8 September 2012}} He joined Formula One in 1984, the same year that saw Ayrton Senna join the sport. Senna's performance at the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix marked him out as an immensely talented driver,{{cite web|url=http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/driver/1095.html|title=Ayrton Senna|publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd|work=ESPN F1|access-date=7 September 2012}} but Bellof's race had shown what potential the German had as well. Starting last on a very wet grid, Bellof quickly rose through the order, passing seven cars by the end of the first lap. He was in fourth place when the race was stopped due to safety concerns brought on by the weather.{{cite web|url=http://www.motorsportretro.com/2011/05/stefan-bellof/|title=Stefan Bellof: Monaco magician and 'Ring raider|publisher=motorsportretro.com|first=Andy|last=Hallbery|date=31 May 2011|access-date=8 September 2012}} It would prove to be his best result in Formula One and, in 1985, Bellof died at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps while competing in the World Sportscar Championship. Former teammate Martin Brundle later said of Bellof "as it is with Ayrton, the good ones are taken from us far too young".

File:Ralf Schumacher 2007 Britain 2.jpg at the 2007 British Grand Prix]]

Ralf Schumacher, younger brother of Michael, won six Grands Prix in a career that spanned eleven seasons starting in 1997. All six wins came in the middle of his F1 career as a driver for Williams. Heinz-Harald Frentzen won three Grands Prix over ten seasons, once finishing in runner up in the drivers' championship thanks to the disqualification of Michael Schumacher in 1997 and 3rd in 1999. File:Nick Heidfeld 2008 Canada.jpg-Sauber at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix]] Nick Heidfeld holds the record for the most podium finishes without a win (13).{{cite web|url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/04/11/heidfeld-sets-record-podiums-win/|title=Heidfeld sets record for most podiums without a win|publisher=F1 Fanatic|first=Keith|last=Collantine|date=11 April 2011|access-date=8 September 2012}}

File:Glock Spain 2009.jpg at the 2009 Spanish Grand Prix]]

Timo Glock was the third driver for Jordan in 2004 and was called up for racing duty when Giorgio Pantano was unable to drive due to a sponsorship dispute.{{cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/Timo-Glock-2004-maiden-race-memorable/6760336/story.html|title=Timo Glock's 2004 maiden F1 race memorable|publisher=Postmedia Network Inc.|work=Montreal Gazette|first=Dave|last=Stubbs|date=10 June 2012|access-date=6 September 2012}} Glock finished 7th, becoming one of only a handful of drivers who have scored championship points on their debut.{{cite web|url=http://www.raceofchampions.com/pages/common/raceofchampions.aspx?pg=7447|title=Timo Glock|work=Race of Champions|access-date=6 September 2012|archive-date=19 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819174444/http://www.raceofchampions.com/pages/common/RaceofChampions.aspx?pg=7447|url-status=dead}} It would prove to be Glock's only race in that season and he would not return to F1 until 2008.

File:Sutil 2008 Malaysia.jpg at the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix]]

Adrian Sutil entered Formula One in {{F1|2007}} with Spyker. He stayed with the team (which was renamed Force India for 2008) for the next four seasons, before a year out of the sport, and then returning to Force India in {{F1|2013}}. For {{F1|2014}}, Sutil moved to Sauber but was not retained for {{F1|2015}}.

File:Sebastian Vettel 2017 Malaysia FP2.jpg at the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix]]

Sebastian Vettel won the World Championship in {{F1|2010}}, {{F1|2011}}, {{F1|2012}} and {{F1|2013}}. He is the youngest driver to win the title. Vettel is seen as one of the greatest qualifiers in the sport and holds the record for the most consecutive front row starts, having qualified in first or second at 25 consecutive races.{{cite web |last=Benson |first=Andrew |date=5 September 2012 |title=Formula 1's greatest drivers. Number 8: Sebastian Vettel |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19487080 |access-date=6 September 2012 |publisher=BBC}} Vettel retired at the end of the 2022 season.{{Cite web |last=Taranto |first=Steven |date=Nov 17, 2022 |title=Entire Formula 1 field goes out to dinner to celebrate Sebastian Vettel's retirement |url=https://www.cbssports.com/motor-sports/news/entire-formula-1-field-goes-out-to-dinner-to-celebrate-sebastian-vettels-retirement/ |website=CBS Sports}}

Additional to those detailed above the following drivers are worthy of note:

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• André Lotterer
• Jochen Mass
• Mick Schumacher
• Hans-Joachim Stuck
• Rolf Stommelen
• Pascal Wehrlein
• Joachim Winkelhock
• Manfred Winkelhock
• Markus Winkelhock
• Christian Danner
• Wolfgang von Trips
• Hans Herrmann
• Karl Kling
• Wolfgang Seidel{{div col end}}

• Formula One drivers from East Germany
• List of Formula One Grand Prix winners

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{{Formula One drivers from Germany}}

{{Formula One nationalities}}

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