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Has there been an Australian F1 world champion? History, podiums and current drivers | Sporting News Australia

Has there been an Australian F1 world champion?  History, podiums and current drivers | Sporting News Australia

Australia has a rich history in Formula 1 that dates back to the 1950s.

The nation has two former champions, six drivers with podiums and two current drivers in the competition.

With the Australian F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne set to dominate the headlines this weekend, The Sporting News looks at the country’s success in F1.

MORE: Who is Daniel Ricciardo racing for in 2024? | How many laps are in the Australian Grand Prix? | F1 standings 2024 – Updated driver and constructor points

Australian F1 world champions

Australia has had two F1 world champions since the racing discipline emerged in 1950.

Jack Brabham won the drivers’ championship three times in 1959, 1960 and 1966.

Incredibly, Brabham is the only driver to win a title in his own car, which was named a ‘Brabham’.

Alan Jones clinched the title once in 1980.

List of Australian F1 world champions

Driver Year
Jack Brabham 1959, 1960, 1966
Alan Jones 1980

Australian F1 race winners

Four Australians have won F1 races, including the two former champions and current driver Daniel Ricciardo.

List of Australian F1 race winners

Driver Active Years Race Wins
Jack Brabham 1955-1970 14
Alan Jones 1975-81, 1983, 1985-86 12
Mark Webber 2002-2013 9
Daniel Ricciardo 2011-2023 8

Australian F1 podium finishes

Six Aussie drivers have finished on the podium, including the four race winners.

Only two drivers from Down Under – current racer Oscar Piastri and 1970s competitor Tim Schenken – have podium finishes but haven’t won a race.

List of Australian podium finishes

Driver Active Years Podiums
Mark Webber 2002-2013 42
Daniel Ricciardo 2011-current 32
Jack Brabham 1955-1970 31
Alan Jones 1975-81, 1983, 1985-86 24
Oscar Piastri 2023 2
Tim Schenken 1970-74 1

Current Australian F1 drivers

Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo has been an F1 starter since 2011 and currently drives for the Visa Cash App Red Bull team.

He became one of Australia’s most popular sporting athletes after succeeding at the beginning of the social media age.

While he is yet to win an F1 championship, Ricciardo finished third in the standings twice in 2014 and 2016.

He has eight career finishes in the top 10 of the drivers’ championship.

Across his career, Ricciardo has secured eight wins and 32 podium finishes from 241 starts.

Oscar Piastri

The new kid on the block, 22-year-old Piastri races for McLaren and is showing exceptional promise.

He has two podiums from only 24 starts and appears to be edging closer to a race victory.

Piastri’s podiums came in back-to-back races last season in Japan and Qatar.

In 2024, the Aussie has an eighth-place finish in Bahrain and a fourth-place effort in Saudi Arabia.

Piastri will be Australia’s best chance of success both in Melbourne and across the entire season.