Starts per driver before 2026: Alonso undisputed King, Lindblad sole rookie

Less and less time remains until the start of a season that, with the overhaul of technical regulations and the introduction of new power units, is making fans turn up their noses. The fact remains that the engines, whether liked or not, will fire up for the Australian Grand Prix, the first of the twenty-four events on the calendar. In Melbourne, the drivers will take to the track again to open another chapter of their F1 careers, or in just one case, to participate in what will be their first race weekend in the Circus. While waiting for the red lights to go out, here is the number of GPs in which all the active drivers in the world championship have taken part before the upcoming weekend at Albert Park.

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The triple digits

Leading the standings is Fernando Alonso, the absolute record holder in F1 history with 425 starts. Excluding the 2002, 2019, and 2020 seasons, the Spaniard has always been present from 2001 to today, arriving at the 2026 world championship at 44 years of age. If the upcoming championship were to conclude without any kind of stop, the Asturian would approach 450 GPs, with Abu Dhabi representing his race number 449. Further ‘back’, in second place in the all-time standings, is Lewis Hamilton: a seven-time world champion and present continuously since 2007, the British Ferrari driver would enter the bracket of 400 career GPs at the end of the year, thanks to the 380 in which he has already participated. This season, only one driver could exceed the 300-start mark: Sergio Perez. Returning to F1 after last year’s absence (the first since 2011), the Mexican would go from his current 281 GPs to 305, in seventh position in the all-time standings, -1 behind Jenson Button. If no obstacles arise, three drivers will be able to cross the 200 GP threshold by the end of the championship: Lance Stroll (189), Esteban Ocon (180), and Pierre Gasly (177).

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Lower numbers

Contrary to previous statistics, no other driver will be able to reach or exceed 100 career GPs by the end of the season, with Oscar Piastri coming close to the milestone with 94 starts. Note the curiosity of world champion Lando Norris, who along with George Russell shares the same number of GPs contested (152), as do Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Gabriel Bortoleto (24). The latter, unlike Jack Doohan (replaced by Colapinto at Imola last year), are +1 over another rookie from last season, Isack Hadjar, who did not start the Australian GP due to an accident during the formation lap. Speaking of rookies, the only debutant in this championship will be Arvid Lindblad, obviously with no GPs contested.

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GPs per driver before the 2026 world championship