The 10 F1 drivers with the greatest experience

The road to Formula One is long, and it can even be tedious if a driver does not achieve the expected results on the track or attract a certain number of sponsors willing to support the driver financially.

This may lead to an earlier arrival in the championship or later in the tournament.

When he made his debut at 27, Nick de Vries was an exception that proved the rule. Nick de Vries made his debut at the 2022 Italian Grand Prix.

His impressive race result on Monza (ninth) has prompted us here at Motorbli to compile a list of the oldest drivers to compete in Formula One.

We had already mentioned that in more ancient times, it was common practice for people to do so when they were over thirty; therefore, you should determine whether or not things have changed in this regard.

When age is not a factor: the drivers who made their Formula 1 debut at the age of 40 or older

Following the completion of the rigorous introduction, it is time to get down to business and discuss the background of each of the oldest drivers who have competed in the most prestigious category of motorsport on four wheels. Here we go.

Philippe Jean Armand Etancelin has been alive for 53 years, four months, and fifteen days.

Frenchman Philippe Jean Armand Etancelin, who is more than 70 years old and has lived a whole life, is the most senior driver ever to make his Formula One (F1) debut.

He did this, as did many other people, in the 1950 British Grand Prix, which was the first ever held and the event that started writing the history of the sport.

More precisely, he accomplished this feat at 53 years, four months, and 15 days on the Silverstone track.

He was driving his Talbot-Lago during the race, and he ended up finishing in the eighth position.

The truth is that he did not achieve excellent results in the Grand Circus, as his best performance can be summed up in two fifth-place finishes in that first season at home in France, specifically at the Reims-Gueux circuit, and at Monza.

Both of these races took place that year.

He did have more success in other legendary races, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which he won in 1934. Among his other victories, he also won the Indianapolis 500.

Arthur Legat’s age, in years, months, and days: 53 years, seven months, and 21 days

Before his debut in Formula One, the Belgian Arthur Legat believed he would feel “like home nowhere.”

His first race was the Belgian Grand Prix of that year, unlike Etancelin, who accomplished this feat in the first season of the sport’s history.

Instead, he did it in the third season of the sport’s history.

At the Spa Francorchamps race, Legat finished 13th in a single-seater entered by the German Veritas team.

However, his time spent racing in the Formula One championship was cut short as he competed in the same Grand Prix the following year for the final time.

In fact, throughout his career as a driver, he participated in only those two races, and he was not even able to place in the top ten.

3. Adolf Brudes’ age, in years, months, and days: 52 years, ten months, and 12 days

Adolf Brides had to have the same idea in his head to take the plunge into the championship in the same way that he did at the 1952 Grand Prix of his native Germany, which was held at the Nürburgring on that particular occasion.

Both he and Legat competed for the Veritas team in that race, but they were forced to withdraw from the competition due to engine problems.

That was the only time that good old Adolf Brudes competed in this event.

He spent the rest of his career competing in other competitions, such as the 24 Hours of Spa, in which he finished second in his category (2.0) and fourth overall (1938), or the Mille Miglia, in which he finished third and stood on the podium.

Both times, he competed for BMW as a driver.

Bill Aston, number four: 52 years, four months, and five days

British Bill Aston made his first race car appear in the 1952 German Grand Prix.

Unfortunately, he suffered the same misfortune as Brudes did on his first time out, as he could not finish the race due to a problem caused by oil pressure.

Brudes won the race. In it, as well as the other two competitions in which he participated, he raced with his team, Aston Butterworth.

These competitions were the Grand Prix of Italy and the Grand Prix of Great Britain, both of which took place in the same year.

At Monza, he was unable to qualify for Sunday’s race, and at Silverstone, he had to retire from the competition. His results were not particularly impressive.

5. Clemente Biondetti, who has been alive for 52 years and 16 days

Clemente Biondetti, who celebrated his 52nd birthday two weeks late and received a wonderful gift for the occasion, was another person who made his debut in front of his fellow citizens.

At the circuit of Monza, more specifically during the race that served as a substitute for the 1950 Italian Grand Prix.

