Meet the championship eras and rivalries that became reference points for Formula 1, from Fangio and the early years through Lauda, Hunt, Prost, Senna, Schumacher, Ferrari, Red Bull and the hybrid era.
Content source set verified 18 August 2026Juan Manuel Fangio became the dominant championship figure of the 1950s, winning five World Championships with several different teams. His record stood for decades and made him the first enduring benchmark for what sustained Formula 1 greatness looked like.
The 1976 championship between Ferrari driver Niki Lauda and McLaren driver James Hunt became one of the most famous seasons in Formula 1 history. Their contrasting personalities, Lauda serious accident and the final-round title decision turned the season into part of the sport wider culture.
Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna were team-mates at McLaren and later title rivals in different cars. Their contrasting approaches, extraordinary speed and controversial championship-deciding collisions created one of the defining sporting rivalries of Formula 1.
