Koen Suyk / Anefo via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0 NL) - Credit Links at the end of the content
Wondering who the oldest Grand Prix winners in Formula 1 history are? We had to update this list after Lewis Hamilton’s victory at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix, which saw him become the first driver over 40 years old to win a race since Nigel Mansell back in 1994.
Formula 1 waited more than three decades for another driver in his forties to stand on the top step of the podium. Hamilton has now joined a very exclusive group of veteran winners, and if he keeps adding victories to his record, we may have to revisit and update this list again before long.
This is not the longest article you will read today, but it is long enough to take a trip through Formula 1 history and revisit the oldest Grand Prix winners the sport has ever seen.
Oldest Grand Prix Winners
Here are their stories—the oldest drivers to ever win a Grand Prix.
Luigi Fagioli (53 years, 22 days)
1951 French Grand Prix
In one of the most dramatic races in history, at the French GP 1951, Luigi Fagioli shared his F1 win with Juan Manuel Fangio, and left F1 forever.
Giuseppe Farina – 47 years, 2 months, 18 days
German GP 1953
The man who became F1’s first world champion in 1950 wasn’t done making history. He is one of the oldest F1 winners, three years later, at 47, Farina stood victorious in German GP in his Ferrari. It was his last win, his last great hurrah—proof that even in F1’s brutal early days, a true racer never faded.
Juan Manuel Fangio – 46 years, 6 months, 26 days
German GP 1957
Fangio didn’t just race—he orchestrated. By 1957, already a five-time champion, he returned to German GP and schooled drivers half his age with his signature smooth precision. The “Maestro” didn’t need raw aggression; he won with a surgeon’s touch.
Jack Brabham – 44 years, 0 months, 17 days
South African GP 1970
The only man to win a championship in a car bearing his own name, Brabham was as much an engineer as a racer. At 44, he tamed the South Africa race, outsmarting younger rivals. A fitting final win for a man who built, drove, and conquered.
Mario Andretti – 42 years, 6 months, 15 days
Netherlands 1978
A legend across every form of motorsport, Andretti’s last F1 win was pure emotion. His last win came in Netherlands.
Lewis Hamilton – 41 years, 5 months, 7 days
Spanish GP 2026
Fans have been waiting for this, at 41 years old and 158 days old, Lewis Hamilton joined the exclusive club of F1’s oldest GP winners with his victor at the Barcelona GP in 2026. The win made him the first driver over the age of 40 to stand on the top step of the podium since Nigel Mansell in 1994, ending a wait of more than three decades.
Nigel Mansell – 41 years, 0 months, 34 days
Australia 1994
Mansell left F1 in 1992 as champion, only to return two years later—just to prove he still could. In his very last race, at Adelaide, the Lion roared one more time. Classic Mansell: all aggression, no surrender.
Carlos Reutemann – 39 years, 6 months, 5 days
Caesars Palace 1981
Reutemann was the quiet assassin of F1—smooth, underrated, lethal. His final win came in Belgium. While others struggled with the heat and tight turns, the Argentine kept his cool. A champion’s drive in every sense.
Graham Hill – 39 years, 5 months, 0 days
Monaco GP 69′
The ultimate gentleman racer, Hill was already a two-time champion when he won at Monaco in ’69. That season was chaos—protests.
Kimi Räikkönen – 38 years, 10 months, 16 days
Italy 2018
While F1 became a young man’s game, Kimi was still here—still ice-cold, still blisteringly fast. At Monza, in a Ferrari, he reminded everyone why he was a fan favorite. No speeches, no drama—just a perfectly executed race.
The Lesson? Greatness Has No Expiration Date
Today’s F1 may favor youth, but these legends remind us that racing isn’t just about reflexes—it’s about wisdom, adaptability, and an unshakable will to win. They didn’t just endure; they dominated. And that’s what makes them unforgettable.
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