He was driving a Ferrari powered by a Jaguar engine, but he had to pull out of the race on lap 17 because the machine was giving him trouble.

That was the only race he ever entered in the Formula One World Championship.

Still, he enjoyed success in other competitions, including the Acerbo Cup in 1939 and the Mille Miglia on four separate occasions (1938, 1947, 1948, and 1949).

6. Luigi Fagioli’s age, in years, months, and days: 51 years, 11 months, and 27 days

An Italian, Luigi Fagioli, took part in the first race ever held, even though he already had fifty years of life experience in his body.

That is correct, but in contrast to the first time, he accomplished it magnificently, as evidenced by the fact that he finished in second place behind his countryman and teammate Giuseppe Farina.

During his early days in the championship, Alfa Romeo was the brand that supported him and helped him achieve success.

Fagioli demonstrated that he could race quickly, as evidenced by the fact that he finished in third place in the race held in 1950 and won the race held in France the following year (1951).

In fact, with that victory, he tied Juan Manuel Fangio for the title of the longest-serving driver to triumph in a Formula One race.

Because of the misfortune that befell him, he could not have a successful career, and he passed away due to the life-threatening injuries he sustained in an accident during the 1952 Monaco Grand Prix.

7. Hans Stuck’s age in years, months, and days: 51 years, four months, and 21 days

Hans Stuck did not make his debut in his home country like some other drivers, but it’s not like he had to travel a great distance to do so, as this German driver did at the 1952 Swiss Grand Prix.

However, due to engine problems, he was forced to retire, so his letter of introduction was not the best.

During that competition, he was a member of the AFM team; however, in the following rounds, he raced with Écurie Espadon and his team.

However, he did not achieve a great result in any of the five races he competed in because he retired from some or did not qualify for others.

Curiously, he earned his best result thanks to a 14th-place finish in the only race he competed in, which took place in 1953 at Monza.

The European, which he ran in 1936 and finished in second place, was quickly the highlight of his career as a race car driver.

8. Louis Chiron’s age, in years, months, and days: 50 years, ten months, and ten days

Monegasque Louis Chiron was one of the pioneers in the Principality, which helps to explain both his passion and his country’s long-standing tradition in Formula One.

He took part in the very first race ever held at Silverstone in 1950, even though no matter where he is now, he will not have a good memory of it because he was forced to retire with his Maserati due to issues with the clutch.

In addition to Formula One, the European Drivers Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans were the other two competitions that left an indelible mark on his career as an athlete.

In the famous French event, he was unlucky, as he quit and was disqualified in all of the editions that counted on his presence.

Still, in the second one, he did manage to win a race with Bugatti and climb the podium again with Ferrari.

However, his luck changed in the third edition, and he was able to win a race with Ferrari.

8. Rudolf Schoeller’s age, in years, months, and days: 50 years, three months, and seven days

Rudolf Schoeller was another driver who opted out of competing in the German Grand Prix in 1952 and competed in the Grand Circus instead.

He did it at home, in addition to many others who have already been mentioned here, and he was also driving a Ferrari; however, he ultimately had to withdraw from the race on lap three due to suspension issues.

That was the end of his championship career, but before he retired at almost 76, he could boast about having raced with the most legendary team in the sport.

9. Ernst Klodwig’s age, in years, months, and days: 49 years, two months, and 11 days

Ernst Klodwig was another German driver who competed in Formula One after realizing that the race would pass through his home country.

On the other hand, in contrast to the other first-time competitors we discussed in this article, he successfully completed the race.

In contrast, he signed a twelve position that was the last of all those who crossed the finish line that Sunday, August 3. He was the last person to cross the finish line.

10. Chet Miller’s age, in years, months, and days: 48 years, ten months, and 11 days

Chet Miller, who made his debut in the United States Grand Prix held at Indianapolis in 1951, can be found on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

This event took place in 1951. Because the 500 Miles used to be a qualifying race for the championship, it is fair to say that he competed in Formula One.

This is because he contested both of his races on the same track, so it is fair to say that he went through F1.

¿Did you like the content?

Related articles