Top 5 Italian F1 Drivers of all time

There's a saying in Formula 1, that F1 would not be F1 without Ferrari and vice versa, owing to the importance of the Italian team in sport. The same is true on the driver front too, there have been some incredible talents to have come out of Italy over the decades, including a few world champions. For a while, though, the future of Italian motorsport has been cast into doubt, with the race at Monza potentially being the last one in 2019 and no Italian driver on the grid since Jarno Trulli and Vitantonio Liuzzi in 2011. However, the return of Alfa Romeo as a manufacturer and Antonio Giovinazzi as a full-time driver, the next few years could be positive ones for Italy in F1.

Although Jean Alesi "The French Sicilian" was born to Italian parents, and Mario Andretti was born and raised in Italy, neither are included on this list, as both competed under the French and American flags, respectively.

---

#5 - Riccardo Patrese

Riccardo Patrese's most successful period in F1 was his time at Williams.

Riccardo Patrese held the record for the most race starts in Formula 1 for the best part of two decades, and while he never realistically challenged for the world championship, he was a fine driver. Patrese got his F1 break with Shadow after the tragic passing of Tom Pryce in South Africa in 1977, and he'd get his first podium the following year in Sweden after moving to Arrows.

He'd remain with Arrows until the end of 1981, picking up the odd podium along the way but Brabham came calling for 1982. Bernie Ecclestone's team had just won the driver's championship with Nelson Piquet in 1981, and Patrese took his opportunity straight away, claiming his first win during an extremely eventful Monaco Grand Prix in '82. The Brabham was fast but it was also hopelessly unreliable making a challenge for the championship near-impossible.

Patrese would fade into the midfield obscurity, but when Williams got their act together in 1989, the Italian would have his best years in Formula 1, finishing third overall in both 1989 and 1991 and as runner-up in 1992.

Consistency rather than outright incredible speed was Patrese's style, standing on the podium 37 times compared to his 6 wins, with a seven-year gap between victories between 1983 and 1990. Patrese would have one last season in F1 in 1993, partnering Michael Schumacher at Benetton and hanging up his racing gloves at the end of the campaign.

#4 - Michele Alboretto

Michele Alboreto came closest to winning the title during his time at Ferrari.

Michele Alboreto is often overlooked as one of the great drivers of his time, because there were simply so many during the 1980's, but he was a superb talent that could've become world champion.

Alboreto began his F1 career with Tyrrell in 1981, a team with good pedigree, but one that was far from the force it was in the 1970's. That being said, Alboretto still managed to produce great results, not dissimilarly to how Jean Alesi would do so for Ken Tyrrell's team in the early '90's.

His first podium came in his home country at Imola in 1982 and this was followed by a victory in the final round at Caesar's Palace (Yes, they raced there). Alboreto would win once more the following year in Detroit (Tyrrell's final win in the sport) before earning every Italian driver's dream move, to Ferrari.

McLaren were untouchable in 1984, but '85 gave Alboreto a chance to win the driver's title for the Scuderia. With five rounds remaining, Michele was Alain Prost's only real challenger for the title, sitting just 3 points behind the Frenchman. However, it simply wasn't to be, as 3 mechanical failures in the next three races handed the title to Prost.

Alboreto would never hit the same heights again, leaving Ferrari after 1988, but he did manage some admirable results in poor cars. Such as his podium for Tyrrell in '89 and scoring points mulitple times for the Footwork team in 1992.

#3 - Elio de Angelis

de Angelis was an incredible talent whose career was cut tragically cut short.

While Patrese and Alboreto had chances to win the world championship, Elio de Angelis was denied this opportunity in tragic circumstances. A debut season for Shadow in 1979 paved the way for his seat at the prestigious Team Lotus for the following year. His teammate was Mario Andretti, the 1978 champion, and de Angelis beat him all ends up during the 1980 season, incredible for a driver that was only in his second season in Formula 1.

The future 1992 champion, Nigel Mansell, joined Lotus the following season, but de Angelis showed his class, outscoring the Brit in '81, '82 & '84. During this period, de Angelis would finish third in the driver's world championship in 1984 and his first win in Austria in 1982, the closest ever F1 finish.

Mansell would leave for Williams in 1985, but it didn't get any easier for the Italian, as Ayrton Senna, a man that needs no introduction. Senna got 38 points that season, de Angelis 33, not a large gap, especially when you consider that Senna was one of the fastest (if not the fastest) driver to ever compete in Formula 1.

Elio left for Brabham in 1986, and it would've been interesting to see how de Angelis would've stacked up against Patrese, but this sadly wasn't to be, as Elio was killed during a test in France after just four races with the team.

He was only 28-years-old and in the prime of his racing career, de Angelis could've easily become a world champion had he lived and drove for one of the top teams. De Angelis competed against three world champion teammates and wasn't beaten easily by any of them, he was an incredible talent.

#2 - Nino Farina

Giuseppe Farina was the first Formula 1 champion in 1950.

Giuseppe "Nino" Farina won the very first F1 world championship in 1950, beating the great Juan Manuel Fangio to the title in the same car. Alfa Romeo were dominant that campaign, winning all but one of the seven Grands Prix that year, and Farina half of those.

Farina was 43 when he won the championship, and perhaps his age caught up with him somewhat, although F1 drivers were generally older during this time. Most of his success came before the first official Formula 1 season, winning almost 20 races before 1950.

He'd continue in F1 until 1955, when he was almost 50-years-old, and did challenge for the title in most of these years, finishing second overall in 1952 for Ferrari and third in the following year. It's hard to compare drivers of different eras, but Farina won a world title, even if de Angelis had lived, he would've had to move away from Brabham and to a team like McLaren or Williams to have a chance of winning one himself, so Nino edges this battle for me.

#1 - Alberto Ascari

Alberto Ascari was Formula 1's first repeat World Champion in 1953.

Alberto Ascari won two world championships in the 1950's, but he could've easily won more if it hadn't been for a certain Juan Manuel Fangio. Ascari was runner-up to the great Argentine in 1951, but went on to win both of the next driver's titles in 1952 and '53. This was a period of unparalleled dominance for the Italian, only in modern times have we seen close to the impressiveness of his record during this time.

Despite having retired over 60 years ago, Ascari still holds several F1 records, and ones that likely won't be beaten for some time. Highest percentage of both wins and fastest laps in a season, highest percentage of points in a season (100%), most consecutive fastest laps and lap led and most hat-tricks ever, are just some of the impressive achievements Ascari attained during his illustrious career.

Sadly, like de Angelis, Ascari's time in F1 was cut short, he died during a test at Monza in 1955 at the age of 36. Had he lived, he could've added to his pair of titles, especially after Fangio's retirement from full-time racing in 1957.

But who is the best Italian F1 driver of all time? is it Ascari or someone else? Let us know in the comments below!