Here in Australia, we have a rich history in Formula 1, dating back to the sport’s early years. It began with Sir Jack Brabham’s dominance in the 1950s and ’60s and continues with our latest star, Oscar Piastri. The Australian Grand Prix is a key part of the F1 calendar, often kicking off the season – now with the Netflix show ‘Drive To Survive’ making F1 sexy again here is your mate Joe Fortune giving us his top Aussie F1 drivers.
Jack Brabham, The OG Aussie Motorsport Legend
Jeez, let’s get things started with Sir Jack Brabham. Now I am sure many will agree with me when I say that he is hands-down the most iconic Australian driver in Formula 1 history. Brabham made his F1 debut in 1955 and went on to achieve something that no one else ever has by winning a world championship in a car he designed and built himself. He landed three world championships in 1959, 1960, and 1966.
In his career as a driver, he won 16 Grand Prix races but after he retired his Brabham team continued in Formula 1, winning two further Drivers’ Championships in the early 1980s under Bernie Ecclestone. Brabham was a mechanical genius as well as a driver, known for pushing boundaries both on and off the track.
He played a crucial role in shaping the early years of Formula 1 by challenging norms with his engineering innovations, Brabham’s technical knowledge gave him and his team a distinct edge. He was knighted in the late 1970s for his services to motorsport. There’s no denying Brabham’s place as the greatest Australian F1 driver of all time and an absolute bloody legend!
Alan Jones, The 1980 World Champion
Alan Jones is another Aussie star who cemented his name in F1 history by becoming Australia’s second and still most recent Formula 1 world champion, but more on that later… He took the title in 1980 with the Williams team, helping to establish them as a major force in the sport. Born in Melbourne, Jones was known for his no-nonsense, hard-as-nails approach to racing. He wasn’t just fast; he was aggressive, fearless, and bloody determined to win, regardless of the odds – great traits to have as an Aussie.
Before his big break with Williams, he fought his way through less competitive teams building a reputation as someone who could get results even in an average car. Once he got his hands on a championship-calibre car, crikey did he make the most of it, securing 12 Grand Prix wins across his career. His title win in 1980 wasn’t just about speed; it was a masterclass in consistency and track craft. That season, he had to fend off the likes of Nelson Piquet and Carlos Reutemann, and he did it with sheer bloody-minded Aussie grit.
Jones is widely respected for his insights on the sport, often appearing as a commentator or pundit. He paved the way for Aussie drivers like Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo, proving that Australians could not only compete on the global F1 stage but win. His tough and direct style epitomised the Aussie battler spirit and made him a fan favourite.
Mark Webber, The Bloke who went the Long Way to the Summit
Mark Webber’s F1 journey is a classic story of determination and hard work. Born in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Webber climbed the motorsport ladder from humble beginnings, eventually making his Formula 1 debut with the underdog Minardi team in 2002. His first race was unforgettable; he finished fifth at the Australian Grand Prix, a near-miracle result that instantly made him a national hero.
Over the next few years, Webber raced with Jaguar and Williams, often outperforming the machinery he was given. But it wasn’t until he joined Red Bull Racing in 2007 that he finally had a car capable of winning. From 2009 to 2013, Webber was a regular contender, securing 9 Grand Prix wins and finishing third in the championship three times (2010, 2011, 2013). He was part of the team during its dominant years alongside Sebastian Vettel and despite being cast in the number two role, Webber never backed down.
Known for his fitness, professionalism, and straightforward nature, Webber earned massive respect in the paddock. He retired from F1 but that wasn’t the end of his successes, he won the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2015 for Team Porsche. Today he remains involved with F1 as a pundit on TV who I dead set love to watch and listen to.
Daniel Ricciardo, The Smiling Assassin with Acceleration
Daniel Ricciardo burst onto the F1 scene with a smile as big as his talent. Hailing from Perth, Ricciardo made his debut with HRT in 2011 before joining Toro Rosso, and then Red Bull Racing in 2014, where he took over from Mark Webber. Ricciardo’s driving style was noticeable, aggressive on the brakes, confident in overtaking, and always ready to pounce when a gap opened.
His first win came at the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix, he then went on to win 7 more Grand Prix races, but I reckon with his skill he could have achieved even more by remaining with one team. Instead, Ricciardo left Red Bull in 2018 and started on a journey which saw him attempt to help rebuild Renault, but he left there quickly and headed to McLaren where he scored a sensational win at Monza in 2021, it was McLaren’s first win in nearly a decade. Thereafter his form dipped in the following seasons, leading to a temporary step back from full-time racing as he went back to Red Bull as a reserve driver.
In 2023, he made a partial comeback with AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) before being replaced in 2024. Ricciardo’s legacy is far from over; he’s become one of Australia’s most beloved sporting personalities with fans across the world following him on social media. His easy-going Aussie vibes and of course his infamous sculling of beer out of his shoe… the classic Schoey lives long in my memory.
Oscar Piastri, The Next F1 Superstar
Oscar Piastri’s F1 career is still in its infancy but he is on the brink of becoming an absolute icon in F1 as he attempts to bring Max Verstappen’s reign as champion to an end in 2025. Born in 2001 in Melbourne, Piastri came through the junior ranks by winning the F3 Championship in 2020 and then the F2 Championship in 2021, something only a handful of drivers in history have achieved.
After spending a year as Alpine’s reserve driver, Piastri showed how good he was and was picked up by McLaren in 2023, and boy did he make an immediate impact. Despite being a rookie, he outperformed seasoned drivers on multiple occasions and scored his first podium finish in Japan. In 2024 Oscar went and won his first Grand Prix in Hungary before winning another in Azerbaijan.
His cool and calculated driving has seen him win 7 races and counting in 2025 as he sits at the top of the drivers’ championship. McLaren has invested heavily in his future and with him closing in on becoming the first Aussie driver to win the Championship since Alan Jones, it is a very exciting time to be an Aussie Formula 1 fan. I reckon he might well end up top of my list one day!