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F1'S GREATEST DRIVERS - AUTOSPORT persuaded 217 world championship Formula 1 heroes to vote for the all-time greates driver
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The first true great of the world championship F1 era, 'El Maestro' took five titles and won 47 per cent of the grands prix he started.
It's true that Fangio often got himself into the best cars - he drove for Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari - but he was a key part in making them look that good. He won titles with all.
Revered by his peers, Fangio often seemed to win without having to push himself to the limit, such was his advantage over the rest. The most famous exception - his comeback drive to win the 1957 German GP on the fearsome Nurburgring, in which he broke the lap record numerous times - is often cited as the greatest grand prix drive in history.
Fangio's record - at a time when racing was brutally dangerous - marks him as one of the all-time greats, remarkably all achieved when the Argentinean was in his 40s.
STATISTICS
| Born | 24 Jun 1911 |
| Died | 17 Jul 1995 |
| Active years | 1950 - 1958 |
| Champion | 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957 |
| Starts | 51 |
| Wins | 24 |
| Podiums | 35 |
| Poles | 29 |
| Front row | 48 |
| Fastest laps | 23 |
| Races led | 38 |
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