So this means a top six successful pay drivers in Formula 1's modern era. With the only rules that any driver from the last 20 years, any pay drivers must score points in his F1 career, does not include any current F1 drivers, excludes engine manufactures paying for a drive for the team such as Kazuki Nakajima driving for Williams between 2007 to 2009 paid by Toyota for example, or any Red Bull drivers as-well.
Starting with Number 6:
Number 6: Christijan Albers
Story: Started his F1 career at Minardi in 2005 bringing in sponsorship from Holland. Albers best result in F1 with a fourth place finish in the 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Then moved over to Midland (formerly Jordan and currently Force India) team for 2006 and staying with the team for 2007 under the Spyker name. However that didn't last long in the middle of the 2007 season he was released from his Spyker contract, due to a lack of sponsorship money. Overall, Albers completed 46 Grand Prixs' with two teams and scoring only 4 points in his F1 career.
Number 5: Narain Karthikeyan
Story: Started his F1 career at Jordan in 2005 bringing in sponsorship from India via Tata and becoming India's first ever F1 driver. Karthikeyan best result in F1 was a fourth place finish in the 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Karthikeyan moved to Williams in 2006 and 2007 as a test-driver. Then after taking some time away from Formula 1, which includes a few seasons racing in A1GP with Team India. Karthikeyan return to Formula 1 with the HRT team for two seasons before the team close to finish off Karthikeyan F1 career. Overall, Karthikeyan completed 48 Grand Prixs' with two teams and scoring only 5 points in his F1 career.
Number 4: Pedro Diniz
Story: Started his F1 career with Forti in 1995 bringing in sponsorship from Brazil which included sponsorship from his family and Parmalat from Italy. Then moving to Ligier in 1996. Then moving again to Arrows in 1997 and 1998 taking his best results with two fifth place finishes at the 1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix and the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix sometimes outperforming his 1997 team-mate 1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill. Then moving to Sauber in 1999 and 2000 includes outperforming his 1999 team-mate Juan Alesi. Then in 2001 Diniz retire from Formula 1 and purchased a 40 percent stake of the Prost team for $10 million and took a management role within the team before leaving the team at the end of the 2001 season. Overall, Diniz completed 98 Grand Prixs' with four teams and scoring only 10 points in his F1 career.
Number 3: Vitaly Petrov
Story: Started his F1 career at Renault in 2010 bringing in sponsorship from Russia via Lada and becoming Russia's first ever F1 driver. Petrov best result in F1 was a third place finish in the 2011 Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne. Then moved to Caterham F1 team for 2012 with a reduce budget from Russia. Then having no budget for 2013, Petrov lost his drive for Caterham finishing off his Formula 1 career. Overall, Petrov completed 58 Grand Prixs' with two teams and scoring 64 points in his F1 career.
Number 2: Pastor Maldonado
Story: Started his F1 career at Williams in 2011 bringing in sponsorship from Venezuela via state oil company PDVSA and becoming Venezuelan's first ever F1 driver. Maldonado best result in F1 was a Grand Prix win at the 2012 Spainish Grand Prix at Barcelona becoming Venezuelan's first ever Grand Prix winner. Then, Maldonado moved to Lotus for 2014. With the team owned by Renault, Maldonado's long-time backer Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA, failed to make contracted payments to the team, due to global oil prices have plummeted which has effect Maldonado's home nation Venezuela which effectively lost his drive finishing his Formula 1 career for now. Overall, Maldonado completed 96 Grand Prixs' with two teams and scoring 76 points, a pole position and a Grand Prix win in his F1 career.
Number 1: Adrian Sutil
Story: Started his F1 career at Spyker in 2007 bringing in sponsorship from Germany via Medion, staying with the team for 2008 under the Force India name. Sutil best result in F1 was a fourth place finish in the 2009 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Despite missing out the 2012 F1 season via personal issues, Sutil stayed with the team till 2013. Then swapping over to Sauber in 2014 where he stayed for one season before losing his drive for 2015 finishing off his Formula 1 career. Overall, Sutil completed 128 Grand Prixs' with two teams and scoring 124 points in his F1 career.
Meaning Adrian Sutil is the most successful pay driver in Formula 1's modern era.
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