This season is the fiftieth year of McLaren in Formula 1. McLaren have won many Grand Prix wins' and Drivers and Constructor titles'. To Celebrate this a top ten best McLaren F1 drivers ever in their history.
Starting with number ten:
Number 10: Bruce McLaren 1966-1970
Story: After eight seasons at Cooper. Bruce McLaren stared his own Grand Prix team McLaren in 1966. McLaren won the first Grand Prix win for the team at the 1968 Belgium Grand Prix at Spa. McLaren stayed with the team till his death during the 1970 F1 season. Overall, Bruce McLaren took one Grand Prix win in four and half seasons in the Bruce McLaren/McLaren era.
Number 9: David Coulthard 1996-2004
Story: After two seasons at Williams. Coulthard moved to McLaren in 1996. Coulthard never won a drivers' title with McLaren he finished runner up once in 2001 during his McLaren career. After nine seasons at McLaren, Coulthard moved on to Red Bull. Overall, David Coulthard took twelve Grand Prix wins and a constructors' title in the David Coulthard/McLaren era.
Number 8: Emerson Fittipaldi 1974-1975
Story: After four seasons at the original Team Lotus. Fittipaldi moved to McLaren in 1974 and took his second drivers' title in that same season becoming the first McLaren driver to win driver's championship with the team. After another season at McLaren, Fittipaldi moved on to Fittipaldi Automotive. Overall, Emerson Fittipaldi took five Grand Prix wins, a constructors' title, a drivers' title in the Emerson Fittipaldi/McLaren era.
Number 7: Kimi Räikkönen 2002-2006
Story: After a seasons at Sauber. Räikkönen moved to McLaren in 2002. Räikkönen never won a drivers' title with McLaren he finished runner up twice (2003 and 2005) during his McLaren career, came close in 2003 only losing out by only two points to Michael Schumacher. After five seasons at McLaren, Räikkönen moved on to Ferrari replacing Michael Schumacher. Overall, Kimi Räikkönen took nine Grand Prix wins in the Kimi Räikkönen/McLaren era.
Number 6: Niki Lauda 1982-1985
Story: After two seasons away from Formula 1. Lauda return to Formula 1 with McLaren in 1982. In 1984, Lauda took his third drivers' title with the team. Niki Lauda retired after the 1985 season for good this time with four seasons at McLaren. Overall, Niki Lauda took eight Grand Prix wins, two constructors' titles, and a drivers' title in the Niki Lauda/McLaren era.
Number 5: James Hunt 1976-1978
Story: After three seasons at Hesketh Racing. Hunt moved to McLaren in 1976 and took his only drivers' title in that same season. After two more seasons at McLaren, Hunt moved on to Wolf. Overall, James Hunt took nine Grand Prix wins, a drivers' title in the James Hunt/McLaren era.
Number 4: Lewis Hamilton 2007-2012
Story: Lewis Hamilton made his F1 Grand Prix debut with McLaren in 2007. He almost won the Drivers' title in 2007, despite only one DNF that season, only losing the championship by a single point. Then in 2008 winning the Drivers' title by a point. After four more seasons at McLaren, Hamilton moved on to Mercedes in 2013. Overall, Hamilton took twenty-one Grand Prix wins, a drivers' title in the Lewis Hamilton/McLaren era.
Number 3: Mika Hakkinen 1993-2001
Story: After two seasons at the original Team Lotus. Hakkinen moved to Mclaren in 1993 as their test driver until Michael Andretti was sacked after the Italian Grand Prix that season. In 1998, Hakkinen took his first drivers' titles and then repeated again in 1999. Mika Hakkinen retired after the 2001 season with nine seasons at McLaren. Overall, Hakkinen took twenty Grand Prix wins, a constructors' title, and two drivers' titles in the Mika Hakkinen/McLaren era.
Number 2: Alain Prost 1980, 1984-1989
Story: After three seasons at Renault and a debut season at McLaren. Prost return to McLaren in 1984, and just missed out the drivers' title just by half a point to then team-mate Niki Lauda. Then in 1985 Prost took his first drivers' title and repeated again in 1986. And got his third drivers' title with McLaren in 1989. After that Prost moved on to Ferrari. Then return to McLaren after his retirement in 1994, working as a technical advisor for three more seasons, sometimes as a test driver. Overall, Alain Prost took thirty Grand Prix wins, four constructors' titles, and three drivers' titles in the Alain Prost/McLaren era.
Number 1: Ayrton Senna 1988-1993
Story: After three seasons at the original Team Lotus. Senna moved to McLaren in 1988 and took his first drivers' title in that same season. Then in 1990 Senna took his second drivers' title and repeated again in 1991 to took his third drivers' title for McLaren. After two more seasons at McLaren, Senna moved on to Williams. Overall, Ayrton Senna took thirty-five Grand Prix wins, four constructors' titles, and three drivers' titles in the Ayrton Senna/McLaren era.
And to many more years of winning form McLaren to come.
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